One of the inevitable facts in this life is that we all age — not just we humans, but also our pets. It is sad when our pets have aging issues, as they don't understand what is happening.
My adorable collie Shane has developed hip problems. He looks at me with his big, beautiful brown eyes and asks, "Why am I having trouble getting up, Mommy?"
How do I explain to him that he has doggy arthritis?
It is much more difficult to watch our parents age. My Dad is close to 92 and would be the first to say that getting old is not for the faint of heart. Dad was always strong and robust, so it is tough to see him stooped and weak.
I asked Dad what bothered him most about aging and he said, "One gets weaker and you can't do what you'd like to do; you injure more easily, your balance isn't as good, and you are more likely to have a stroke or heart attack. My muscles aren't as strong as they were and now I can hurt myself when I lift something that used to be easy to lift."
One thing that has gotten better is his vision because of successful cataract surgery.
However:
- He said that his short-term memory and hearing are worse — and it is frustrating.
- He also said it is a funny feeling to see your children age, get bald, need glasses, gain weight and have gray hair.
- He also said that the great ideas he has in the morning aren't accomplished, as by mid-morning he has run out of energy.
- He doesn't consider these the golden years.
Pets are wonderful companions for the elderly, as they provide great company. If your parents or neighbors have pets, it would be a great help to offer to walk, brush or bathe their dogs or clean their kitty boxes.
I know from speaking with my Dad as well as other elderly friends that it is harder to meet people because as you age, others don't find you as interesting.
Since we are all aging, let's be kind to the elderly and make an effort to spend time with them because they still need human interaction and we can learn from their wisdom.
Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Rethinking ‘the golden years’