What Are Seniors Top Fears?
Top 5 Fears of Seniors?
As we age our fears age with us. As teenagers our fears are, will I have a date for prom? Will I pass my driving test?
Small fears now, but big fears back then.
As we progress to the workforce and married life the fears increase. Will I make enough money to provide for my family? Will I be a good mother or father? Will I raise good children? Will my spouse and children respect me? All viable fears that we carry with us through the years.
Then we reach our golden years and the fears seem to intensify.
The top fears for most seniors are loss of independence , running out of money, their health and/or eyesight worsening, losing their spouse, and isolation . The latter seems more prevalent today with the COVID-19 pandemic but has always been a concern for seniors.
So, how do you ease their minds, especially if you live in another state? First, let’s break them down to try and understand them better.
Understanding the Top Fear’s of Senior’s
1. Loss of independence
This is a big fear for many seniors.
Remember the freedom you had when you got your driver’s license?
Well, now think of it being taken away from you!!
Oh my, you can’t go wherever you want any more, you have to depend on others, just like when you were fifteen years old.
Nobody wants that, especially not your mother or father. Be patient with them, this is a catastrophic event for the elderly.
2. Running out of money
What if they didn’t save enough to live to be 100 years old?
A lot of people are living longer these days, and money doesn’t go as far as it used to.
While the cost of living increases, their pensions don’t. Some seniors don’t even receive a pension, so their fear is doubled.
You can’t live on Social Security alone anymore.
3. Health and/or eyesight worsening
They’ve already lost their independence, what if their health or eyesight declines even more?
Who will take care of them? Will they be able to fend for themselves if need be? Will one spouse be able to care for the other? Imagine losing your vision.
How scary would that be for you?
4. Losing their spouse
What will I do without my spouse?
He/she’s been with me forever!! I’ll be all alone, with no one to take care of or talk to anymore.
Just imagine this if you’re a senior and you’ve been married for 30+ years to the same person and all of a sudden they’re gone!
What would you do? You’d be awfully lonely and possibly afraid. What will the future hold for you?
5. Isolation
Everyone fears being isolated, but it’s worse for seniors.
They’re already isolated to a point, especially since COVID came to town.
They have been cooped up with no visitation from family members or friends. A lot of families put the seniors into a community and rarely visit, then throw COVID into the mix, and visitation is not allowed, This makes a good recipe for disaster.
Along with the isolation, they become depressed, those two are not a good combination.
How can you help ease the fears of the senior in your life?
You may still wonder how you can help with their fears.
- You can be patient with them
- Call them more often than usual, you can Zoom or Facetime with them at least once a week
- Make sure their grandchildren contact them and also zoom or facetime with them.
- If possible, take them outside for a walk, or just to sit on a bench in a park and spend some quality time together.
Our parents are used to taking care of everything, children, house, grandchildren, etc.
Once they are no longer needed, or can no longer do this, they feel unwanted.
Make sure they know you need and want them in your life and your children’s life!!!
