Playing with Elders

[casseline]

So what do you guys do with your elders?  I kinda feel bad about this but I usually kill them off once they have reached platinum. I may occasionally keep them around for free childcare provider/maid but other than that I don't really play with them. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can have fun with elders and stop being such a sims ageist?

Comments

[imagineatime]

Having elder sims is what taught me to let loose and stop directing EVERYTHING my sims did. I was apparently a control freak.

Once I got to their kids and they were elders in perma plat I...I just didn't have time to deal with them! So I completely stopped directing them to do anything (I kinda hoped they would die), but I had made them learn so many skills and the extra ones with AL that they thrived! They were sometimes doing better than my completely controlled sims. To be honest it's fun to check in on them and catch them doing actions I had no idea you could do.

I've since learned to let up on all my sims, but once they are perma plat elder or even just "OMG why did you have such a good life I wish you'd die already" elders I only control them when I need something and everyone else is asleep or something. Like to wash the dog.

[redqueenmeg]

Yes, this is exactly what I do! I just let 'em go. Though a couple of them are really stupid and always fall asleep in recliners instead of their nice beds.

I also decided to do more extended families, so when a couple's kids get out of college, I often have them move back in with their parents, so they can have kids too and the elders can spend lots of time playing with (and looking after) the grandkids.

Elders with lots of Cooking and Neat and Nice points, and Family Elders, make great nannies!

[anghara13]

They make great sitters yes, but they can provide other interest as well. Some of mine develop their hobbies, and grow or catch food for the house, others fall in love with someone really inappropriate (like the maid, sorry granpa, he's down for the next generation!) or they get into arguments over spying through telescopes. Some of mine still work!

I guess it's up to you what you do with them, but, they do like to go on holidays as well, and can still be a worthwhile addition to the community. One of mine just finished building a car for her grandson to head off to college in! He hates it, but hey, it's a car right? A little imagination can go a long way with Elder sims.

[inkstaind_stars]

I leave free will on and let them do whatever they want.

[namitheuntamed]

I just let them do what they want before they die, lol.

though there are certain sims I just have around for novelty (like character sims) who I turn off aging for and don't allow to become elders

[pnkpnthr334]

If I'm bored of the elder in question, I just make them meditate day in and day out until they die, or until I figure out something for them to do. Generally I'll make them stop meditating to care for grandchildren or clean the house when others are busy.