Young at Heart

A while back, I visited with a prosthetic patient who was 95 years old. She was not preoccupied with her age or her health, but she was interested in getting a lightweight leg so she could be more active.

Her main expectation was that her prosthesis would last at least fi ve years before it needed to be replaced. After all, she had a lot to do and she didn’t want to be slowed down by any mechanical problems with her artifi cial limb. This one lady - who’s planning on getting her next prosthesis around age 100 - symbolizes the positive mindset of a productive older adult.

She has a sense of purpose in her life and goals that motivate her to stay active and mobile. It may be gardening or spending time with friends, but, whatever the case, being interested in life is critical to your success as an older prosthesis user.

So is playing a proactive role in your prosthetic care. When this woman had her prosthetic evalua-
tion with me, she took the lead, telling me what she wanted from her prosthesis and what her expecta-
tions were. At 95, she wasn’t about to settle for a dormant life, wearing a heavy leg, or not being heard by her prosthetist.

Many older adults struggle with their ability to hear, which means they might have to ask their care providers to speak slowly and loudly. Like this lady, if you insist on being heard, you are much more likely to get what you want, need and deserve to have. Her approach to life offers many lessons for both prosthesis users and clinicians.

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