Do you think you'll live to see 80?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Life expectancy for a woman in the UK is about 82. Do you think you'll make it that far? Assuming no freak accidents, etc.

My life expectancy is less, because of type 1 diabetes. I like to think that because of medical advances I'll claw a few years back along the way as I age, hopefully people my age will be in better shape in mid and later life than past generations of diabetics. I think probably we all hope we'll get a few more years though!

Are you hopeful you'll get to 80 or more?

Yes I'm 63 and DM is 88 and still enjoying life. I'm surprised at people who don't want to live that long.

Yes both parents are fit and healthy in their 80's and I hope/plan to be the same.

It's so depressing and strange to me that people don't want to live beyond 70!

I work with a lot of volunteers who are retired and was shocked at how many told me they were in their 70s, they really did not seem like they were in their 70s! They're all so fit and able, going on holiday to South America, playing golf and tennis, running around after grandchildren. I would have thought most of them were early to mid 60s, so I do believe it is possible a lot of people will make it to 80.

My odds are good. My grandmother and great-grandmother both lived to over 100. I don't smoke and have been vegetarian most of my life, not overweight.
Not sure what I think about it though. 90+ is daunting.

I know I won't.

I'm 50 this year. I don't own my own house and due to low paid jobs in the past haven't got a pension or savings. I'm terrified about how I'm supposed to live after I stop work, well I probably won't be able to. So No, I hope that I don't make 80.

Only one grandparent failed to make 90, and she got close (87) - given she'd had very poor nutrition as a child, and smoked heavily most of her life, it's a bit of a surprise she got that far.

DH, on the other hand, is less likely to make 60 than I am to make 90. So it's not all good news....

I hope so. I'm aiming for 100. Although we appear to have heart disease running in the family so I'm going to have to lower my stress levels and sleep a bit more if I want to get there.

I bloody hope so and, given that pension age is currently 67 and likely to rise, I bloody hope I go past 70!

I want to live as long as possible. To me the alternative is terrifying and I desperately want to be a part of my children's lives and see them grow up and have children etc.

I think my chances are 50/50. On my mums side everyone’s lived to a good age, 80’s and 90’s. On my dads side they all died mid to late 60s. So I think a lot will depend what genes I’ve inherited! That being said, it doesn’t really scare me. My kids are grown and settled. I’ve had hardships in life but also done and experienced some amazing things. I feel I made the most of life. I’d like a bit more time but when I go, I will do so with no regrets. Most certainly I would rather go sooner than end my days in a care home with dementia.

My grandma lived to be 100 years old!

My DM (72) has recently been diagnosed with COPD and emphysema 😢

As long as I am (relatively) happy and healthy, I shall remain on this mortal earth until it’s my time to say farewell!

I will be 70 next year. Mum died when she was 85,but she was very frail for the last five years. Another five years will do me just fine. I don't want my life to be as reduced as my Mums was. At the moment, I holiday for at least seven weeks a year, and eat out with friends two or three times a week. I've had a grand life, and still am doing. DD is well set and happy, I've ensured my "stuff" is in order, will and funeral arrangements made.. Having had cancer three times, I'm realistic. I try to enjoy every moment, in the full knowledge that those moments can stop at any time.

Death is inevitable. I hope suffering isnt

I don't want to OP. Everyone I know over 80 devotes their lives to hospital visits, pain management and attending funerals. Up to mid-late seventies they are fine and then there's a steep decline. I seriously hope voluntary euthanasia is legal in UK by the time I get to that age. I have no desire to be in bedridden aginy driving my adorable DC nuts with my imperious, bitchy toddler-like senile demands. I want to die while they still like me and remember me well.

I hope so, but only if my quality of life is good.

My mum is 70 and has just been diagnosed with advanced stage liver cancer. She has spent her whole life suffering from chronic health problems of one sort or another (Crohn’s, copd etc). For her to even reach 70 is amazing really. She herself says she doesn’t want to live for another few years if her quality of life is so poor she’s reliant on others and cannot even leave her house.

Interesting range of replies, thanks all for your thoughts.

I do think we see way more people now in their seventies and eighties who are fit and healthy, who have full lives. People seem to age at a slower rate - is this because in general, everyone is much healthier for longer? Better nourished, less smoking?

Of course still lots of folks like me with medical issues, that can cause a whole range of problems, if you're unlucky, even if in general everybody is in a better state physically.

Nope. My body has suffered far too much abuse. I’ve been hit twice by a car. Second time was major. I’m epileptic and I’ve had treatment for CIN 2 and 3 (2 separate occasions). Both my parents died from cancer. Dad was 58, mum 65.

I suffered 8 years of abuse at hands of my ex husband and 2 decades of eating disorders. Firstly starving myself then over eating (out of fear id go back to starving myself)

I’m aiming for 60 and feel id be lucky to get there.

I think so, my grandma lived to 79, granny until almost 90, grandad is still active at 94 so my genes would suggest so. I would like to live to 80 if I'm healthy.

If my boyfriend keeps singing Taylor Swift while playing the guitar then I fucking hope not.

I don't know if the generation that are in their 70s now can be generalised from. Many of them will have had easier lives than the current younger generation will have. The changes in retirement age will make a difference to health too.

I would love to live past 80, but I am not sure I can afford to. I have no pension and don’t own my own home.

Probably, but I've got a genetic marker for late onset dementia so I reckon I'll be oblivious by that stage.

My dad passed away at 94, despite having suffered with Parkinson's since the age of about 70. My paternal grandfather has just turned 100 and is still going strong.

I reckon I'll be immortal.

My Mum won't finish her PhD until after her 70th birthday. I am healthy, eat well, exercise plenty and have a professional career that has a decent pension. I reckon I've got until my 90's, hopefully.

Nope. I’m here for a good time, not a long time.