Evening all
Being someone diagnosed in their early 40s I was wondering if older participants on this forum could share their experiences of getting older and any challenges you think we should be aware of? Obviously if you are autistic you don’t know what it’s like to be an ageing NT, but if there’s anything you think is unique to us as autists please share. Anything particular to your 50s, 60s or 70s?
Interesting question. I'm in my sixties and at the moment I cannot think of any challenges I have that are due to aging, apart from the usual ones everyone gets like aching joints. Mentally I seem to be much the same, and I'm not depressed since I finished work.
I think most ND people struggle to work until state retirement age - both my partner and I retired earlier, we had planned and saved for that but not everyone is able to do so.
In terms of care for older autistic people I can envisage some issues with that - I don't want to be put in a care home where I have to mix with others as I'm very independently minded and not keen on mixing with most other people. If it came to me being widowed and not being able to live independently, I think I'd rather take voluntary euthanasia. (Sorry to be gloomy, just being honest)
I heard some years back a theory that NT people become more autistic as they age - something to do with how their brains change as they get older. It does seem that some people get less tolerant of others as they age, autistic or not. I'm reminded of "The old g i t s " from the Harry Enfield & Chums show - not very PC, but they did make me laugh 
