Get annoyed when people assume they will be healthy and alive into old age

[lesley33]

Yes people are living longer. Yes if you live healthily you cut down the risk of certain illnesses. But many people still die relatively young and many elderly people have major illnesses.

So a third of men die before they are 65. And on a personal level, my incredibly fit and healthy looking aunt at 78 who still goes long long hill walks, had a heart bypass 7 years ago. My fit 84 year old neighbour had cancer in her 60's. And I know numerous people who lived very healthy lives and died in their 60's.

You may be lucky and live a long life with no major illness until near the end. Some people do. But please don't assume that is the norm, because it isn't.

[Vacunt]

Glass half empty kind of person eh?

[gettingalifenow]

I don't beleive a third of men die before 65. Where are you getting your figures from?

[porcamiseria]

wat a strange thing to get annoyed about

we are all going to die

what would you prefer , that we say "I cant be arsed with a penson and lets face it there isd a 1 in 3 chance I will get some type of cancer in my late 50s and DIE?

!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BatsUpMeNightie]

I don't know anyone who assumes anything of the sort OP. Do you know a lot of these people then?

[Dirtydishesmakemesad]

That is a pretty negative view of life to have though. Dh and I both lost a parent in our childhood so clearly long before their old age - should we not bother planning or saving for retirement then?

[MilicentBystander]

I do my very best to assume I will live healthily into old age with a good diet and lifestyle.
Yes, I could be hit by a bus tomorrow but I'd rather life like this and have a healthy and active life than be fat and unfit because although I might live as long it wouldn't be as happy for me or as fulfilling.

I have far more fear of being unhealthy and unfit than I do of popping off a bit earlier.

[Shakirasma]

YABU surely it is much more positive and healthy to look forward to a healthy old age than to be so negative as to assume life will end prematurely.

What a strange, miserable outlook to have.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

YABU... I'm assuming I'll be alive in old age because if I'm dead, I'm dead. And what's wrong with optimism? If you look after yourself, get your health checked regularly and all the usual things then why not expect reasonable health? If we get sick, we can be treated more often than not. Your 78 year-old aunt may have had a heart bypass but she's still here 7 years later. So is your 84 year-old neighbour. My 50 year-old neighbour had the same thing. He's still here too. You have to be very unlucky to die young or contract an incurable disease ... life-expectancy is increasing. Don't think there is any cause for doom and gloom.

[ApocalypseCheeseToastie]

Blimey, you're full of the joys aren't you ?

[DaisySteiner]

Presumably you haven't bothered with a pension then OP?!

[SpangledPandemonium]

Well I'm certainly not going to assume the opposite. What would be the benefit of that?

[slavetofilofax]

People probably shouldn't assume that they are going to live healthily int old age, but then I don't think they do.

That's why people have pension plans and life insurance.

What's the point in spending time wondering how old age and illness is going to 'get you'?

Seems like a very negative attitude to have that has no real benefit.

[GypsyMoth]

I am preparing to die!

I have taken life insurance
I consciously build memories for my dc
I often re tell iold family stories so they 'remember'
I have bought jewellery which I wear, so dc can keep it and remember me wearing it
I take lots of photos

[Morloth]

Shit certainly happens.

But I don't think I am quite ready to just roll over and die just yet.

I do know people who when they get to about 50 seem to get old all of a sudden. But happily all of the women in my family are that mad old bat types who live forever.

So I think I will hope for the best, whilst of course preparing for the worst.

[cory]

There are two possible scenarios: I will be alive or I'll be dead. One of them requires no preparation (unless of a religious nature), the other does. So which do you think it would best to plan for?

[abcdangel]

OP, To answer your question, I don't know anyone who assumes they will live into old age. Most people I know, however do hope that they will at least live to enjoy some sort of retirement, and see their children grown up and settled - to die before this is quite tragic.

Longevity runs in my family, with the exception of my dad who sadly died at age 69 from an industrial illness.

Personally I don't want to live to an age where life is a drag. The day I wake up and stuff hurts and I start to be a drain on my DCs or DH, or have to rely on other people to take care of me I think I won't want to be here anymore.

Ask me this again in 40-50 yrs time and I may answer differently.

[Bucharest]

Nothing like being positive huh? I'm almost 46 so I'd best get putting my affairs in order...

[TandB]

Why on earth would this annoy you? Would you prefer that everyone goes around prefixing every comment with "unless I drop dead tomorrow of course"?

Having lost my mother at a ridiculously young age, I prefer not to go around dwelling on the possibility of dying young. If it is quite alright with you, OP, I will continue to plan and live my life as though I have a good number of years to go yet. Otherwise what's the point?

[CMOTdibbler]

tbf, I know 70 yr olds that are skipping off to New Zealand or on walking holidays in the Andes, where my mum is 70, has early dementia, has to walk with crutches as her back is so bad, and on very strong painkillers all the time. Neither of my parents got a long, enjoyable retirement, and thats without cancer or serious heart problems

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Also 46... thinking of sending back that 5 year diary now...

[Flowerista]

I plan to buck the current trend and live for eveeeeeeeer.

I frankly don't care what I'll look like or indeed how badly I will smell.

I will not be a burden since I have already made provision for my agedness so poor only child DS doesnt havevto worry about his old mum.

[FlossieFromCrapstonVillas]

"Please don't assume that's the norm"

Do you honestly think people are THAT fick, op?!

Hahaha.

[ssd]

op, go and look at the topics for the day, and click on the thread about steve jobs dying.

then a few posts down, click on justinemumsnets link to a speech he made at stanford uni.....in fact i urge you all to hear it, its brilliant and extremely humble

remember to live a little before getting consumed by the thought of dying