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50 Times People Spotted Old People Being Wholesome And Shared It In This Online Group
There's a subreddit called r/AdorableOldPeople and as you might guess, it shares screenshots and pictures of old people making the world a better place.
First of all, we are not huge fans of the name. As philosophy teacher Randall Horton pointed out in Huff Post, even people in their 50s like to think they are in their "young 50s" or that they look good "for their age." As they get older, they become "a little more patient, more accepting, less doctrinaire, and, yes, sadder and wiser." However, they do not think they become more adorable, precious, charming, or sweet. Attributing these words to older folks can send the wrong message. They might think we're infantilizing them. So we won't.
But the content of the subreddit is awesome. Whether we're talking about teens or seniors, people can be jerks, so it's always appropriate to celebrate the ones that aren't. Continue scrolling and you will find a hand-picked collection of the most popular posts on the sub.
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So Cute
She Said "I Haven't Been Carried Like This Since My Wedding Day"
Some call the issue Horton highlights as "elderspeak," which, according to her, is characterized by treating older people more as children than as fully functioning adults. In fact, she feels this demeaning language is often inappropriate for children as well. Horton said elderspeak is a problem in health care settings too.
"For some reason, when people talk to older patients, they tend to slow their speech, raise the volume, and sing their sentences," she explained. "In addition, every statement seems to become a question and second person pronouns are replaced with first-person plural pronouns ( e.g., 'you' becomes 'we') ... At a time when nursing home workers are sharing explicit photos and videos of older adults on social media, complaining about 'sweetheart' seems almost quaint, but both the diminutive terms and the more extreme demeaning media rob patients of their dignity and personhood."
Grandfather With Vitiligo Crochets Dolls To Make Children With This Condition Feel Better
Relationship Goals
I cannot be the only one who desperately wants to have that recipe!
It's clear that the subreddit and its members mean well, but Horton said people seem to think they are honoring seniors by treating them as mascots. "Many videos on social media feature adults who are 'adorable' or 'precious' dancing, singing, or doing other activities they have no doubt done for their entire lives. The videos are presented with the exact same attitude behind videos of kittens, puppies, and babies."
"Videos of the elderly seem to take the same attitude: It is amazing that older people might still do the things they love. If they make the attempt to engage in the activities that make them happy, they are 'so cute.'"
This Is So Cute. Selfie Stick Review
Cosplay Isn't Just For The Young
Treating old adults like this can lead to serious consequences. For instance, when health care providers infantilize old adults, they can overlook the sexual health of these patients. As this article states, “prevailing misconceptions among health care providers regarding a lack of sexual activity in older adults contribute to making elders an extremely vulnerable population."
The result of this ignorance is that STD rates among the elderly are increasing at an alarming rate; even though about 80 percent of adults aged 50 to 90 years old are sexually active, they are infrequently screened for STDs.
But Horton is more concerned about what she calls "the basic harm."
"As we age we lose the respect of our fellow beings and we lose our status as persons," she said.
Obama Told This 90-Year Old Veteran He Didn't Have To Stand. He Said, "No Sir, You're The President"
My Professor Is 74 And He Isn’t Confident Using Zoom So He’s Prerecorded The Rest Of Our Classes. Today, I Watched The First One. He Has A Pinocchio Doll In The Front Row Because He Isn’t Comfortable Teaching To An Empty Room. I’m Social Distancing For This Man And This Man Only
According to her, old people are still rational and intelligent. "I realize we all suffer some cognitive decline as we age and some are affected by diseases that accelerate or accentuate that decline, but young people also suffer brain injury, disease, and other limitations on cognitive ability. Age is not a sufficient reason to believe someone is stupid."
Her text really makes sense. And we are not trying to belittle anyone. "Adorable old people” is obviously better than mean-spirited, dismissive remarks about aging, but it may not be the best description of these pictures. But as mentioned in the intro, we look at these individuals as simply good human beings.
Maureen The Legend
There used to be an elderly lady that lived at the long term care facility I worked at. To her, it was her home and she had to finish chores before she would go to bed at night. We always kept a small basket of wash rags, hand towels, etc. that "needed" folding. She would sit at a counter near the nurses station until she had folded them. Then very proudly put her clean, neatly folded laundry on the counter to be put away. And then she could comfortably go to bed knowing her chores were completed for the evening. Best long term care facility I ever worked at. We were told when we were hired, "this is their home, you have been invited in as one of their guests!" We were able to treat them with such care and love.
This sounds amazing. I'm so thankful for everyone doing such an amazing job with so much dedication.
Load More Replies...that's like my great aunt with dementia, except she thinks she works there and is a little mean cause she thinks she's above everyone else
Our elderly folks need a daily purpose, as meaningless we could consider it is.
AMEN!!! Some of us can't 'retire' as we loose purpose in life. I and my brother always thought being a Walmart greeter would be a kick in the pants. For the meantime I help older people in the store whenever I get the chance...I will be 71 in August...lol
It's always important to feel like you're needed and can contribute to helping others
My Great Aunt Iris worked in home looking after old people younger than her. When they eventually found out her age, they fired her. This was decades ago when they had to retire at 60, she was in her early 70s
Sounds just like my Great-grandmother except she never was a resident, which was, probably even worse. But, get this... she worked in an ambulatory care facility until she was 80 and just couldn't do it any more.
The worst is when you feel you have no purpose and nothing to look forward to when waking up each day. Kudos to Flower Park Care Home for giving a purpose AND something to look forward to!
She is more likely to thrive with a purpose, I am glad they found a way to support that need!
She’s a hummingbird that can’t sit down EVER! I’m certain she’d go circles around me!❤️👏
there's nothing that ages a person more or faster than making them feel inconsequential, unnecessary, or in the way. Of course she wants to help - she needs to help. I gave my mother small tasks and told her what a great job she did - and she DID - when she was 98.
This is the way it should be. Being elderly and in a care center does not mean we are not able to still assist with many things. Please let them help!!!! It makes them still feel valuable.
The trouble with society today is that everyone thinks older people are useless. When you feel useless you become useless.
Is this the sweetest thing or what? And, how dear of you to make her feel needed.
The elderly know more about helping than most teenagers. Big ups to Maureen!
This is a fantastic idea. I’m sure people in care homes would have a much richer life if they were included in the running of the homes!
When you have a heart and a caring nature, you are never too old to be a helper as long as you can just about get about! You go Maureen! I hope you can inspire others to follow your example. x
It's HIPAA (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act) and I don't see how that applies.
Load More Replies...This Is My 96 Year Old Grandma, Willie. She Survived The Great Depression, Being Hit By A Fire Truck And Being In A Coma, And Losing Her Husband At A Young Age. Now She Drinks Liquor And Smokes Cigars, Still Lives Alone And Hits On Younger Men. I Love Her With Everything I’ve Got
My Parents Sent Me This From Their Retirement Community Today
This Couple Re-Creating Their Marriage Photo 70 Years Later
I Lost My Dad At Walmart And Ended Up Finding Him In The Garden Section Watering Plants
The Fact That He Still Carries The Pic Around Is So Precious
My Grandpa’s 88th Birthday Was A Few Weeks Ago. My Sister Got Him A Coloring Book And Crayons. He Says He’s Never Colored Before, But He Seems To Enjoy It. He Shows All His Visitors The Pages He’s Finished. He’s Colorblind, So Some Of The Puppies Are Pink, But He’s So Happy. He Melts My Heart
Aw can someone please buy him a pair of those specs that help colourblind people see colours please!!
My Neighbor Almost Had My Mom Worried For His Safety
Oh The Smiles!
Made Me Smile
I Live Abroad. My Grandparents Called Me To Urgently Check The Security Web Cams Of My House Back Home. Turns Out They Called So I Could See Them Standing With A Heart And Waving At Me
Dad Went Out In The Snow To Feed The Birds, And Made A New Friend! It's Official, He's A Disney Princess Now
An Old Man Taking Pictures Of His Wife Without Her Realising
The BEST reason for a smart phone with a good camera. Taking pictures of those you love.
A 76 Yr Old Retired Air Force Colonel Is No Match For His 4 Year Old Granddaughter
I don't care how tough you are - if a toddler says you're a princess then you are a princess!
Milly Girl. I Love Ya
Grandpa Brings Dog To Furniture Store To Make Sure She Likes Chair Too
She Picked A Good Name Anyways
My Dad Thought He Was Taking A Picture Of My Kids And Accidentally Had It On Front Facing. It Fills Me With Joy That This Is What His Face Looks Like When He’s Watching My Kids. He’s A Great Dad
My 97-Year-Old Grandma Doesn’t Use Computers, But I Found A Meme Years Ago That I Thought She’d Like So I Sent It In The Mail. Turns Out She’s Kept It At Her Bedside Ever Since
They Dated In Their Teens, Married Different People, And Got Back Together 65 Years Later. My Grandma And Her Boyfriend
When You Can’t March In Protest, You Scoot In Protest
My Grandpa Mac, 92 Years Old, Just Got New Security Cameras Around His House. He Has My Cousin, Aaron, And I On The Online Login (He’s Not Too Computer Savvy) So We Can See What’s Going On. He Sends Us Random Messages Through The Cameras
Aww Good Husband
Doris Absolutely Destroyed Me In Words With Friends
My Mom Died Of Covid June 8th. I Found This Her Writing On The Back Page Of This Blank Book I Gave Her Years Ago
My Mom Is Almost In Her 60’s And Started Her Weight Loss Journey Around This Time Last Year! 85 Pounds Down!! It’s Never Too Late To Change Your Life!
Happy Pride Month, Everyone!
Did A Christmas Scavenger Hunt. This Is What My Grandpa Sent For 3 Wise Men
My Grandad Being All Giggly When He Was Chatting About His Childhood And All The Mischief He Got Up To Behind His Mothers Back!!!
My Mom Got To Visit Snow White - Her Favorite Princess Since She Was A Little Girl. My Mom Retired Friday And This Was Her First Trip To Disney Ever
Grandpa Humor Is My All-Time Favourite
Bob The Wise
Sound advice. I'll insert myself as the someone. No one can love you better than yourself
I Love My Grandpa So Much
Grandma With The Drip
My Grandmas 94 Last Week. She Has Dementia And Is Bed Ridden But She Still Has Her Good Spirits. She Loves This Teddy Bear My Cousin Gave Her. So If Me And My Mom Are Feeding Her And She Starts To Fiddle, She Holds Onto It. Love Her So Much
Awww
My 92 Year Old Grandpa Holding My Parrot For The First Time. He Insisted That I Take A Photo Of Him So He Could Print It Out To Show His Friends
My Nana Is Bored So She’s Keeping Me Fresh During The Quarantine
Sent A Picture Of A Final Fantasy 7 Character To My Mum Thinking She Looked Like Her, She Recreated The Look And Pretty Much Nailed It
This Is My 85 Year Old Physics Teacher, Him And His Wife Just Had A Light Saber Fight
My Grandpa Has Alzheimer’s And Can’t Always Remember His Grandkids Names, So We Custom Made A Shirt That Has All Our Names And It’s His New Favourite Shirt
This Is A Selfie My Dad Sent Me
Note: this post originally had 106 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
This whole post was just wholesome. Hopefully, I'll retain my humour till old age
I loved this entire post! Made my day 110% better :D Better go call my grandparents...
There‘s a German tv show where various people test unusual products. Among those people, there‘s an elderly couple and they’re the cutest thing ever ^^ They both used to be opera singers, and when they test kitchen gadgets and cook something, they always add "just a liiittle more wine". They’re so precious.
Crying like a little girl. I lost both my parents Christmas 2015. They're not dead, they're just too set in their ways and disowned me their daughter in law and their only grandchild. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't change parents minds.
I'm so so sorry that you have gone through that!
Load More Replies...For you who have grandparents cherish them i never knew any of mine Both grandpas died at 39, my grandma here died at 45(wish I had know her she had a cat named Bottle Ass Bill) I My other grandma was in England. This post lifted my spirits thank you for sharing them with us.
These were so sweet. Both sets of my grandparents have been gone for years. Reminds me of fun times. Miss them so much. Treasure your time with them as it goes by way too fast.
I quit the beer industry in April to go work for a senior living community. I absolutely love the residents!
This whole post was just wholesome. Hopefully, I'll retain my humour till old age
I loved this entire post! Made my day 110% better :D Better go call my grandparents...
There‘s a German tv show where various people test unusual products. Among those people, there‘s an elderly couple and they’re the cutest thing ever ^^ They both used to be opera singers, and when they test kitchen gadgets and cook something, they always add "just a liiittle more wine". They’re so precious.
Crying like a little girl. I lost both my parents Christmas 2015. They're not dead, they're just too set in their ways and disowned me their daughter in law and their only grandchild. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't change parents minds.
I'm so so sorry that you have gone through that!
Load More Replies...For you who have grandparents cherish them i never knew any of mine Both grandpas died at 39, my grandma here died at 45(wish I had know her she had a cat named Bottle Ass Bill) I My other grandma was in England. This post lifted my spirits thank you for sharing them with us.
These were so sweet. Both sets of my grandparents have been gone for years. Reminds me of fun times. Miss them so much. Treasure your time with them as it goes by way too fast.
I quit the beer industry in April to go work for a senior living community. I absolutely love the residents!