How OLD is the oldest person you know
By byfaithonly
@byfaithonly (10698)
United States
March 28, 2007 3:43pm CST
The oldest person I know personally is 109 years old and still walks into church every Sunday morning.
Did you know:
US - Senior citizens are fastest growing age group online.
Old age consists of ages nearing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle – gee that’s really something to look forward to “my
life is nothing but downhill from here on out.”
36.2 years was the median age in 2005 – that means when you pass this age you are now in the “old” half of the population.
In 2006 there were over 70,000 living US residents over 100 years old.
Over 50% of US citizens over the age of 65 live below poverty level.
47.28 US citizens over the age of 75 suffer from depression – the majority of the causing factors for depression are health problems and lack of socialization.
100 Years Ago In America
The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years.
Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars.
The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents per hour.
The average U.S. worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at home.
Ninety percent of all U.S. doctors had no college education.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!
Two out of every 10 U.S. adults could not read or write.
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Sure glad I didn't live back then!
Just a few of the things someone born 100 years ago has lived through:
World War I (1914-1928)
The Great Depression (1929-1939)
World War II (1941-1945)
Korean War (1950-1953)
Vietnam War (1959-1975)
Persian Gulf War (1991 – Iraq)
The War on Terrorism (2003 –)
15 people like this
42 responses
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Mar 07
That's a pretty advanced age! The oldest I knew was probably below a century. Nothing to "boast" about there. :P
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
28 Mar 07
Hey I don't know her personally but a lady who is related to another lady I know is 114 and still getting around - I can't imagine being that old.
4 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
29 Mar 07
It *is* possible... just hope she is healthy and happy...
@steerforth (1797)
• Italy
28 Mar 07
I have never known people over 85 years old. Now I see my prof at the university, he's 75 years old and he teachs for the last year. :-)
4 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
28 Mar 07
Wow, 75 and still teaching that's great. I would say it's about time he take a break. I've found though that the longer people stay active the longer and healthier they are.
3 people like this
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
28 Mar 07
The oldest person that i know now is 96 years old.She is a little lady that I always give perms to, she use to be a customer of mine.She is fairly heathly, but she has had lung cancer several years ago and had part of her lung removed.She lives alone with her little dog and a parrot.She still cooks and takes care of her home,she just recently stopped driving.These are all very interesting facts that you have stated.I am also glad that I did not live way back when.That was the time when living was hard im sure.We have more baby boomers now than anything,and we are getting older too..Oh well Praise God.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
29 Mar 07
We have a lot of people all ages at our church (it's big) but we have 2 Sunday morning services a traditional and a contemporary. I go to the traditional because there aren't as many people and it's calming for me. A lot of the older people go to this one and last Mother's Day pastor asked the mothers to stand up - put he did it in age groups starting with the youngest and going up by 10 years each time - we had in that service 25 that were over 90 :)
@gegegelay (933)
• Philippines
28 Mar 07
I guess my grandmother.. she's 84 yrs. old now but still very strong.. but I don't know, I may have encountered older people but I forgot who they were, hehe..
4 people like this
@weemam (13372)
•
29 Mar 07
My Dad is the oldest person I know , he will be 90 next year , Dad and MUm both have Alzheimer's now ( both still at home, ) I look after them and take them both shopping , Dad still goes into the Post office for his pension , ( hubby or I watch him from a distance) , he still argues about carrying the groceries ( we allow him to but not too heavy , he doesn't realize which ones he gets to carry)xx
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
29 Mar 07
That is so wonderful that you still allow your father to hold on to his dignity by not letting him know you are giving him lighter groceries to carry. That is one of the most difficult things for people to understand about older people - physically and mentally they may not function the same as they did when they were 20 but they still have the desire.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
31 Mar 07
109? Wow that is old. I enjoyed reading those statistics thanks for sharing. I think the oldest person I know is 77 and he has just come back from a week away in Malta, he is more active than a lot of thirty something friends I know. He is marvellous and so very independent!
1 person likes this
@texasclassygal (5305)
• United States
29 Mar 07
The oldest person I know would have to be my Uncle Walt who is in his late 80's and the only last living relative on my Mother's side of the family, although I have not seen him for years and miss hearing about him since the only time I did was when my Mother was still alive.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
30 Mar 07
The oldest person I personally know is my Aunty. She is 86 years of age & still going strong. She lives in her own home & does all her own housework & cooks her own meals.
Her yard is huge, almost a 1/2 acre block. It is full of beautiful trees, shrubs & flowers. My Aunty does all the gardening herself. The only thing she can't do is lawn mowing.
My Aunty is widowed, and can't drive, so she walks everywhere. The town in which she lives gets to over 40degrees celcuis (108 F) in summer, but my aunty wont use her airconditioner at night.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
30 Mar 07
I love to hear of elderly people who are still caring for themselves and independant - that's amazing that your Aunty walks in that heat, I wouldn't be able to do that and I'm several years younger than her.
@mimatexas (1818)
• United States
30 Mar 07
Wow, thank you for the updates. I know an elder lady in church, she is 98 years old, she was a missionary lady and her face shows that peaceful look. She is the eldest person I know.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
30 Mar 07
I know a lot of elderly missionaries - we have a retirement home for them so it's natural a lot attend our church. I have noticed this is common for them to have a peace about them. I think I figured it out though when helping care for a couple for a week. I think being in the mission field they learn to do without a lot and tend to turn to the Lord even more than others because of the circumstances and not always having others around.
@chubby3367 (322)
• United States
29 Mar 07
I person's I know are age of 89.I met them in the church where I used to go .They are very energytic and still doing service to community.OH that so awesome seeing them healthy and happy.Recently they celebrated thier 60 th marriage aniversery.Is it amazing.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
30 Mar 07
Wow...that's amazing. Good for her.
My dad was born 29th June 1913. That means he'll be 94 this year. He's shrinking now but he's still strong and still gets on the tractor when necessary. Any work to be done around the farm you'll find him there. The drought has killed a lot of his garden and he's lost heart to a big extent this year. Says he doesn't have the energy anymore.
@eventualist (819)
• Canada
29 Mar 07
Hm... I was just at my grand-dad's 76 birthday party yesterday. He might be the oldest person that I know. My nanny will be 75 this year though, so she's the oldest woman I know :)
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
30 Mar 07
Even fifty years ago life was much simpler. There were not so many product choices...do we need 27 different types of laundry product?
We were much healthier then too in mind, body and spirit.
We knew the difference between right and wrong. When we were kids and got into strife we were punished and so taught that our behaviour has consequences. Good manners and ettiquette were important. Somehow I think we've lost the plot. Maybe we had too many limts and restrictions but while we've shed those we have also shed the discipline and the standards and values.
@msbawangada (710)
• India
29 Mar 07
I known a person who has oldest in the Indian country he has name Mr. Ramsingh Chouhan who has 111year old,He can walk very well and his eyes are excellent he has able 5 to 6 km every day and keep his health fit and fine .
1 person likes this
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
31 Mar 07
I did rate your picture of your Great Grand Mother. I wasn't able to leave a comment but I will now. Your GGM is still a very nice looking lady at 109. I knew people are living longer now but I was surprised to see the stats.
1 person likes this
@OURDEW (4809)
• United States
29 Mar 07
The oldest person I personally know is 98 years old. He is still walking around without a cane and driving, He even tried to get a job when he was 95 years old. He tried to get a job as a salesman at a car lot. When they asked how old he was, he said why how old are you. He is very spunky. He still has two living sisters. 95 and 97 years old. A wonderful man.
1 person likes this
