People are living too long.. I hope to die age 82-85

[Anonymous]

My moms older cousin from California I visited at her vacation home in Ireland two years ago. She was 104. She flew California to Ireland. I was at her house and she was getting room painted and yard cleaned up and arranging with her caregiver to take care of it till her next visit.

Sadly like three months later at home in California she caught a bad flu or RSV and she died a few days later.

She was born around 1898 and she gave some great stories and stories she heard around fire from grandparents details about the 1847 Potato Famine.

Living long is great but be healthy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think human lives should have auto combustion at 80. I'm by no means saying people should just jump or pushed of the cliff but its a pain for self and a drain on others. Imaging being an elderly who can sense they are no longer wanted. Its just so sad.

I agree with you somewhat. I would prefer it to be an optional feature but then we’re back to the tricky topic of euthanizing oneself. Will have to think about that one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Retirement was designed to be 8 years after 65 then you die around 73, now boomers are retiring at 65 and taking 25 years to die, where do you think the money comes from? Their children's future and current earnings.

Boomers have pensions

+1

And their husbands pensions and benefits, some outstanding (and better benefits than those who worked full time, all their lives) even if the wife hardly worked.

Again, only the lucky few have pensions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My moms older cousin from California I visited at her vacation home in Ireland two years ago. She was 104. She flew California to Ireland. I was at her house and she was getting room painted and yard cleaned up and arranging with her caregiver to take care of it till her next visit.

Sadly like three months later at home in California she caught a bad flu or RSV and she died a few days later.

She was born around 1898 and she gave some great stories and stories she heard around fire from grandparents details about the 1847 Potato Famine.

Living long is great but be healthy

Thats awesome and truly unbelievable! I wish I were that lucky. My mom died at 78 and my dad at 82. Both far outlived their parents. Dads parents died in their 20s/30s from TB.

[Anonymous]

I recall reading a WaPo article long ago about elderly making a decision to stop eating and drinking and going quietly, on their own terms. Essentially a hunger strike. Apparently dying from dehydration is a relatively pleasant way to go.

I don’t know if my spiritual beliefs align with this decision so I’m conflicted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really hope that by the time I get to 80 there will be options like they have in Switzerland now. I would love to go at 80 at the latest.

This is my plan. I’m 48, single and childless. I plan to go to Switzerland when I’m 70-75. I don’t need to live past that. I don’t want to not be able to care for myself and I want to leave on my own terms. Honestly even at 70, I’ll be happy to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My moms older cousin from California I visited at her vacation home in Ireland two years ago. She was 104. She flew California to Ireland. I was at her house and she was getting room painted and yard cleaned up and arranging with her caregiver to take care of it till her next visit.

Sadly like three months later at home in California she caught a bad flu or RSV and she died a few days later.

She was born around 1898 and she gave some great stories and stories she heard around fire from grandparents details about the 1847 Potato Famine.

Living long is great but be healthy

I don't follow the math here.

[Anonymous]

Dying from dehydration is not a good way to go. It's sold as that by palliative care but they also fill them up with strong drugs.

I am happy to live in Canada where I would qualify for medical aid in dying for pretty everything of all age, including the early stages of Alzheimer's. I am leaving as a full human being and will never live in a care home. Even if we have a stroke we can apply. Much more peace of mind and no need to hand over a lifetime of savings to the elder-care-industry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think human lives should have auto combustion at 80. I'm by no means saying people should just jump or pushed of the cliff but its a pain for self and a drain on others. Imaging being an elderly who can sense they are no longer wanted. Its just so sad.

I agree with you somewhat. I would prefer it to be an optional feature but then we’re back to the tricky topic of euthanizing oneself. Will have to think about that one.

Why does someone's worth based on whether we are "wanted?" I am not worthy of life based on the opinions of other people!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really hope that by the time I get to 80 there will be options like they have in Switzerland now. I would love to go at 80 at the latest.

This is my plan. I’m 48, single and childless. I plan to go to Switzerland when I’m 70-75. I don’t need to live past that. I don’t want to not be able to care for myself and I want to leave on my own terms. Honestly even at 70, I’ll be happy to go.

I know a lot of very healthy and happy 70 year olds!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have watched 3 parents/in laws have long agonizing deaths involving years (in two cases) of bedrest. It is a miserable existence. I will not take any meds after the age of 85 - I hope I go quickly.

But the thing is that unless you get an aggressive illness you probably won’t go quickly. And if you don’t take any medications at all, you’ll probably be in pain and miserable during your long, drawn out old age.

I don’t want to be old either and I hope to never be a burden on my kids or spouse in old age but it’s not like any of us get to decide when we die (unless we kill ourselves)

Good point! I was just venting honestly and understand that I have the genes to live a long time and doing so incapacitated for years at the end is my greatest fear. Maybe I should start smoking.

You jest, but my grandfather started smoking again in his 70s after quitting years before.

My father-in-law is doing this. He’s mid 70s, and while I see many people his age who are living full lives (hobbies, engaged with family and grandchildren, etc.), he has never been that way. This thread has been a fascinating read. I attributed it to life-long depression, but he is purposefully sedentary, eats poorly, smokes and says he is waiting for his day to come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really hope that by the time I get to 80 there will be options like they have in Switzerland now. I would love to go at 80 at the latest.

This is my plan. I’m 48, single and childless. I plan to go to Switzerland when I’m 70-75. I don’t need to live past that. I don’t want to not be able to care for myself and I want to leave on my own terms. Honestly even at 70, I’ll be happy to go.

I know a lot of very healthy and happy 70 year olds!

You think you know them but unless you are going to the doctor with them you really do not know their health situation. The last 10 years of life are very hard.

[Anonymous]

That’s how long I want to live: 75 years.

This preference drives my daughters crazy. It drives my brothers crazy. My loving friends think I am crazy. They think that I can’t mean what I say; that I haven’t thought clearly about this, because there is so much in the world to see and do. To convince me of my errors, they enumerate the myriad people I know who are over 75 and doing quite well. They are certain that as I get closer to 75, I will push the desired age back to 80, then 85, maybe even 90.

That’s how long I want to live: 75 years.

This preference drives my daughters crazy. It drives my brothers crazy. My loving friends think I am crazy. They think that I can’t mean what I say; that I haven’t thought clearly about this, because there is so much in the world to see and do. To convince me of my errors, they enumerate the myriad people I know who are over 75 and doing quite well. They are certain that as I get closer to 75, I will push the desired age back to 80, then 85, maybe even 90.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/10/why-i-hope-to-die-at-75/379329/

[Anonymous]

My plan is to go to Oregon and say I’m in pain and ready to go. DH thinks it’s a crazy idea, but I feel like when I’m done, I’m done. Leave me be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is living too long.
People are dying too long.

100%

Exactly. It’s a huge effort to take care of your health the way you need to live well for your whole life. But if you focus on what you want to be able to do at 90 - play with grandkids, hike, swim, ski, walk your active dog - then you can work backwards from there and figure out what you need to do to get there. Which is basically cardio, weights, good food, strong relationships.

We don’t have to age the way our parents are. That’s a totally different model of aging and we know better now.

Right. It's that easy. And then you can avoid dementia and other chronic diseases! Because every generation before us just wasn't doing it right- but we know better!