Posted on 03/04/2006 3:02:34 AM PST by Aussie Dasher
BABY boomers need to shrug off their "Peter Pan" mentality and prepare their homes for wheelchairs and lifting equipment, an aged care conference in Mildura has been told.
While improvements in health care meant people were able to live at home longer, house designs were not always supportive, according to strategic planner and social commentator Dr Keith Suter.
He said there had been a growth of Peter Pan-style developments.
"These are areas developed by baby boomers who think they will never grow old, and which will be unsuitable for them when they have problems later with hips etcetera."
Instead of looking at where to put the latest entertainment system or gym equipment, baby boomers should be looking for homes with fewer steps, bedrooms large enough for lifting equipment, hallways wide enough for wheel chairs and reinforced walls that could be fitted with grab rails.
"Homes that are obviously built for older people are harder to sell to boomers, but retro-fitting homes in Peter Pan precincts later will be expensive," Dr Suter said.
He said boomers should also look for safer environs with less hedge to discourage potential robberies, and streets with safe pedestrian crossings.
I'm still not gonna grow up. Don't wanna.
So there! :-P
Anybody who took care of an aging parent - as I am now - should see the writing on the wall. My husband and I have made changes to our home to accomodate my mom, but we are looking at how it will benefit us later on when our turn comes. Like it or not, that's reality. The 'flower children' had best wake up and prepare for it.
"Goodness, that's gloomy. "
It is, I'm with you Allegra!
When/if the time comes, I will move. Until then they can stick this advice where the sun doesn't shine.
No different than saying to me - "Yo dude, give up the corvette and buy a van with a wheelchair lift now".
Dad was 86 and Mom was 84.
No matter how well designed the house was, my mother tripped where the dining room carpet met the kitchen tile floor and her fall shattered one of her legs, ultimately leading to her death last year.
Falling is the big fear. Great attention should be paid to all floor surfaces, from the walk-in or wheel-in shower to carpet/smooth floor transitions.
Get grab bars that a soapy hand can grip.
Independant seniors should still be monitored by a service or family members on a daily basis, around lunch time when the dangerous showering period has passed.
I wish all the best of luck to all in dealing with their own particular situations.
Figures that the "I hope I die before I get old" (then didn't) Generation wouldn't realize the obvious.
The Wall Street Journal proclaimed some months ago that "60 is the new 40". With a photo of a 60-ish couple riding around in a new sportscar. Don't say.
I've been thinking of upgrading my sportcar to a sleeker, faster model anyway.
LOL - right on!
It's like they think we're all too dumb to figure these things out on our own.
They get off on telling us. ;-)
"Independant seniors should still be monitored by a service or family members on a daily basis, around lunch time when the dangerous showering period has passed."
My father (85) lives in a gorgeous independent living place where he has his own apartment (one of the Erickson communities), and they have a good system. At night, a security person goes around and flips up a lever against each apartment door. Anytime the door is opened, that lever will fall again. The security people do the rounds about noon the next day; if any levers are still in place from the night before, they check.
hehe I can't imagine a Vette with a motorized chair lift! Maybe Craft-matic will make a driver's seat that helps you get out?
Ah, just get a rocket bike. It's easy to clean lovebugs out of dentures...
I did. :-)
2005 C6 Lemans Blue Vette.
ROFL! :-)
The damn thing is so low to the ground now, might not be a bad idea. LMAO!
I'm still not gonna grow up. Don't wanna.
You just gotta find the right wheelchair!
When/if the time comes, I will move.
Tim Allan Special?
I was search Yahoo autos yesterday. I liked this 2006 Morgan Aero 8 ... but at $106,000 I'll continue looking.
Yep! "Peter Pans" will always depend on somebody else to take care of them--from Pampers to Depends!
Yup, and when that time comes, I will take care of it.
However, don't discount "Moore's Law" for computational aids and bioengineering for locomotion aids.
IMHO, Growing old in 2025 years will be far different that 2005. I predict (and yes most predictions have fallen far SHORT of the mark) that by the time I am 75, hips, knees (possibly entire limbs and spine) etc. will be fully functional artificial constructs. We well on our way in that regard already.
FR has lots of boomer bashers.
LOL! :-)
Ah, but you can't even guarantee that though, can you? After all, I live in one of America's largest cities. Fast freeways, lots of Katrina transplants...
Oh, and I work in a war zone...
You just never know.
One thing I believe that hastens old age is worrying about stuff too much.
:-)
Big time. Ever get one one of those threads? If they could, I think they would even blame us for the "Black Plague". LOL!
LOL.
And thank you for your service.
That's why I got in on post # 2 to set the tone. If the Gen X-Ys get here to start the bashing first then it's all over.
I thought this was a conservative site. We're all voting conservative, right? :)
Must be getting old!!! hehehe
And dooooom and gloooooomers.
"I'm miserable about my life so I'm going to try to make everyone else miserable about theirs."
You know what really chaps those people? Laugh at 'em. They hate laughter and humor, unless it's macabre.
Especially the way I drive the Vette! (just kidding :-))
I'm with ya. :-)
Nice bio, Allegra! Yes, a positive attitude overcomes much.
LOL - DIG at 'em! Get those doom and gloomers!
Hey, what happened to the guy who posted the thread?! :)
Boomer bashers love to hate Rush Limbaugh, Bill Gates and G.W. Bush -- to name a few. Just don't call them hypocrites.
Cool beans on the Morgan!
I used to own a 1971 sky blue Pantera (damn thing overheated if I sat at a light too long), 1983 black RX-7, 1969 black AMX (whish I had kept this one darnit), and one muscle car - a 1971 limited edition Plymouth Roadrunner.
I have driven both a Ferrari and Maserati. I can say this; I have never enjoyed a car as much as this Vette. :-)
Hey, yeah...what's up with that? ;-)
That's good advice. :-)
You be safe over there! k?
- I have a few of my coworkers there now as well.
hehe! :-)
Hey, it's my way of dealing with my midlife crisis. It's my "fast car." Heeheeheee...
I can stop the car. You just can't stop where you are. BE SAFE!
I served my time overseas during the cold war under Reagan. Was with an F-4 unit waiting for the Soviets to "run" the Fulda Gap.
Party pooper!
This bay boomer retirement deal might get ugly, and I for one am not looking forward to this.
The DNC however, is looking forward to it. As is the AARP.
Sure I can. I can get on a plane and head home whenever the notion takes me. Or whenever the chile con queso and margarita cravings become overwhelming. ;-)
Thank you for your kind words and thank you for your service.
You mean the slackers and the whiners?
{ducking and running...}
Makes me glad I'm not a boomer, having been born in a pre boom year.
And yours as well! :-)
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