The house it taken care of, the children have grown up and they have a hobby sorted out. Bernard suggested that maybe older age is the time to take up dangerous sports, when people have fewer responsibilities and more time. Unfortunately it is still seen, on the whole, as a time of restrictions and limitations. Older people are under constant pressure to conform and they retire and withdraw. 96 year old marathon runners are rare, but older people must keep active and stimulated in body and mind.
Nothing is more debilitating than inactivity.
Bernard continued his talk by speaking about the needs of older people in his field of sheltered accommodation and sheltered care. Older people do not always have access to the medical care they need, ageism exists in the medical world and staff can be unhelpful. There is a direct correlation between depression and ill health and many older people have long term illnesses. Current policy is to supply care to the in-care population, but money for this is limited. Much of the social housing stock is without central heating and basic facilities such as inside toilets.