Question

Interview an individual who is 70 years of age or older. Ask the following questions and record the summary.

1. Ask your subject to describe what his or her ideal day would be like today. Start with first arising in the morning and end with bedtime. Where would the day be spent and who would be there? What activities would be included?

2. How is his or her ideal day at age 70+ different from an ideal day in younger days?

3. What has been the most valuable life philosophy or lesson learned by your subject? What is his or her single most important piece of advice to young people today?

4. How did the interview affect you? Were any of your attitudes about aging changed?  

Answer 1

I interviewed Mr. Thompson, a retired librarian who is 76 years old. He lives in a retirement home. His wife expired 13 years ago and he has three sons and two daughters who live in different places. He was happy to share his present life now.

1. His day starts at 06.00 am in the morning. He goes for a walk at 07.00am in a nearby park for 30 minutes. When he comes back, he has a shower and completes his breakfast by 08.30.He then starts for a voluntary job in the local library and works at the front desk till 12.30 pm. He then comes back have his lunch and has a nap till 03.00 pm. At 03.30 pm he sits along with the other elders in the home and have a casual conversation where they talk abouteverything they come across in the newspapers. He has his tea and biscuits at 05.30 pm and goes to the park again to watch people go by till 06.30 pm. He has his dinner at 07.30pm and reads books till 09.00 pm. He goes to bed at 09.00 pm.

2. Mr. Thompson feels that he has completed his life satisfactorily and he is happy because there is no hurry in completing things and providing the family but when he was young, he was very stressed about the job, family etc. He was very active when he was young, of course he is still active but not that active. He used to play football and watch football matches which he misses today. The fun elements have come down but not the happiness and contentment except the fact that he can’t see his grandchildren often.

3. Mr. Thompson’s life philosophy is live and let live. He strongly believes in equality and mutual respect. His single piece of advice for the youth today is ‘make hay while the sun shines and develop your own sun to make it shine all the time’. He means to say that people should use the opportunities that comes on their way and create new opportunities.

4. The interview affected me a lot because after all these years of hard work and settling all the children someone still works to help the society. He is old physically but not mentally. He is very strong in facing life with a smile. I learnt not to lose hope in times of struggle but to face it and use every opportunity that I get.

In my point of view the aged should be helped by their sons and daughters. They have brought them to the world but he has no one around. He was around everyone whenever they needed him. Nevertheless, I will grow happily to reach that age to help the society.