No more bingo and bridge nights
One of the things that amuses me about my dad, age 76, is when he refers to people older than him as ‘old fellas’. I mean, I would have thought it was he who was the old fella in the room, but of course he’s not. Compared to a 96-year-old, he’s a cherub. And as long as there’s still a generation above him alive and kicking, he could still, by comparison, be referred to as ‘young’.
But society hasn’t really caught up with this. He’s still often put in the same bracket as someone two decades older than him when they’re both quite different. But what’s far worse is that a couple of friends of mine who have recently turned 60 are lumped into this group too. All have a free bus pass, but that doesn’t mean they’re all now off to bingo together.
Poland is already ahead of this game
The city of Wroclaw has introduced a whole raft of special age-related schemes, including ‘senior cards’ which gives residents over 60 free entry to museums and theatres and discounts on healthcare services. But also special privileges are reserved for those aged 90 or over. They get the ‘emerald’ card which gives them free home visits from hairdressers, dentists and cleaners.
They realise that older people aren’t one big group. Some are active, some aren’t. Some are still working, others stopped decades ago. Some use WhatsApp and use emojis while others still answer their phones in the traditional ‘4291’ Victor Meldrew way as if it’s 1990.
All of the above actually describes my dad and his sister – vastly different lifestyles within just a couple of years of each other.
But compared to Poland, the UK generally sees the aging population as a pest. I read a stat this week that said 11% of over-70s say they are often spoken to as though they’re a child. 5% feel infantilised almost every day.
It's no wonder my dad is milking his 'youth' for all it's worth.
Shameless plug
Check out what's going out on my other channel: you can read ‘3 marketing tips from me, aged 8’ as well as my diatribe: 'I have a problem with nostalgia' over on Substack.
Dotting the e's
The Brontë memorial in Westminster Abbey has been amended to include the diaereses (dots) over the ‘e’ of the names of the literary sisters, which have been missing since it was installed 85 years ago.
They think it's all sober
Universities are holding teetoal Freshers' Week events that include craft evenings, spa sessions and meetings of the hummus society.
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