Written by Olivia Cohen
We have all heard that "you can’t teach an old dog new tricks," but luckily humans are much more adaptable than dogs. In honor of Women’s History Month, we are celebrating women who achieved success in their careers after age 70. These women prove that not only can you live a healthy life as you age - you can thrive.
Laura Ingalls Wilder
You probably know Laura Ingalls Wilder as the famous author who penned the Little House series of children’s books, but did you know that she spent the majority of her adult life working as a homesteader on a farm in Missouri? It wasn’t until 1932 at the age of 65 that Wilder published her first novel, Little House in the Big Woods, at the bequest of her daughter’s urging. She developed that first book into a series, the last of which she finished in 1943 at 76 years old. Over a half century later, her books remain widely acclaimed classics filled with timeless life lessons.
Clara Peller
Although you may not recognize her name, you will almost certainly recognize Peller’s distinctive voice shouting, “Where’s the beef?” in an iconic 1984 Wendy’s commercial. For 35 years, Peller worked as a manicurist at a Chicago nail salon, where a local ad agency discovered her in 1983 while searching for a manicurist for a television commercial; she was 80 years old. After appearing in a number of regional broadcasts, Peller was signed by a national ad agency in 1984 and cast in the Wendy’s commercial at age 81. Her spunky delivery made “Where’s the beef?” into a national catchphrase, appearing on t-shirts, towels, coffee mugs, and even memes. She continued acting in commercials, making television and movie appearances, and granting interviews - reaching the pinnacle of an advertising career with a place in the Advertising Hall of Fame before her death in 1987.
Grandma Moses
Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better known by her nickname Grandma Moses, became a renowned American folk artist after picking up a paintbrush for the first time at age 76. For most of her life, she worked on farms and raised her five children, supplementing her husband’s income by frying potato chips and churning butter. She always enjoyed creative expression in her home though, decorating her family’s space with hand-quilted objects and exquisite embroidery. When her hands began to cramp from arthritis in her late 70s, she picked up painting as a creative hobby that would be easier on her joints. She displayed her art around her rural New York town, including in the windows of a drug store where notable art collector Louis Caldor saw her pieces on display and bought ten on the spot. He recommended their inclusion in an exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, and the following year, Moses curated her first solo exhibition in New York City at the age of 80. Moses skyrocketed to fame as an American cultural icon, even having a painting on display in the White House, before passing at the age of 101.
Bringing a qualified care provider into your home can help you or your aging loved one maintain a healthy lifestyle and take care of daily tasks so more energy can be put toward pursuing passions. American In-Home Care always refers qualified, screened, care providers that are compassionate and ready to help. Contact us at 1-844-505-0004 to schedule your free in-home consultation to discuss which care options are right for you and your family.
