What worries you about growing old?

It is happening to all of us – we are all getting older.  Do you worry about growing old and if so, what worries you?

I am guessing that most of you will say that you are worried about either losing your mental or physical health, or both?  And the loss of self sufficiency that this will bring.  What about being alone?

Age UK produce a regular document on later life in the UK.  I have taken some of their data:

In the UK there are now 11.6 million people over 65, 1.5 million over  85 and over 14,000 centenarians.

36% of those over 65 live alone; nearly 70% of these are women. 2 million people over 75 live alone; 1.5 million of these are women.  There are more older women as women live longer than men.

A 2015 study has indicated that loneliness can increase your risk of premature death by up to a quarter.

There are an estimated 5,153 nursing homes and 12,525 residential homes in the UK. According to the latest Laing and Buisson survey, there are 426,000 elderly and disabled people in residential care (including nursing), approximately 405,000 of whom are aged 65+.

24% of people over 65 say they are very satisfied with their health, and 51% say they are fairly satisfied.

What worries you?

Image credit:  http://www.kotaku.com.au/2013/03/playing-video-games-makes-old-people-happier-new-study-says/