The main problem isn't that we don’t have cures for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease yet. In any case, these diseases are the fate of only a rather small percentage of retirees. There is a much bigger issue: younger people place social constraints on the elderly who are still perfectly capable of participating in society.
On a more positive note, there is the example of former professional athletes who didn’t end their careers – they went on to become coaches or commentators; they took on other challenges. They are well qualified to conduct training courses for young athletes.
Learning how to deal with aging
We could all use some help and guidance when it comes to aging. And who knows this process better than our senior citizens? They can show us the ropes, just as former athletes coach younger ones, according to an article on the management-issues.com website.
Older people are experienced and reflective. They might be willing to share their best practices and vital skills. We could use these insights on what the continuing journey of life looks like. Society needs this. By refusing to learn from older people, we are committing collective self-destruction.
Old age itself doesn’t mean that there's a decline. The most recent research has found that people over 70 who are really active have the immune systems of 20 year olds. Retirees should try to keep up to date with cultural and societal developments. However, if a person is ignored in his or her later years, why they should bother to keep themselves fit?
-jk-