It Goes Quickly

(Image from Annamated Adventures)

The science of aging confirms what we all know: deterioration is inescapable.

Every function of the human body declines 5% every 10 years,” says Michael Roizen, chairman of the Wellness Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. “That’s brain function, heart function, liver function."

The mind: "Speed of processing and working memory peak in the 20s and gradually start declining...Learning new information after 40 can be harder."

The eyes' afflictions: presbyopia, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

Hearing loss: "There’s no way to restore such hearing loss, since it’s caused by both genetics and environmental factors, such as exposure to loud noises and chemicals, as well as your diet and medications."

Muscle and bone loss: “When you lose core strength, you start having more and more trouble with balance...The combination of muscle and bone loss becomes a real problem when people reach their 60s and 70s."

We are fortunate to have more than a few friends and relatives who are in their 80's and 90's, but every one is a shadow of their mid-70's selves. It goes quickly, doesn't it?

Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you've got to start young - Theodore Roosevelt

We've been making regular visits to a relative at Brookdale in San Jose.
Very nice, but even the cheapest level of service is $5,000 per month.