r/OverSeventy

For anyone who has received a diagnosis of cataracts, I want to share my experience for the past two weeks. I was diagnosed with it in both eyes. My Optometrist told me that he couldn't correct my vision any longer, with glasses. I had reached the limit. It was suggested I see a specialist for a consult, which I did. I had one initial exam, based on the results, I was a candidate for surgery.

I arrived the day of surgery, I waited for the dilation drops to work, I went in for surgery, NERVOUS! I felt no pain!! It was over in a matter of minutes!

I had a follow-up the following morning, and another in a few weeks. I was told, "you may need reading glasses" after wards. My vision has completely cleared in my first eye (there is a lot of blurriness for a few days). The second was two days ago, and the vision has almost cleared in that eye as well! No pain during or afterwards! I have been reading without glasses, for a week!! I used 3 RX drops, twice a day, for several weeks.

I am 75, I have worn trifocal contact lenses & glasses since I was 12 years old! This surgery is the closest thing to a miracle, truly! If you are facing this surgery, go forward with confidence, you won't regret it. 👍👍😊

How do you feel about the 250 year compared to the bi centennial?

I had this idea about setting up a video chat group. I have a zoom license that I can use for this and wanted to find anyone who is interested. I find its more fun to actually talk when you can see who you are talking to. One issue is to be able to coordinate time zones. I am in AZ, so half of the year we are PST, the rest MST. If you are interested in giving this a try, DM me.

It is my hope that we can keep politics out of the conversations and just have a good general chat.

I stopped in to see my sister and niece as a side trip traveling across country

They were watching the 250th USA celebration on TV. I told my niece that 50 years ago today, I was celebrating America's Bicentennial in Washington DC standing at the base of the Washington Monument watching fireworks. She looked at me as if I had three eyes. 50 years ago? That does sound old, huh?

Wednesday July 1, I had carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel release surgery. The problem was bilateral and the other side was done 10 weeks ago. On Friday, 2 days post surgery, I was substantially pain free and only getting zapped when I bumped the surgical sites or moved in a way which the freed nerves didn't like. I can make a fist and wiggle all my fingers. Actually, I am using the hand for light duty.
AI (Gemini) says I am way ahead of the curve. I can't compare to the other side because I don't remember the detail of the other recovery and the problems are similiar but different enough to make a comparison not reliable.
Also I am and have been WFPB (whole food plant based) for 7 years and I read that reduces body inflamation which in turn promotes healing.
Anyone been down this road?

I'm entering a new chapter in my life. Something profoundly shifted for me after turning 70. Not only have I survived cancer, chaos and drama but I'm thriving. Every day I'm grateful for another chance to experience all the love and joy this life has to offer.

EDIT: Wow, thank you all for sharing your amazing insights with me. It is very much appreciated and I love reading them and learning more from you all!❤️🙌🏾

Hello everyone, I'm a community college student completing a project on the older generation. The purpose is NOT to survey or collect data, but to invite you all to share your story as it pertains to you. I have compiled a list of questions, feel free to answer some, all, or tell your story the way you want it to be told. Thank you all! Disclaimer: I will NOT use any verbatim quotes unless I have permission to do so from the user.

-What age do you still feel like inside? 

- When do you feel most like yourself?

- How would you describe yourself?

- Do you think about mortality differently now than you once did? 

- Is nostalgia more comforting, or painful for you? 

- What did happiness mean for you in your 20’s? What does it mean now? 

- What do you hope people remember about you? 

- If you could preserve one memory forever, which would it be? 

- Was there a particular moment you realized you had become the older generation? 

- If you could introduce me to one version of yourself from another time, who would I meet? 

I’m sitting here having a pity party because I will be alone this 4th of July.

It’s not because I have nowhere to go, but the heat and foot problems prevent me from going anywhere. I’m invited to a party but I don’t feel comfortable going without my daughter because she would have dropped me off at the door. She has plans with friends to go to a concert. A new friend invited me to a party at her daughter’s home but I know it’s a pity invitation because she knows I will be alone. So two invites and I’m staying home.

If it were not for the oppressive heat and humidity, I would go somewhere alone but along with my foot problems, the unrelenting heat wave has drained me.

Just wondered if anyone else will be alone on the 4th so I can stop feeling sorry for myself!

🇺🇸
As we celebrate our nation’s independence, it’s impossible not to think about all that’s happening around the world—political unrest in Venezuela, the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa, and the ongoing wars involving Ukraine, Israel, and Iran. So many families are living through fear, uncertainty, and loss.
Today is a reminder not to take peace, freedom, and the people we love for granted. May we be thankful for the blessings we have, pray for those who are suffering, and never lose hope that compassion and wisdom can prevail over hatred and conflict.
Wishing everyone a safe, peaceful, and meaningful Independence Day. May we celebrate not only our freedom, but also our shared humanity. ♥️🇺🇸

I hope this is okay to post here. I'm hoping to get advice and perspective from the 70+ folks on my situation.

I'm an adult child of 69 & 70 year-old parents who still live in my childhood home. Father with Parkinson's (good mobility still, but difficulty with eating and speech, difficult cognition, frequent medical visits). Mother with severe depression and anxiety, who is additionally very isolated in the full-time caretaker role. Neither parent has an active social circle in their city.

All adult children live 3+ hours away and work full time + have young kids at home, so assisting with the full-time caretaking feels impossible for all of us.

I'm wondering if I should open a conversation about moving to independent living, or if it's too soon? I'm concerned about their health and safety living in such an isolated situation. I also wonder if an independent living/CCRC would allow them to have more social interaction that would improve their lives. It also seems like we should be proactive, rather than wait until a crisis forces us into action.

(For additional context, I've tried for years now to encourage them to move to be near to me, but the web of Parkinson's doctors they're established with makes that difficult.)

Any advice?

Editing to add detail explaining why this is weighing heavily on my mind: My mother is on several medications to treat her mental health issues (has been for years), and newly, to treat insomnia. She's had at least three car accidents in the past six years that I'm aware of. She's been making unintentional phone calls to family members at all hours of the day. Most recently, she left an accidental voicemail on my phone in the middle of the night where it was clear she was not actually awake, but also actively preheating the oven. (She later confirmed this to me.)

I have hatred for unsolicited sales calls. We lost our family patriarch yesterday. Notifications went out in texts and calls telling the bad news. A heavy blanket hangs us all.

I just received a phone sales harassor trying to sales funeral services and planning. This is less than 24 hours have passed!

Don't tell me it was a coincidence.

That was such a big part of my life when I was young.

The wanderlust is fading for me.

Is anyone still seeking new opportunities or are you content just staying at home with a good beverage and a book, movie or television program?

You can teach an old dog new tricks.

So what classes have you taken as an older adult?

Bonus points if you ended up working towards a degree.

One of my favorite jokes is about a man who gets his annual physical and the doc tells him he has some bad news. The doc says you only have 6 months to live and you're going to have to give up drinking, smoking, sex, and all your favorite foods. The old guy says, "Wow! Will I live longer then?" The doc says, "No - but it'll seem like it!"

I'm in my upper 70's and have COPD and high blood pressure. Unfortunately, the best way to address these issues is by changing my lifestyle. But I don't want to and I am not going to. I've been retired over 15 years now and in many ways it's been the best years of my life. Why give up the things that make life enjoyable? I've read that a lot of the american culture is based on the Puritanical belief that life MUST be suffering. If you're not suffering, you're doing it wrong. LOL

I've had no problem accepting the declining physical abilities of youth (strength, stamina, flexibility, etc.). I accept that it takes longer to recover from minor injuries. In return I recognize that I have been given time to enjoy things I really like but never had time for. I am going to enjoy those things and not feel guilty.

I'll probably pass sooner rather than later - but I'll enjoy the time I have!

Good Luck all.

I was a widower when I married a widow when we were both 60. She is in a social organization called Red Hats. They are mostly older women who get together once a month for an event. Some but not all are widows. Their monthly events are often car pooling for a road trip and restaurant in a near by city. Check if you have one in your area for socializing with age peers.

This is for women only. Despite telling my wife Inlike old women, I can't go.

Hi! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I'd love to hear from anyone who is writing creative fiction, or even just thinking about it. For me, being a newbie novelist at this age means (hopefully) keeping my mind sharp and getting actively involved in the world of books which I've always loved so much. Books have been such a big part of my life and I've been wanting to write one, so I'm just gonna go for it. Are any of you working on a creative writing project?