OLDER PEOPLE NEED THEIR INDEPENDENCE, JUST LIKE YOUNGER PEOPLE

If we have some people who are respectable, they are older people. Society must see them like very important people because they are the ones who built all what we can enjoy and share right now. Maybe, some of us, one day, will be elderly, have nieces and nephews and share valuable information and knowledge with future generations. Elder people need to be independent, respected and having society´s support to have a good quality of life and achieve their goals.

Nowadays, older people are considered for most of the people in our society like a problem, something else to take care of, an object. For this and many other reasons, many adults are afraid and sometimes they do not want to become elderly. In some cultures, elder people are considered wise because of all that they have learned through their life. Society must realize that they are still useful and they can provide interesting contributions in every area we need. What they need is independence; they need we make them feel they are important for us, for young and not so young people.

It is not possible that we think that when people get retired they are starting a way to death. No, elders are starting a new age in their life; they must be very motivated to achieve goals they thought years before. All of us, like citizens, humans, relatives, must respect elderl’s ideas. Some of them made a lot of sacrifices for others when they were young and now this the only time they have to enjoy and make their dreams come true. We must do what it is done in Japan; elders are considered wise and have a special position in their society.

Every human being has rights; it doesn’t matter if you are young, elderly, black or white. The CostaRican Government is making a good effort to take care of a portion of elderly people. For example, AGECO and CONAPAM are institutions that are providing programs for this part of the population. They have health and sports programs to protect them and provide them activities that help them to have physical and mental exercise. This population, for me, is a real treasure we must care for them and learn from them.

An elderly person has the same conditions like every other person to live, to learn, to enjoy. Society needs to learn again to see elderly people like any other person and not to marginalize them. We do not have to fear to become elderly; we must just prepare us for this beautiful age. I know many elderly people who run, are constructors, drive cars with no problem and have an independent and happy life. Remember most of them have worked very hard for others to enjoy some activities until this age and, they are not only special, they are lovely.