No one has considered that they may be living happily at home. Most people do not end up in nursing homes. My parents didn't and my wifes parents didn't. Even those who do probably do not even know they have Apergers, I didn't until I was 65 and then I only learned because I read a lot a read about a person who sounded as strange as me. What if we learn that Aspies have better mental and physical health and the intelligence to live alone until they die of old age?
Hey guys less of the word ***, it is offensive and quite frankly hypocritical.Â
When I was young anyone who had trouble learning was called an idiot or moron, then that became offensive so they were called dumb (if they could not hear they were called deaf and dumb). That became offensive so they called them ***. (our towns schools had an "Opportunity Class for the Mentally ***"). That became offensive so they called the developementally disabled or menatally challanged or something. No matter what they are called it will become offensive and a new word will be used.
All those little brats who always wanted to call the socially awkward smart kids "***" have been given ammo.  It's amazing how kids catch onto stuff they have no business with, if it makes them feel superior to somebody else.
I like Bill Gates statement something like: "Be careful who you call a geek because someday you may be working for him."
I'm better now than I was as a teen, but I do think there are limitations, and I don't expect that by the time I reach 80, I'll soemhow blend right in.
I am 70 and have had a very successful life, but I still do not blend in. But believe it or not, I am still trying.
AWSOME! I never met an elder aspie or autistic person before> I have only met people who are younger, my age, or middle aged, then it just stops. So nice to meet you FreWye!!!
I have never met an elder aspie or autistic person either. I wonder why? Is it something new or did they disappear with age? I would like to know.
As for elders using the internet, I live in two retirement communities (summer/winter) of about 2000 people each, and almost every person here uses the internet. All our activities are posted on the internet. When we have meeting it's just assumed that everyone has internet access. I know a man who just turned 100 and has a website. I think it is the middle aged people who work who do no not have the time to get to use it yet.
A lot of people in nursing homes have such severe dementia that it's impossible to tell what they might have ever had. My mother reached that state, after spending her life with probably undiagnosed bipolar disorder, and, I'm beginning to wonder, maybe AS too.
Wow! This conversation hits home with me, as I have just recently been seriously thinking about retirement (I'm 51) and what the future may hold for me, what the likelihood of Alzheimers might be, etc.
I already have taken out long-term care insurance that will pay for nursing home and/or home care (expensive, but worth it - and luckily I got this LONG before I ever could imagine I'm AS/HFA.) My workplace offered it to us, and I jumped right on board and signed up for the maximum coverage!
Although I would never wish to be a burden on anyone whatsoever, I also do have children (and grandchildren). I saw how my older boys immediately came to the aide of my own parents (I lived out of State at the time), so I am somewhat reassured that I'm likely not to be neglected.
But, yes.........I still worry somewhat about how autism will affect me with age.
Although controversial yet, and research has only just begun, something tells me that the likelihood or risk of autistics developing Alzheimers will end up not being any greater than the general population. I just can't see it being the same condition. Our brains are wired differently. Although I can't provide proof of this at the moment, of course, my belief is that Alzheimers affects different parts of the brain anyway, so autism itself wouldn't necessarily predispose us.
you cant say "normal", how can there be such thing as normal when everyone is different?
I fear that lot's of older autistics are in psychogeriatric wards. When autism is not recognized and understood, a person in an 'old folks home' will easily overload. Getting pushed to socialize. Brought to regular bingo's etc. Overload and meltdown are possible outcomes I guess. And when autism is not recognized as the cause sedation by pills will be the next step. And still trying to get the person social again. A never ending circle of miscommunication. Psycho-geriatric ward as a natural outcome.
Also it seems to be a fact that depression in people over 70 is often mistaken for dementia. (Not enjoying food, lack of time perception, forgetting things etc.) The deeper the depression, the more a person might be dx-ed as severely demented. And the outcome could be removal to the psycho-geriatric ward again. Depression seems to be a common 'comorbity' of AS.
I think research is needed regarding older people and AS.
you cant say "normal", how can there be such thing as normal when everyone is different?
Normal in most cases means within a couple of standard deviations from the average. There is such a thing as normal, and the Autistic Spectrum is most patently not it.
I agree. What is normal but an illusion far from the truth?
Here, here, M. Hope you have better luck later in life. *Raises champagne glass filled with ginger ale and drinks it in one gulp* WHAT?! It's ginger ale, not alcohol!