Follow up by asking if any of them plan to live in a nursing home, and the smiles fade. Most people accept the fact that they are going to grow old and die. However, the result of decades of good nutrition and medical care is an aging population that is mentally fit yet physically frail.
Independence is a virtue, and the primary goal of Depression-era seniors.
In spite of all obstacles, many in their late 70s and early 80s are struggling to maintain independent living quarters. Those in single-level dwellings may have fewer architectural barriers than their peers living in a Colonial or town house, but once they need help with two or more of the activities of daily living, the stress of living independently outweighs the benefits. Typically, seniors who can no longer do their own shopping, cooking or cleaning also cannot drive. Many have trouble managing their finances. Those who cannot walk to necessary services soon become dependent upon the help of others.