What are some ways to prepare for old age psychologically?

Diva

Well, I am 75 years old now and I can tell you what I think helped me prepare for old age psychologically:

1. My grandmother came to live with my family when I was 12 years old. She was in her early sixties and had suffered a nervous breakdown. She was my mother’s mother. She was a really talented woman. I watched her cut out a pattern for a blouse and sew it together by hand. Every stitch was perfect. She was also an excellent cook. However, growing up in a rural community was hard. She and I became very close. From her I learned the importance of having a good support group, especially as you get older. Coming to live with my family provided the emotional support that she had been lacking. 
2. Observe and talk to old people. I was fortunate enough to be around old people as I was growing up so I saw first hand the challenges they faced on a day to day basis. Dementia runs in my family so I was always interested in what steps I needed to take to keep my mental faculties healthy. Playing scrabble, doing crossword puzzles, engaging in activities that require you to identify a problem and come up with a solution helps stimulate the brain. I have a relative who is 82 years old. He retired years ago but he has a parttime job which he says gives him the person to person contact he needs since he lives alone. He still drives and has a group of older friends who he periodically meets for breakfast or lunch. His daughter and grandchildren keep tabs on him.He has been blessed healthwise. He has no major health issues.

3. Be proactive. If you take care of your health now it will be a key factor in how you approach old age. Eating properly and getting in some form of physical activity will be a huge benefit in the long run. I have never smoked and I dont drink alcohol. I do know people in their eighties and nineties who will have a glass of wine for dinner or maybe a cocktail now and then. They seem to be enjoying their old age despite the physical challenges of growing old.

4. Assess your financial situation and try to develop a plan which will allow you to maintain a decent quality of life. I assure you if you dont have to worry about meeting your monthly monetary obligations this will help you psychologically. 

5. Be positive. Look on the bright side of things. What is the alternative to not getting old. I have a number of friends and relatives who didnt get to old age. Some left this earth before they hit forty. So I try to approach old age with positivity. Yes, I need a wheelchair now when I go to the airport. But I get taken through security quicker and I get to board the plane first. My eyesight is not as good as it was so I dont drive at night. If I have an affair in the evening I ask someone to drive me or I take an Uber. A group of elderly ladies i met recently told me about a new game they have started playing. It is similar to tennis but it does not involve as much running. They love it. Other seniors I know take line dance lessons. I think if you start looking at what you can still do as opposed to what you can no longer do it will give you the psychological boost that you need. I am determined to enjoy my old age. My daughter pointed out just today how I have gotten completely adjusted to living my life on my own time clock. i get up when I want and my day is not driven by having to follow someone else’s schedule. As I approached retirement I remember thinking what a good feeling that would be. I was right.