Some would agree that the experience of aging is a nerve-racking one at best, with the thoughts of wrinkles, declining health, and the inability to care for yourself as the ultimate finish line. Aging can turn the simplest of everyday activities into dreaded nightmares. Sure there are blissful moments in watching your children grow, succeed and expand your bloodlines, but what most seniors don’t acknowledge are the fears they have about getting too old.

Fear #1 Losing Your License

In Ontario, once you turn 80 years old you are required to renew your driver’s license every 2 years if you plan to continue operating a motor vehicle. By this time in life, you’ve probably thrown all of your driver’s education out the window and have developed some bad driving habits. It can be a stressful experience to re-learn how to parallel park or make a 3-point turn. Without a license, your world becomes much more difficult to navigate for appointments, groceries and family obligations. The fear of losing a license results in a lack of freedom and the need to rely on other means to get around.

Fear #2 Losing Your Memory

General forgetfulness and memory loss is associated with getting older; however the severity may range from forgetting an appointment to forgetting to turn off the stove. The level of concern determines the actions and steps that should be taken to address this issue. Alzheimer’s and Dementia are both diseases of the mind, as they attack your brain function and memory. Failing to remember family, knowledge, and how to function on a daily basis is a fear that many elderly people posses.

Fear #3 Losing Your Balance

Aging for some means brittle bones and poor balance, which insinuates that seniors have a higher risk of falling or tripping. When these incidents happen in public, it makes them feel self-conscious and embarrassed – not to mention the risk of injury. Naturally, the older you are, the longer you take to heal and because of the lengthened recovery time, seniors may have a fear of falling.

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Reference

Del Duca (2012). Renew a G driver’s licence: 80 years and over. Retrieved from: https://www.ontario.ca/page/renew-g-drivers-licence-80-years-and-over