What do the elderly talk about when they get together?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree it's like parallel play. I was just wondering so I can plan for the future. I like the idea of it but would have no way to keep a conversation going with people who didn't have interesting things to discuss. I guess by that time it won't matter.

You are judging by determining that what is interesting to them isn’t interesting to you. You may not mean to but you are coming across as quite snobby.

Sounds like your mom has a fairly active life and circle of friends.

[Anonymous]

Politics, current events, kids, the neighborhoods. Same stuff you do. Just in a bit different context.

You gossip about Larla (35) banging the hot cabana boy at the pool. They gossip about Larla (85) slipping and breaking her hip getting out of the pool while distracted by the hot cabana boy.

There isn't some great divide.

[Anonymous]

Achievements of their children or grandchildren.

[Anonymous]

It makes sense that you don’t know because you have a limited relationship with her. They talk about all kinds of things. Just like everyone else. It’s not all reminiscences and health concerns. So many of you have a weird preconceived notion of what an older person is like. There’s not a single model, they remain individuals.

[Anonymous]

My MIL and her friends (early 80s) have a full social calendar. As far as they can tell, they talk politics, community problems, families, share stories. They can talk about anything & everything. That generation is much better at conversation. They’ve had full lives and are typically quite engaged with the world.

[Anonymous]

Rest assured, you’ll be in worse shape that your parents

[Anonymous]

I grew up with older people. First and foremost, they’re just people. They talk about what everyone talks about - what’s going on in their lives (yes, including ailments), their familes, friends, and mutual acquaintances, current events, memories, politics, the economy, weather, sports/entertainment, special interests, etc.

[Anonymous]

My 85 year old parents talk about their golf games and their pickleball games. Plus gossip about neighbors. Kids and grandkids. The stock market and politics. Movies and shows they watch. Oh and also aches and pains and who just had a funeral -

[Anonymous]

Trying to impress each other
Conspiracy theories
Discussing what he sees from my life (to the point of TMI, and wrong judgement)
The past
Ailments

Dad is 79 and once butt dialed me during a conversation plus I overheard some in the car

[Anonymous]

Medical issues, their kids, their grandkids, other friends, current events, tv shows

[Anonymous]

This is so bizarre and judgmental. People have plenty to talk about at all ages when they have active groups of friends. Your mom socializes multiple times a week and travels multiple times a year. She has PLENTY to talk about.

[Anonymous]

lol no most of old people are not interesting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think your mom's social life seems healthy. Maybe less judgment?

Yeah, what's the problem? She's doing great. Maybe you might want to focus more attention on her rather than the other way around. She needs your attn, you still think you need attn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:lol no most of old people are not interesting

It would be difficult to have a rational conversation with someone who lacks a basic grasp of grammar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mother has been retired now for about 20 years and her day is reduced to basic routines and eating out once a day with friends. She tends to see the same people every week at least once but usually twice and beyond eating out and attending church has nothing else going on. She has about three groups of four that she alternates days with weekly. She doesn't do anything other than maybe watch a TV show like Dancing with the Stars a couple of times a week and the news each day. She travels 4 times a year. She knows very little of my life and other family members because she doesn't care to always saying she's busy. I'm trying to figure out what these ladies talk about. I would have a very hard time keep conversation going without actually doing anything new or thinking about anything new. Ailments? I'm generally curious how to get through daily dinner parties at that age with such a sparse agenda.

Okay, I'm almost 80. What do I talk about with my family and friends? Um, pretty much the same things we've always talked about. What makes you think it would be that much different? Maybe she doesn't talk to you all that much because she finds her friends more interesting.