The Guardian ‘Lifestyle’ today.

[Claymoreiron]

Idiotic article about how to decorate your home for different life stages. For ‘empty nesters’ make sure you don’t have a slippery bathroom and have a seat in the shower kitchen organised so you don’t have to bend down much.

I get that people may wish to future proof their home but we need to encourage more movement not less! My grandma declined when she moved from a house to a flat. Her stair climbing was vital exercise.

anyway, just annoyed me!

Good grief, how very patronising.

Not read the article but what is wrong with making your home work for you in later life? Most accidents happen at home after all.

And falls are the most common aren't they?

I know, I read that. I mean some adjustments to your environment as you age are sensible but some of it was nuts.

My sister has 3 kids and was an empty nester at 43! I think she'd be most amused at having to watch out for slippery shower tiles (any more than anyone with a 'full' nest has to!)

I don't get the UK hatred for bunglaows though. I'm from New Zealand and vast majority of houses are single story. I don't see the whole population suffering from 'bunglaow legs' from not using indoor stairs!

As a menopausal woman, I like to decorate my kitchen with colourful post- it note reminders.

Later life? Empty nesters are probably in their 40's or early 50's. That's not 'later life' by any stretch of the imagination.

You sound as patronising as the Guardian.

My sister has 3 kids and was an empty nester at 43! I think she'd be most amused at having to watch out for slippery shower tiles (any more than anyone with a 'full' nest has to!)

But the majority people in the UK now become parents in their 30s so won't be empty nesters in their 40s.

Okay then. What age group would you say is defined by the term 'empty nester'?

@barskits clearly the Guardian isn't talking about 40 somethings when referring to empty nesters. Or do you think they are?

@barskits For me & my peers I would think we won't be empty nesters until 60s at the earliest!

Why would you class empty nesters as 40 somethings when we know the age people have dc and the fact young adults live at home much longer?

You sound as patronising as the Guardian.

You sound uninformed...

I'm 45 and I'm an empty nester. What a cheek 😂

It's actually quite sensible.
Very quickly you can lose your mobility and I've seen it so many times with elderly people, they wait and wait to declutter, make adaptations and/or downsize. Before they know it, they've had a fall, can't move around easily and that project they should have done 5 years ago to make their kitchen and bathroom more ergonomic is way out reach.
It's very sad.

We aren't talking about the age of people who are having kids now.

We are talking about the people who had their children 18-25 years ago. They are the current empty-nesters, and they are likely to be around 40-55.

One would not normally associate that age group with being worried about trips and falls or installing a walk-in bath and a stairlift.

I'm 47 and my eldest has moved out and youngest is saving to do the same (so I reckon a couple more years). I'm not quite at the stage of 'having a fall' in my slippery bathroom 😁

Nearly 60 here & final fledgling is fluttering in & out of the nest.
We’re still coping with stairs & showers - and looking after our own DPs. In the next 5 years the DPs and DCs will have gone, almost certainly. Then we will start to live as we want, which will be a combination of slowly, safely and f£ckin madly, dangerously & excitingly wherever possible!

TBF as a 33YO living alone I realise it is important to not have a slippy bathroom.

I’ve slipped and fallen over a few times around my flat and my life flashed before my eyes, no broken hips yet but if you’re alone and you hurt yourself you’re a bit buggered!

My point exactly.

I read the article and cannot think of a more banal piece of work. Surely directed at someone who had never had a thought in their head. Paragraphs about 'natural ginghams that age with your child' and 'eye level ovens' to avoid bending.

It actually suggests that feather filled cushions might be too heavy to lift as you age. FFS!

There is no cohort of society they've not patronised.

I'm in my 60s and my entire day is designed around keeping moving for fear of seizing up. If I lived my life by the Guardian's instructions I'd be buying lightweight, non slip, eye level cushions and putting a handy coffin in the craft room because I'm only weeks from needing it.

What is your definition of an empty nester?

Sounds like the article was written by a kid. Anyone over 40 is considered decrepit.

I hate the guardian sometimes , particularly the lifestyle section any the opinion pieces. Only read it cos it’s free to be honest

I actually bought the paper today. No more. They can stick their ridiculous articles in the bin.

Other articles in the Lifestyle section today - cocktail Tshirts and achieving the perfect lighting for selfies. It's high brow stuff.

Oh ffs, how depressing. I'm approaching 62 and not ready for this stage of life.