If you were offered a guarantee to die at 82 just now, would you take it?

[Deardanielle]

Okay, weird one! It was a relatives funeral the other week (died at 82, very short illness) and my dad said to a friend that if we got the option to sign up to die at 82 now we would obviously all take it. Everyone was agreeing but in my head I was thinking, I feel that’s a bit of a gamble when I could potentially make it to 90+. Obviously quality of life is important and you’d ideally not need to be in a care home for those years, would depend what age you are now etc but aside from all of that, would you agree to go at 82? Or what age would you take if you were offered it and you could live the rest of your life happily knowing you wouldn’t die til then? Happy Sunday all 🤣

Yes, although 85 would be better.

I think v few people live well after that.

well, if I’m sick from the age of 60 or so, maybe I wouldn’t be happy with 82! I don’t care, as long as I have decent health.

Yes, I’d take 82 if I could guarantee no dementia or serious frailty. I care more about quality of life than quantity.

Only one of my grandparents made it that far, and my father recently died at 79, so don’t think I’d be giving up much tbh.

Yes - if it was that age and dying without suffering/having a prolonged illness/pain/being in a care home, then yes I would take it!

No. All the stats suggest I’ll be 100 plus.

Having worked in elderly care, yes, I would.

I don’t want to be ‘kept alive’ if I was to become unwell. I’ve seen too many people rotting in beds with no quality of life.

82 with a short illness, yes. It’s quality of life that counts. I don’t want to live to 100 with no quality of life.

No, I don't like the thought of knowing, period. I need the uncertainty to keep going, and I'm looking to the healthiest most active old people for inspiration and motivation to aim for similar health

I've got life limiting illness, Stage 4 kidney disease, sarcoidosis, osteoarthritis in feet, knees, hips and spine and an auto immune condition that is pure hell. I'd welcome popping off at 82 - just a few more years to go. Up to Covid we enjoyed travel and went on several cruises. My world has shrunk so much.

😂 can’t see why not

@Iloveanicegarden aw sending you a big hug 😔 that sounds tough

I'd prefer 75 or even 70. But certainly nearly everyone in my family has still been doing reasonably well at 82 and has been doing much, much worse by 85. So it's a good call and I'd take it.

82 might be a tad too long for me. I'm 67 with chronic illness so even now am thinking I'd be unlikely to even make mid 70s. I certainly wouldn't want ill health for the next 13 years, unless I improve somewhat.

I certainly don't want to live into my 90s!

Nope! All the women in my family have lived happily and heartily into their 90's, most marbles still in-tact and fit and well. Several have made it to and past 100. I'll take the gamble that I'll inherit the long-life gene from them!

I already have painful arthritis at 50.
I had two grandparents in nursing homes with Alzheimer’s. Both lived to their 90’s, but it would have been kinder to have gone at 82.
DF is in a care home with dementia at just 75.

Yes, I’d choose to go at 82, or earlier if my mind starts to go.

God no. I want to see my kids and grandkids for as long as possible.

All in my family did well at 82. Grandmas lived until mid nineties and 100. Bar the last couple of years active and independent. I've got long covid and if I last until 82, will be amazed. Have got absolutely fucked last couple of years and trajectory has been downhill.

I'd like to go a lot sooner than that.

I would love this! Yes, I would take it! I'm 51, have terrible health anxiety and worry about dying a lot. I'm also a very black and white thinker and hate uncertainty so knowing I had a set amount of years in front of me would make me more focused I believe.

Able to read and without ill health. Yeah. Else no

This. Through my work, I have contact with those around 80+ I think despite the very clear mental and physical stability until this point, I’ve seen rapid decline around mid 80s, especially in those who end up moving from their own homes. I think staying in your own home keeps you younger and active. It’s really grim how people decline so suddenly when home security is removed.

if I could guarantee I would enjoy my life until I died, then honestly any age.

My cut off would be if my physical or mental health suffered. Then I would want out

@Iloveanicegarden

im so sorry to hear that, 🌷I hope you're getting some support.

@Deardanielle

Does it protect you from serious illness?

i have a couple ohms health issues & they make me vulnerable to covid, if I knew I wouldn't die from civid or my other health issues, I'd gladly take 82 and enjoy my life more in the present.

yes i would make that deal, as long as there is no hidden strings associated with the deal and its as straight forward as said,

in the mean time, i would prefer immortality.

Nope. I’d hate to know when I was going to die, I think it would change you as a person and how you lived your life.

What I would like, is to know that I could opt for euthanasia, at any age, if I was suffering.