The Ups and Downs of Growing Older: Beyond Seventy Years Living

Fifteen percent or twenty-three million persons in the United States are presently over seventy years of age. The Complexity of Aging approaches difficulties that come with oldest age. Often inevitable and seldom anticipated, these oldest-old persons encounter alterations in health and physical abilities, strengthening or impairment of personality traits, and immense losses of family and social relationships; and are prime candidates for active/passive abuse or neglect. Confronted with questions as: How shall I/we find the best home for these years? How will feelings change? How can I remain independent? How will living alone affect me? Yet with such immense changes, the oldest-old persons have a vigor for life, they are the most positive in their view of life, they seek resolutions that feel right, and they accept difficulties with an ability to compensate for compelled changes in life.