What Are Old People For? That was the title of Dr. William Thomas’s talk last night at the All Faiths Chapel on the K-State campus in Manhattan. He said humans are designed to age and live a long life, and in the animal kingdom, although the biological life of the chimpanzee is a lot like ours, the maximum life expectancy of the chimpanzee is up to about 55 years of age. He said although humans have 98% of the same DNA of the chimpanzee; the 2% that sets us apart allows us to age well beyond 100 years.
He said a miracle occurred 1 million years ago on the plains ofAfrica when a hominid child cried out from hunger, but the mother was unable to attend to the child because the mother just gave birth to a second child. He believes the miracle was performed by the first grandmother on the earth. Dr. Thomas doesn’t know why the first grandmother sustained her daughter and helped feed her grandchildren, but in his opinion, he believes that the grandmother broke the bonds that biology had imposed on species that were very similar to us. He believes we are what we are because of the changes that grand parenting made possible when food was shared across three generations, and this revolutionary act changed the course of life on earth.
He went on to say that America has a screwed up view of adulthood with the philosophy of nothing matters but work and productivity and Baby Boomers put this model on steroids. He said in society today, if you are an aging person in the workforce, you’re only worthwhile if you can act like you did when you were age 40 because if you can’t keep up you’re out of a job.
He said the word elderly should be struck from everyone’svocabulary because of the negativity and stereotype wrapped up in one ugly word. He said often times an aging senior becomes isolated and detached from society by trying to stay in their home because they are afraid of being institutionalized in a nursing home.
Dr. Thomas believes we should abolish nursing homes as we knowthem today. He thinks there’s no reason people must surrender their freedom. He believes in a more nurturing environment where care can be provided in a communal living arrangement where the residents have a voice. He pointed out that Meadowlark Hills here in Manhattan has been a leader nationwide to develop a new model of care, and other facilities are slowly following suit.
The audience submitted written questions and for the sake of time he purposely gave short answers. Here are a few examples: What one thing will help a senior in the aging process? Answer: Exercise. How do I know I am happy? Answer: You’ll know it when you feel it. Being content is highly overrated. Happiness and contentment are two different things. Happiness comes from within. Are seniors with wealth happier than those who don’t have wealth? No, additional wealth does not buy additional happiness.
What’s the best way to connect with grandparents? Answer: Recordtheir legacy and the story of their life. You’ll get the official story at first but ask grandma and grandpa at age 80, and you’ll get the real story.
Dr Thomas concluded his remarks with this thought. LuckilyAmerica is becoming an aging population and he believes this aging phenomenon is why elders will save the world. Just like in ancient times, he thinks elders carry the deepest concerns and they can lay a gentle hand on us and tell us to stop doing what we are doing as a society with the overachieving values, i.e., standardized testing, private lessons for more enrichment and achievement, and the nothing matters but work and productivity philosophy that is so engrained in our culture.
I started reading his book a few days ago and he describes how ourobsession with youth damages the well being of all, young and old alike, and he offers an alternative. He said that we must surrender the illusion of immortality and we’ll all benefit as a result.
You may want to get a copy of the book because it contains cuttingedge concepts of aging by creating Green Houses-communities where older people live together intentionally bringing meaning and worth to the last half of life.
I talked to Stormy Lee Kennedy after the lecture and she has copiesof the book available at her book store here in Manhattan. Call or stop by Claflin Books and Copies and add this book to your library. The name of the book is What Are Old People For? By William H. Thomas, MD. Dr. Thomas lives with his wife Judith Meyers-Thomas and their five children in Ithaca, New York.
