Reply to Who looks after the childless elderly?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What happens to most childless people when they get too old to really take care of themselves?  For the last 10-15 years of my grandmother’s life after she was widowed, my mother and her siblings watched out for her. My grandmother still lived alone, but her kids handled her finances, made sure she was regularly seeing the doctor, had the neighbors check in with her, got her set up with delivery services. My Aunt would even call her every morning to make sure she took her medicine. My father did many of the same things for his mother. There was a time she was obviously going to get scammed out of some money and he was able to step in and prevent it from happening. He helped her make many decisions such as satellite vs cable, how to use a cell phone, what plan she should use. Once my grandma was in her 80’s she really wasn’t at a point where she could make the decisions on her own. When it was time for her to move into a nursing home, he researched facilities very carefully, and even though he doesn’t live nearby he calls frequently and does his best to make sure she is getting decent care. What happens to childless adults when they are no longer mentally sharp?  I guess so,e of them have nieces and nephews who might take care of them, but it doesn’t seem that too many nieces and nephews really rise to this level of caregiving especially in this age where families are often spread out and a lot of people never even get to know their Aunts and Uncles very well. [/quote]

People can research facilities themselves when they are able and organise it beforehand.  Really if a family member needs to be reminded to take medication every morning they shouldn't be left alone.  That's when they could turn the gas on get distracted and forget. Even if I had kids I would not want my life to turn out that way.  It's about being organised.

My grandmother lived to 92 years of age in her own home and didn't need much assistance.  She had someone come and mow the lawn, other people seem to forget how to pay bills at 70.  All anyone can do is plan and hope for the best.

There is another thread where people are talking about their family members in nursing homes.  So just because you have kids doesn't mean you won't end up there.  Yes you may be more vulnerable but if you have organised someone to take care of your finances then you're set. And yes they could take money but if there's no money to pay the retirement home/nursing home enquiries will be made.

The elderly I know without kids have a wide support network they have built up over their life.  It's not always the case but it's not always the case that people have children grow up and take care of them either.[/quote]

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