A gentleman named Mel Raskin sent this to me via e-mail. It’s an incisive essay about his loneliness as a 92-year-old. Mel mentions clerical work might help which made me think of my dear Aunt Ruthie who at 81 still works two days a week in a physician’s office. Ruthie’s filing assistant is her 86-year-old husband who happens to be my Uncle John.

Meet Mel Raskin:

We never think we will grow to be 90 years of age and beyond—but  when age has diminished your eyesight— your hearing— your balance , you realize that you are old .

Society has reacted to this final phase of life in several ways— some families house and care for their elderly in their own homes—others  have institutionalized  theirs—-privately if they have the means or governmentally otherwise—a very few can and want  to live independently–with periodic supervision—but society services primarily the ill, both physically and mentally . The nonegenarians  who have retained their mental facilities are lumped in with all the other elderly regardless of age or mental status .

I am 92  years old–live in an assisted living complex–having lost my wife to Alzheimers over a year ago—had heart valve replaced 7 years  ago and while I retained my faculties, my head is not clear–probably from the open heart surgery anesthesia.

This facility is probably one of the best available . The staff is very caring and helpful . Housekeeping, laundry,food, and daily activities are all provided, but even so there is much free time for residents like me.  Loneliness is  the biggest problem for me—

Over 80 % of the  70+residents(inmates) here are women—about 10-15%  of the residents have much of their faculties–but only about 5-6 can manage on their own for the most part—e.g. take their own medications,etc.

I have come to realize that those few nonagenarians– -but increasing in numbers– who still retain their mental faculties must help the younger generations to create a specific type of lifestyle which addresses their special needs and to offer them a vast library of life’s experiences.
Programs outlining such needs must be  created. social as well as mundane.  Meeting and mingling  socially with comparable nonagenarians  would be desirable.

Another similar one  might be arranging a group of nonagenarians to discuss their personal situations and compare them.  Many situations at this stage of life might be common and treating them solely  with  hypnotic drugs might not be wise.

Another might be setting up volunteer groups to do minor clerical work–such as labeling items for mailing or sorting.

For those computer literate suitable programs of research etc. might be considered. E-mailing could be instituted.

any interest? contact me at melrask1@cox.net

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