9 Irritations That Come With Getting Older

Getting older has its perks—senior discounts, people giving up their seats for you, and being able to say whatever you want with zero filters (because, let’s be honest, we’ve earned it). If you are going to be a successful senior you need to be audacious. But let’s face it, there are also some things that really bug us once we hit our 50s. For me, it all comes down to time management. At 70, you have a lot less of it to manage. Sometimes, the normal niceties become a waste of time. Many things we used to ignore have now become irritants. I’m talking about those little irritations that now make us want to say "what the...!" So, in the spirit of keeping things light, here’s my take on the top 9 things that annoy us seniors just because we are older.

Feeling Patronized

Ever notice how people have the audacity to suddenly start talking to you like you’re a toddler once you hit a certain age? "Oh, are you sure you can carry that bag? Do you need help crossing the street?" Honey, I’ve been crossing streets before you even knew how to spell your own name. Solution: Next time someone offers unnecessary help, lean in close and say, "Only if you promise to hold my hand the entire way." That’ll get ‘em every time. If the person you are with makes this inappropriate then whisper, "Oh, yes I would love to help you cross the street" as you grab their arm.

Technology Frustrations

I love how every gadget these days has 47 buttons and each one does something different, except for the button you actually need. And don’t get me started on the apps! Why does my phone keep asking me to update things I’ve never used? The audacity. My phone never works right when it is updated. Solution: Keep a grandkid on speed dial. They were practically born with a Wi-Fi connection in their heads, so let them deal with it. If all else fails, threaten to go back to using a rotary phone. That’ll scare them. What’s worse is the new gadget that have no buttons and are controlled by sensors. A while back, I went into a bathroom at a fancy department store and had to use the bathroom. After I finished my business at the urinal, I went to flush it but I couldn't find a button or lever. I finally turned and left. I then heard it flush.

Slow Healthcare Services

Why is it that doctor’s offices seem to think we have all the time in the world? I didn’t book this appointment to spend three hours reading magazines from 2005. Then my doctor had the audacity to bill me twice. Solution: Bring your own snacks, set up camp, and start loudly reciting your memoirs in the waiting room. That should speed things up. Plus, maybe you’ll get a few fans!

Loss of Independence

Sure, I may not be running marathons (or ever did, for that matter), but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to give up the driver's seat! Independence is everything, and I refuse to let a little thing like "gravity" hold me down. It often happens slowly, in small increments. At first, you might get excluded from dinner planning. You wanted McDonald's, and they got In-N-Out. Then when the financial advisors come to the house to discuss family assets, you have no idea what they are talking about. It happens in small increments normally unless something catastrophic like a stroke or open-heart surgery happens. I was lucky my family babied me while I recuperated but included keeping me informed about family business as part of my healing process. Physical limitations will happen to some of us. We just have to adjust to meet any changes in our physical abilities. This reminds me of my youngest son. Up until he was about 8 years old, he could put both of his feet behind his head. After about 9, he couldn't do it anymore. Our physical abilities change as we get older. It is a fact. You will adjust. Solution: Turn your home into an obstacle course! Add grab bars, walkers with attitude, and if you’re really feeling adventurous, maybe a motorized scooter to zoom around the house. Independence, here we come!

Overprotective Family Members

God bless ‘em, but sometimes our family members act like we’re made of porcelain. They’re always checking in, making sure we’re “okay” and not plotting to run away to Vegas. Solution: Next time they get too overbearing, tell them you’re taking up skydiving or shark diving. Watch their faces. You’ll laugh for days. I am lucky. I have never experienced this in any extreme version. Not at least from any close relative. Sometimes from relatives you haven't seen for a decade.

Difficulty Navigating Public Spaces

Who designed these places? It’s like an obstacle course for people who can’t do obstacle courses. No benches, no ramps, no sanity. Solution: Bring your own folding chair and plop it down wherever you like. Tired in the grocery store? No problem! Just set up camp in the produce aisle. They’ll get the message eventually. We baby boomers have protest in our DNA.

Financial Worries

It’s funny how they tell you to "save for retirement" and then everything in retirement costs a fortune! Even birdseed seems to have gone up, and don't even talk to me about healthcare. I was lucky. I had a quadruple stroke. Medicare and BlueCross paid for it all. What about the people without insurance? Solution: Have a budget meeting with yourself and a glass of wine (or three). If things still look grim, tell the kids you’re moving in with them. That'll have them scrambling to figure out how to fund your luxury cruise lifestyle. But also read some of our articles on making money and keeping it.

Being Excluded from Social Activities

Why is it that people assume that just because we’re a little older, we don’t want to have fun? I still know how to throw a party, thank you very much. Kids born in the 50s, 60s, and 70s know how to throw a party. Society has the audacity to think that just because we have run out of fun. I have more fun left in me than I have spent in my 72 years. Solution: Start showing up at parties instead of slipping into your pajamas and having some herb tea and going to bed. Throw a few parties yourself. July 4th is my favorite BBQ day. The perfect party day.

Limited Mobility

The world starts to shrink a bit when your knees don’t work like they used to. It’s a little frustrating not being able to dance to Jimi Hendrix as I did back in the day. My solution? If you can’t move the way you used to, add wheels. Get yourself a scooter, put on a cup holder, and call it a day. Who needs dancing when I have a treadmill instead of a wheelchair? But that’s just part of getting older. Stay relevant and adjust your approach to life if you want to—can’t zoom around town? Before opting for wheels, start exercising daily. For now, if you want to adjust, do it. But don’t conform.

Aging comes with its fair share of annoyances, but it’s nothing we can’t handle with a little humor and a lot of attitude. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that laughter really is the best medicine. So, here’s to living life boldly, staying audacious, and never taking ourselves too seriously.