I’ve wondered this about myself. I’m single, childless and an only child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know but I hope I die before I become a burden. I have 1 son and I don’t think he is going to take care of me (judging by his 9 yo personality).
I hope there is assisted suicide by then too.

He'll grow up. Give it time.

But I do hope for an assisted suicide option too.

Everyone says this, but how many people would really have the nerve to go through with it?

I would if it were just an injection.
I am the first PP.
I see so many kids who abandon their parents (I don’t judge them as maybe they had a bad childhood but still).
Sons usually delegate it to their wives who usually go for the cheapest/easiest option.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they are lucky they belong to a church or other close knit community. Otherwise, no one.

This is sad. You have to assume that there are many elderly people in this position.

Yes. An elderly neighbor didn't seem to have anyone. We waved occasionally but he kept to himself mostly. I tried to watch that his car was moved every day or so. My family went on vacation and his car didn't move. No one noticed for a week. Very sad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they are lucky they belong to a church or other close knit community. Otherwise, no one.

'The church' didn't notice when my FIL no longer went to church due to dementia.

Perhaps they assumed his obviously devoted DIL was caring for him?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Likely will rely on Medicaid to pay for a nursing home.

But when it comes down to someone advocating on your behalf, then you likely will be on your own. ;(

This. And what if they wait too late to make arrangements for a nursing home? There is no way my grandmother would be able to manage to find a nursing home or even deal with negotiating with medicaid.

County would step in and help make the arrangements, or if they are hospitalized, a social worker there.

I have an aunt without kids and all of the nieces and nephews keep a check on her. We'll invite her to take vacations with us and take turns visiting throughout the year. It's not much different than what we do with our parents.

She's a snowbird and lives in FL through the winter. What's interesting is that her friends will always say things like, "I wish my kids visited half as much as your nieces and nephews do!" There are also a LOT of older people, couples and singles, without kids where she lives. They all look out for each other.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Childless people like my Aunt have siblings and nieces and nephews

But my grandmother's siblings are all dead. And do nieces and nephews really provide the same kind of loving care that a child would?

I have no siblings and my (husband's actually) teen nieces and nephew are not close to me, I just don't see them very often.
I have two teen sons. they are mostly affectionate, so I think they will keep an eye on me!

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know but I hope I die before I become a burden. I have 1 son and I don’t think he is going to take care of me (judging by his 9 yo personality).
I hope there is assisted suicide by then too.

Yes he will look out for you. Don't judge by his selfish 9 yr old personality.

Anonymous wrote:If they are lucky they belong to a church or other close knit community. Otherwise, no one.

'The church' didn't notice when my FIL no longer went to church due to dementia.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know but I hope I die before I become a burden. I have 1 son and I don’t think he is going to take care of me (judging by his 9 yo personality).
I hope there is assisted suicide by then too.

He'll grow up. Give it time.

But I do hope for an assisted suicide option too.

Everyone says this, but how many people would really have the nerve to go through with it?

Not many, but some would.

I think our focus should be on the unnecessary and extreme medical measures used at the end of someone's life that end up prolonging their existence but not with any kind of quality of life. That's what I want to avoid. Please just let me die at home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know but I hope I die before I become a burden. I have 1 son and I don’t think he is going to take care of me (judging by his 9 yo personality).
I hope there is assisted suicide by then too.

He'll grow up. Give it time.

But I do hope for an assisted suicide option too.

Everyone says this, but how many people would really have the nerve to go through with it?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know but I hope I die before I become a burden. I have 1 son and I don’t think he is going to take care of me (judging by his 9 yo personality).
I hope there is assisted suicide by then too.

He'll grow up. Give it time.

But I do hope for an assisted suicide option too.

Being poor isn’t an incurable disease.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know but I hope I die before I become a burden. I have 1 son and I don’t think he is going to take care of me (judging by his 9 yo personality).
I hope there is assisted suicide by then too.

He'll grow up. Give it time.

But I do hope for an assisted suicide option too.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know but I hope I die before I become a burden. I have 1 son and I don’t think he is going to take care of me (judging by his 9 yo personality).
I hope there is assisted suicide by then too.

Why not work toward changing our government into one that truly cares for the most vulnerable people?

What is wrong with our society that death is the best we can offer those slipping through the safety net on either end of life? I realize it’s more expensive to fix the safety net, but how cheap are we willing to be in the face of human suffering?

I don’t know but I hope I die before I become a burden. I have 1 son and I don’t think he is going to take care of me (judging by his 9 yo personality).
I hope there is assisted suicide by then too.