How To Prepare for Old Age and Still Have Fun
by Lorine Parks
At the end of a long life, if you could change one thing, what would it be? According to speaker Bernard Otis, it should be, spend more time making friends.
In his book How to Prepare For Old Age, Bernard recounts stories from a long and varied life, filled with love and friends and family. At 3 am in Las Vegas, who did Frank Sinatra call when he wanted to arrange a caviar breakfast at Caesar’s Palace? It was Bernard he wanted, not the chef or the banquet manager at Caesar’s. Bernard’s career in designing kitchens and then restaurants seems to have led to getting to know how to enjoy every minute.
After having settled in Las Vegas, Bernie decided to move to Los Angeles, but his wife didn’t want to leave the community life there. But he convinced her to come and they made a new and useful life here. Bernard shared meaningful quotes, poems, and stories from his interviews, experiences from his working years, and his life in an assisted living facility.
Old age can leave you all by yourself, deteriorated bitter and alone. Or – you have the potential to fill your life with happiness and joy, with family and friends.
Bernard says that when he wakes each morning – and he is 87 years old – he thinks of something to do to help someone, and that is how he begins each day.
Live each day of your life, and recognize that death is a part of life too. Don’t hesitate to talk about such things with your family. As one gets older it is difficult to talk to family or significant others about their wishes, but is a necessary process to help everyone involved. It is never too early to make preparations.
Bernard shared information about the importance of living wills, how to prevent falls, how to be cared for when your independence declines, and additional helpful advice. Don’t hesitate to talk about such things.
Be the person others want be with, and you will never be alone.