Elders

TS4 feels like a young adult focused game, which is a shame because almost every other life stage is neglected. I sort of feel like some updates to other life states (canes and rocking chairs and elder specific hobbies or literally anything for toddlers and babies) should be free updates, but I would be willing to pay for a pack in order to get depth for my game.

I know unlockable clothing has been knocked before but... I mean...

Can you honestly say a series of sweaters unlocked by completing knitting or crocheting projects wouldn't be amazing? I mean you could say that. But I wouldn't.

Edit: I mean that's not technically elder-specific, but I fully support an Elders Pack with Knitting.

I'd love an Elders pack too! Perhaps if my elders were able to take up knitting, they'd stop getting themselves dangerously tired by suddenly deciding to work out/jog/woohoo! :D

An Elders pack would be the perfect time to bring back the sewing machine and pottery wheel. Perhaps we could enhance the number of objects the woodworking bench makes as well.

Yes, please! Although knitting would be great in a Farming EP (because wool from sheep/llamas), I would definitely buy an Elder SP that features knitting as the gameplay feature.

Knittable items:
- Clothes for sims of all ages (sweater, scarf, mittens, socks, hoodie, onesie for toddlers)
- Sweater for pets (if player owns Cats and dogs)
- Coasters for tables

I wouldn't even mind if there was only one mesh for each knitted item per age/pet, as long as there are many nice colours.
Teens and older should also be able to knit, though. I learned how to knit when I was 9.

Also:
- Rocking chair
- A few old-looking sofas and lounge chairs with pillows and embroidery

- Curtaaaains

- Cute china/knick-knacks

- Appropriate elderly clothing. Not just the quirky clothing that is actually made so young adults can also pull them off! I like @Mariefoxprice83 idea about the "senior citizen" tag, because of course the whole point of TS4 is to have everything accessible for everyone.

- Bun hairstyyyyyles
- Cranes/walking sticks

And:
- I think children should generally be able to "help with cooking" or "cook together" with older sims. But baking cookies with grandma! Yes.
- Some old-fashioned recipes like Peaches with Custard / Trifle would be so heart-warming.
- Radio station "Oldies"
- Bingo would be cute. I'd like more board-games in general.

All your ideas seem like old 1940's movies to me. As a 76 year old I don't need most of these. It's a 13 year old's idea of elders. :# :/

"Simburian;c-16975320" wrote:
All your ideas seem like old 1940's movies to me. As a 76 year old I don't need most of these. It's a 13 year old's idea of elders. :# :/

I don't know about everyone else but I tend to think of my grandparents' generation, and sometimes my parents, when I imagine possible changes to the Elder lifestage.

What kind of things would you like to see to improve the life stage?

Ok, Speaking as so called Sims Elder, There's been a great deal of change since the Millenium in the uk anyway. We want most of what the young people want but lots don't have the computer experience to tell you themselves here. Lots actually didn't think it would affect their lives, which it has.

We are much fitter than previous generations. Free health service helps in the uk anyway. Pensioners have lots of time unless caring for sick wives or husbands. Lots of my older friends are out walking their dogs or helping exercise dogs from our local cat and dog home and if they haven't got a pet, in walking groups going up and down the local hills to keep their weight down! Some older person I know walked their cat (an Abyssinian which could well see off a dog), and another their ferrets in our park (a National one). My doc. is pressing me to get another dog for exercise too. Not too old according to her.

Some elders are going to the Mediterranean for the warmer weather, get sunburnt or to move there in their retirement, going on cruises if they can afford them, I'm thinking of joining one myself soon. Maybe an excuse for a holiday pack?

Some are twitchers, chasing rare bird visitors - all over the country sometimes. Even exploring the country bus services with free bus transport cards. A couple of my own family travel to historic homes and castles by car or on coach trips with friends, another couple are currently on an Owl course and have just come back from looking for birds in Costa Rica. They came back with sore backs because of the bumpy roads! They all want to explore and experience life before they cannot any more and that age comes well after 80 unless they become sick. I see those over 80's go to the local departmental stores in groups of 2 to 4 or more for a gossip and they always dress up for the occasion.

I want my elders to have the option to walk properly upright until the last few days of their Sim lives (drooping, as at present, could be an indication to get ready for their ending).

I would like new neat stylish clothes that don't show too much leg, skirts, jeans and trousers too, that I see on my friends (who are not rich either). Handbags maybe?

Maybe a storyline....an elder's bucketlist?

PS: What's the fixation about canning? Is it an American hobby or the same as making chutney and pickle jars? That's for the middle classes here. :D

I have to admit that a cruise pack would be really fun, if the team can pull it off. Island Paradise was one of my favourite packs from Sims 3 but I wonder how a ship-based pack would work when we don't have the open world. My parents went on their first cruise last year to celebrate their 40th wedding and it's made me want to go on a cruise too.

My parents have had National Trust cards since my childhood and I think they'll keep visiting such places as long as they are both fit enough to do so. I feel like the house with the ropes in Windenburg was meant to be the sim version of visiting historic houses, but I'm not sure it quite worked. To me, that sort of thing is more interesting in real life, I guess. Though I keep thinking about attempting to build a ruined castle at some stage...

You have to be very fit to visit old castles, circular staircases and steep stairs with no handrails! I think going up and down them all her life has kept our Queen so fit. :) Alnwick castle has Harry Potter as an alternative attraction though!

I think the reason some old people might have old looking clothing or furnishings is that they cannot bother anymore with upgrading all the time, got fond of the comfy chairs which they don't make anymore, so well made that they have lasted and lasted and don't like throwing anything away as it might be useful sometime. They, usually, also don't have the money. It took me a great deal of resolution to get rid of my old stuff and still working on it very slowly. :)

I've seen a lot of old people winning lottery prizes recently and most of them wanted a holiday, car or new home!