Do you know anyone in their 90s who lives at home independently?

[Meltingchocolate]

I know one person in their 90s who lives at home and has carers four times a day. He can’t go out alone and depends on a wheelchair.

I know one couple who are quite independent and still mobile eg do all their own shopping. They don’t need carers but they help each other.

It was part of a discussion with my elderly parents (early 80s) where they assumed that most people in their 90s would be living in a care home. I was wondering how common it is for people in their 90s to still live in their own home?

My grandmother is 96. She lives alone and has done for the last 17 years since my grandfather died. Lives in a big four storey house and her bedroom is up two flights of stairs. My uncle (her son in law) does her shopping and my aunt (her youngest daughter) does the majority of wrangling. She definitely gets mixed up between people these days (she has many children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren) but lives absolutely fine alone day to day.

My mother, 92, very independent. She has someone 5 days a week for 3 hours, but that's mostly to take her out and about, GP, coffee, a walk etc

A SiL’s dad was still living independently (though IIRC had a cleaner), playing golf and having his golfing friends round for lunch (and cooking it) at 101! But went downhill and died very suddenly at 102. Was never in a care home. Obviously very unusual!

A GM’s 2nd husband, a former neighbour for decades, was living alone and managing, still driving, at 90, but died not long afterwards, not of anything particular IIRC. He’d told DM he was tired, had had enough now, so I suppose just gave up. No care home.

My Gran. She was 93 in June, lives completely independently with no care, no-one going in at all. She’s out 4 days a week at her various clubs & societies. I managed to speak to her the other day which is good as she’ll be out now pretty much until 24th December with all her Christmas meet-ups & none of us will be able to get hold of her 😀

She has some minor health issues that she takes regular meds for & she has the odd GP appt but that’s it. She’s always kept herself physically & mentally fit. Worked past her retirement age. She was widowed almost 20 years ago & moved house the following year to her dream house, an old property with winding stairs which gets herself up every night.

I think I’m very lucky to still have a grandparent at 50. She’s a great great gran as my cousin’s daughter has two young children. She has wonderful photos of the five generations together up in her house.

She was 9 during The Blitz & I often think if the Luftwaffe didn’t get her then nothing will! She’s my inspiration - I hope to be just like her as I age.

I do!!!

I have three grandparents still going - one is 94, another 93 and one 92. All independent without care etc. The eldest one still drives - a VW camper!

I’m very lucky to have three grandparents still around at my age (43).

My Grandmother lived alone in her own in her own home until she passed away age 93. She didnt even have carers coming in and did all her own shopping.
My XH Grandmother passed at 94. She also still lived in her home, but she had carers twice a day, and we took turns with other family members to do her shopping for her.

I only know one person in her 90s who lives in a care home. The rest (my mum and her remaining friends) are all living in their own homes with varying degrees of assistance and independence.

Yep, DH’s Grandad. He was 90 this year. His Gran died about 7 years ago and she was younger than him. We thought he’d go soon after because he loved her dearly and we know elderly spouses often struggle without. He’s incredibly cynical which can be quite funny. When DH visits and asks how he is, he’ll just say something like ‘not dead yet’.

He had to stop driving last year due to failing eye sight but other than that, he’s fully independent.

I know 2 widowers 91 and 95 who live totally independently, no carers and they still go out socialising. One goes to my scrabble club and one to a lunch club I volunteer at. DH great Uncle and Aunt lived independently, she died at 92 and he carried on for 2 years, still walking a mile each way to buy his newspaper before just dropping dead, he had been a fireman in The Blitz. My Uncle died like that, a Farm worker as fit as people decades younger his heart just stopped but was in his late eighties. My Mother lived till 94 and needed carers from age 90, my neighbour is close to 100 and has carers but still at home. One neighbour lived with carers at hime till she was 101.

My gran lived to 98 and and was chain smoker, not sure what her secret was she kept it secret!

A lot, I believe, comes down to luck and genetics.

My grandmother and grandparents in law.

Also have you heard about the blue zones? Areas of the world where people are incredibly healthy and live into their
100s.

My neighbours are a married couple aged 91 and 92. He now walks with a stick and has stopped driving long distances. She drives everywhere, goes to fitness classes and looks more like a woman in her late 70s. They live independently.

They only help they have is for the garden which she oversees in great detail. She was previously a Headteacher of a girl’s school and still shows brilliant organisational skills.

Both of them are in decent health and are mentally sharp. But they are very much the exception, I would say.

My dad. Nearly 92 and still goes out every week to his club, does online shopping.

My grandma did until she was 94. She had a cleaner visit weekly, and a Tesco delivery she did herself online every fortnight. She also had lots of friends and family popping by frequently.

When her health declined it was swift, but she stayed at home and a relative moved in.

I wouldn't say she was physically fit, she suffered with her joints and eyes, but mentally she was as sharp as a tack until the day she died.

My uncle did until he was 102, needed a zimmer frame to walk around and had a cathéter. 6 weeks before he went into hospital he cooked himself a pheasant for his xmas lunch. His death cert said old age.

I do! My grandfather is very active still, at home, fully independent and mobile at 94. He still drives as well (a VW camper!).

Yes, my father did until shortly before he died at 94. He cooked for himself and did his own housework, laundry etc. I used to take him to the supermarket as he was no longer driving but apart from that he needed no input from me.

I’ve just seen I’ve already posted on this thread 😂.

My other two grandparents in their 90s still live at home independently too, but don’t drive.

My DM lived independently without carers until she was 96. She had a fall on a Tuesday and died of pneumonia three days later. All very tidy.

She went out every day provided it was not snowing or raining heavily, in latter years with a walker, played the piano every day and specialised in winning the local senior citizens' quiz night single handed.

My DMIL made it to 98 still living at home, supported by carers, family and her church. Again decline was quick and pretty much painless. She was admitted to hospital on the Friday and died on the Sunday evening.

I know several women in there 90s who live alone and independently.

I know a chap who is 106 and still lives independently!

My grandad lived independently until 94. He was in the hospital for the last month or so until he died. My mum lived opposite so was able to keep an eye on him, but didn’t need much help.

My cousin once removed is about 90 and he lives alone after his wife died. His daughter lives quite close by I think but he walks to play golf every day and walks back. He has a portrait in the attic!

Wow! This thread is inspiring.

My neighbour is 95 and lives alone. He still gets the bus to the supermarket for his shopping, does gardening and goes out for a pub meal once a week. He's had couple of falls and hospital stays for bladder infections but keeps bouncing back. The family do come regularly to make sure he's ok but other than that he's pretty independent.