It is often assumed that once people arrive at the stage of life where they are accorded the title “senior” they have an easier path through life. Let’s examine some of the unnoticed rocks that often grace the direction of that path.
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Either because of failing eyesight or a natural desire to slow down when driving an automobile, seniors are often honked at for adhering to the speed limit or perhaps even being more conservative.
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Many seniors have various handicaps but the handicap spaces in many parking lots are at the end of a row, making for a lengthy walk to one’s destination.
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Many seniors also have difficulty bending down and standing up, but a large percentage of handicap bath rooms in restaurants and other public buildings do not provide grab bars for customers to hold onto when attempting to sit or stand.
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It is universally assumed that seniors do not hear well past a certain age with the result that everyone is shouting at them when a normal conversation tone would suffice.
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We understand why restaurants have normal sharing charges but perhaps some consideration should be given to those who share meals because their appetites are greatly compromised as their ages increase.
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As we age, it seems as though the size of the type on bills and receipts constantly shrinks, making it more difficult to double-check the amount being charged.
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Appointments of younger patients of doctors and dentists take longer than those of older ones probably because treating medical issues of the young can have more of a beneficial effect than of older people because the latter are closer to the end of their life expectancies than those younger. So it matters more to treat the younger segment of the patients more thoroughly than the older ones. If there is a benefit to the elderly, it is that their bills are generally lower because of the more limited treatment.
None of these examples make our later lives unbearable but simply show how human beings deal differently with one another depending on age.
