Future proofing. Should we all learn to 'air fry' in our 50s and 60s?

[Mum5net]

Been thinking what skills I need to future proof better.

When DMil was around 85 and could no longer safely use the cooker, DBil bought her a microwave and placed it on the kitchen counter. Immediately she demanded to know why there was a TV set in her kitchen...

Future proof fail on our part. From then on, DMil could never heat her own Wiltshire Farm Food lunches or a M&S ready meal. She wasn't receptive to acquiring the skills and we'd left it too late for her to embrace the convenience of microwaving...

DH and I, early 60s, have bought an air fryer. I don't love it as we steam just about everything. However, remembering where we let Granny down, it will inevitably bring us more cooking choices at Granny's age

Air fryer is a bit of a fad, I think. I certainly wouldn’t get one just to keep up with technology, given that it’s basically just an oven.

Not sure what was wrong with your DMIL using her oven either. Latest isn’t always best. My parents had an electric carving knife, whereas I cut through meat with a metal knife, like a thirteenth century peasant.

Yes... after hearing a r4 program some years ago about how so many problems stem from legs becoming weak, I consciously never use my arms to get up from a chair or the floor (except right now my Pilates teacher is working on that crossed leg down and up thing, I need to use a hand if I'm trying to do the up straight from cross legged).
Pilates is great.
Pretty sure most 50 and 60 yos can use microwaves etc - I can't see a need for an air fryer, if the big oven was too much a little counter too one like the in-laws used to have would be fine I'm sure.

Yes to getting Power of Attorney sorted out now. It can lie dormant until needed.

And another yes to de-cluttering.

And a third thought - remember how bloody obstinate your elderly parents are/were (unless you are/were fortunate enough to have very reasonable and sensible ones), and remind yourself and the next generation to give yourself a good kick if you start going the same way!

I got my first airfryer 10 years ago ( Tefal) l was 55.. had one ever scince but now a basket one.. it's just like a mini oven and can't remember last time l put my oven on.
I use the oven top to steam veg etc.. but between the airfryer/ microwave/ slow cooker.. they make life much easier.
It's like still having a twin tub washing machine or washing your dishes in the sink and not having a dishwasher in this day and age.

Omg my air fryer is bloody brilliant and I wish my dp had had one. So much faster than oven and everything cooked better esp bacon.

Our oven is not hugely expensive but it's new and v expensive for us Boot 600.

It's a huge clumsy thing compared to 50 quid air fryer

Having watched a lot of friends go through various life stages with their parents, my big takeaway is to get things done before they're needed. So many stories about fiercely independent older people clinging to their homes, but then when they finally moved into a care home, had a totally new lease of life.

I'm gently encouraging my 70 year old dad to get his bathroom converted now (he has a shower over the bath) before he starts to struggle with getting in and out. Also the benefit of doing it this way is that you can work around trades rather than suddenly finding yourself at a point where you can't get into the shower and can't find a plumber!

I have seen a few messages about strength when getting old. What sort of things should I be looking into.

Learnt how to use an air fryer last week whilst looking after my DGC; it was either that or baked beans on toast every day!

We are in our 60s. We have decluttered (still have a lot of stuff though), future-proofed our home, we have wills, I have made a list of who gets what of my personal possessions, our beds and sofas have longer legs so they are higher and we have plans to sort out our funerals in advance. All triggered by the deaths of both our mothers within the last seven years. And... more recently, underlined by my own cancer diagnosis. As far as we know at the moment, I'm not going to die in the near future, but my mother-in-law sorted out and paid for her own funeral when she had her own diagnosis, whereas my own mother did not, and it was so much easier for everyone involved when my MIL died.
I learned to use a walker when I was in hospital with chemo toxicity a few months ago... so that's sorted 😁.
We already have a microwave and an air fryer and know how to use both... so THAT'S sorted. We have our prescriptions sent to the pharmacy automatically, so that's sorted as well.
I don't think there's much else left to do - but I'm willing to find out if there IS anything!

My dm has a great phrase "use it or lose it" She wasn't really bothered about a smart phone until her dgs got one - she wanted to keep up with them lol.
She keeps as active as she can.
Will keep driving for as long as she feels safe (or I tell her otherwise!)
Bought an iPad and got my ds to show her how to use it 🥰
Regularly declutters (sure my dad doesn't even realise things are disappearing 😂)

However, they did a lot of "big" things too - new windows and doors with easy open catches, redesigned kitchen (high level oven) stand alone shower, re did garden access.

To look at my parents you wouldn't think of them as elderly or needing any of this. But I dm went through a lot when her mum died so has gone into super practical mode and doesn't want that on me.

My Dad bought an air fryer when he was in his 70s and totally got to grips with it straight away. He loved it!

Given that muscle mass decreases by around 5% each decade after age 30 my idea of future proofing is strength training to build as much muscle as possible and as I get older maintaining as much exercise/activity as possible. This will mean actively choosing a hilly location to live, a house with stairs and doing my own gardening. Look at the blue zones research - they actually correlated longitivity in Sardinia to the hilliness of the villages.

In order to best protect my brain I will not be eating any upf and I will be eating lots of fermented food to protect my gut microbiome as imbalances in gut bacteria are linked to dementia.

You don't need to learn to use an air fryer it's pretty obvious but if you find it tricky they come with an instruction book. I'm 68 and use mone all teatime. It might be easier for someone with mobility issues as they wouldn't have to bend down and manage roasting tins etc and also they are cheaper to run.

Pilates and walking among other things.

This is a good book. Has tons of exercises and also talks about what you should be doing at different ages/different levels of health.
The biggest thing is to use resistance and gravity. Walking is great mentally and if you go to hilly/uneven ground it will give your legs and core a bit of a workout but it doesn't have high enough impact to count as strength training.

I feel like my generation (when we were in our 20s) was made to feel its all about cardio/classes and swimming as you get older because that's easy on the joints. When actually it should be about strength, strength, strength. If you are doing decent levels of weight training, it burns more calories than cardio anyway.

I had a recent diagnosis of arthritis starting in my knees. I've since taken up weight training because the more i can build muscle in my legs and core, and strengthen my back, hips and ankles, the more i can take strain from the knees.

https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/joan-pagano/strength-training-exercises-for-women/9781465415806?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=18059580451&cq_con=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4bipBhCyARIsAFsieCwVXCROSFFo3FvdBL51IDAjrnNEBM8vhsF2Ilw_sNOzj02t05ghQ0gaAqOQEALw_wcB#GOR012931740

I am in my 50s but practise standing up without using hands regularly as I read it can really help if you fall when.your older (I guess if you have broken your wrists, or have nothing to pull yourself up on).

Also walking regularly is important from.a.use it or lose it perspective, and do lots of puzzles etc to keep.your brain active. My parents are brilliant at this.

Try not to stop going places and doing things because the less.you go out the harder it is to make yourself and the narrower your horizons become.

And definitely all the stuff about wills, powers of attorney and decluttering. So useful for your kids. Also funeral wishes - that is really helpful.

Also write down details of any passwords, account details, social media, digital assets etc, and store it somewhere safe so your executors (likely your kids) can find it after you die.

And one I decided recently. Don't tell your children the thing you most want is to die at home, because if that becomes impossible for any reason, they will beat themselves up about it. I'm going to tell mine that if I can't manage things myself, I am happy to go into sheltered accommodation or a home - whatever is best at the time.

And one I decided recently. Don't tell your children the thing you most want is to die at home, because if that becomes impossible for any reason, they will beat themselves up about it. I'm going to tell mine that if I can't manage things myself, I am happy to go into sheltered accommodation or a home - whatever is best at the time.
Absolutely this. My Mum made my Dad promise not to let her go into a home but in the end her dementia was so severe she had to. He felt terrible about it. Never make anyone promise this.

We downsized to a 2 bed bungalow from 3 bed house, as dh has back and spinal problems and my knees are probmatic. No stairs and it works well for us.

Me neither, and I have no intention of using one. Surely when I'm "old' (I'm 64 now) I can continue to use my oven!

My parents learned how to use microwaves in their 80s - without any input from me.

I have no family, so have to try and future proof my life to some extent, but I'm not going to go overboard.

We've got 'elephant feet' on our seatee and bed legs too, doesn't look brilliant but they are really useful and make it easier to stand up, something my mum used to struggle with badly.

Yes @Winteriscoming12 think it's really important to keep going out and about - especially in the dark! I do a hobby with some older ladies, for unavoidable reasons it changed location and there was a lot of worrying about travelling in the dark. The group finishes at 8.30, we're not going clubbing! But I made a mental note of that - don't start being scared of moving around in the world.

My grandmother lived in an upstairs flat .She went out every day to do her messages (shopping), and did the Scotsman crossword daily until she died in her mid eighties.

I'm sure the stair climbing, walking and crosswords helped her stay bright and independent.
(She also drank sherry and smoked Lambert and Butler every day but not sure that's recommended)

Swim. It uses most of your muscles at once, builds strength and stamina, and can be done whatever your size or shape. Stay social - my mum lost both her best friend and her husband last year and she’s a little lost soul now - so maintain a circle of friends and activities.

If you do a kitchen redesign try and eliminate lifting heavy things like mixers from low down. Anything in regular use is going to better a bit higher off the floor.

My bit of future proofing is starting to do weights.
My main advice based on seeing parents struggle is to do the big things before it's necessary