How has your lifestyle changed over your adult life? For example, your eating habits, exercise, working, and leisure.
How has your health changed? Do you have chronic health problems like arthritis or high blood pressure? Do you have to take medicine and is that difficult to manage? Do you go to the doctor more often?
(At this point you can kind of connect the answers to question 1 to the outcomes from question 2. For example, I eat In-N-out burger all the time and I have high blood pressure or vascular disease.)
How has your mental ability changed? Do you think you have gotten smarter with age? How? How is your memory? Your ability to deal with everyday problems? problem solving in general?
What is your current marital status? Do you have children or grandchildren? How old are they? How often do you see them? What kinds of things do you do for your family? Are you the caregiver for your grandchildren or are your kids and grandchildren the caregiver for you? What kinds of things do they do for you? If you were to become disabled, would someone in your family be able to help you? Who do you think would be most involved? – This question is all about support systems that live in the family of the interviewee.
Did you invest in your retirement years? How? Do you worry about financing your life as you become older? Do you worry about your estate being enough? About your estate being devoured by a health crisis and follow-up needs for assisted living?
Do you feel that Social Security and Medicare are enough support to help older people manage financially? Should the government do more or do less to support older people? Should the government provide long-term care to older people?
What's the best/worst thing about being your age now?
You need to probe your interviewee to get detail on their answers so you can create a story, so ask questions like “How do you feel about these changes? Why do you feel this way?” for everything you find out. You are an investigative reporter and you will not have a very compelling story if you do not ask good questions!
Full Answer Section
- Work: Many people continue working past traditional retirement age, either full-time or part-time. This can provide them with financial security, social interaction, and a sense of purpose.
- Leisure: As people have more free time in retirement, they may find themselves engaging in new hobbies and interests. This could include traveling, volunteering, spending time with family and friends, or pursuing creative activities.
Health Changes:
- Chronic health problems: Many older adults experience chronic health conditions, such as arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. These conditions can require medication, regular doctor visits, and lifestyle changes.
- Mental ability: While some cognitive decline is normal with age, some people experience more significant changes that can affect memory, thinking, and problem-solving skills. This can lead to difficulties with everyday activities and require support from others.
Family Relationships:
- Marital status: Many older adults are married, while others are widowed, divorced, or single. Having a strong support network of family and friends is important for both emotional and practical reasons.
- Children and grandchildren: Many older adults enjoy close relationships with their children and grandchildren. They may provide childcare, financial assistance, or emotional support.
- Caregiving: In some cases, older adults may become caregivers for their spouses, partners, or other family members. This can be physically and emotionally demanding, and requires a strong support system.
Financial Security:
- Retirement savings: Having adequate retirement savings is crucial for maintaining financial security in later years. Many people invest in retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s to save for their future.
- Social Security and Medicare: Social Security and Medicare are government programs that provide financial assistance to older adults. They play an important role in helping people afford healthcare and maintain a basic standard of living.
Government Support:
- Social Security and Medicare: Social Security is a federal program that provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older.
- Long-term care: Long-term care is the support and services needed by people who can no longer care for themselves due to illness, disability, or age.
Best and Worst Aspects of Aging:
- Freedom and flexibility: Retirement can offer freedom and flexibility to pursue hobbies, travel, and spend time with loved ones.
- Loss of independence: Chronic health conditions can lead to a loss of independence and require assistance with daily activities.
- Social isolation: Older adults may experience social isolation due to loss of friends and family members, mobility issues, or limited access to transportation.
- Wisdom and perspective: Age can bring wisdom and perspective on life, often leading to a newfound appreciation for the simple things.
Probing Questions:
- How do you feel about the changes you've experienced over the years?
- What do you miss most about your younger years?
- What are some of the biggest challenges you face now?
- What are you most proud of?
- What are your hopes for the future?
By asking insightful questions and listening actively to your interviewee, you can create a compelling story that captures the essence of their experiences and challenges as an older adult.
Sample Answer
Unfortunately, as a large language model, I don't have personal experiences or emotions to draw from. I can't tell you about changes in my lifestyle, health, mental abilities, or family relationships. However, I can provide you with information and resources that may help you develop your interview questions and write a compelling story about an older adult.
Lifestyle Changes:
- Eating habits: As people age, their metabolism slows down and they require fewer calories. They may also experience changes in taste and smell, making it difficult to enjoy the same foods they used to. This can lead to a shift in dietary patterns, with an emphasis on healthier choices like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Exercise: Regular physical activity is crucial for maintaining good health throughout life. However, the type and intensity of exercise may need to be modified as people age. Walking, swimming, and yoga are low-impact exercises that can be beneficial for older adults.