3 ms·
I think, when you are over 80, safety becomes much less important to yourself and much more important to others. Taking a risk as an 80 year old isn't a big dea
by foxyv 5y ago
I think, when you are over 80, safety becomes much less important to yourself and much more important to others. Taking a risk as an 80 year old isn't a big deal because you are staring death in the face anyways. All of a sudden your priorities change.
However, when we see old folks, a lot of us rightfully want to protect them. I can't imagine how frustrating it would be to be treated like a Ming Vase when you just want to live life as much as possible in the few years left to you.
- c22 5y agoWhen you're 80 taking a fall could mean spending the rest of your life bedridden in a hospital instead of peacefully at your home. You could last for several years in this state.
- foxyv 5y agoAlso, perhaps the bicycle is keeping them strong enough to not take that fall at home. It may be our first instinct to prevent an old person from engaging in a risky activity, however this is often a great way to kill them slowly. Sitting peacefully in an easy chair is a slow, painful, and boring death for many and often results in the falls you mention. Meanwhile, others are running marathons and swimming the english channel. When you are 20, taking a fall could result in the same lifelong injuries. We have to be careful not to wrap our elderly in cotton batting simply because they are old. Otherwise we rob them of the chance to live as they wish for no good reason.
- c22 5y agoI'm not trying to argue against old people riding bicycles or for anyone to take away their agency without cause, just pushing back on the idea that the only risk old people might face is premature death so what me worry. An 80 year old has much higher odds of becoming bedridden from any given fall than an average 20 year old.