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 🤣

I did a longevity test the other day which obviously I know is not accurate. But lots of detailed questions about my health and lifestyle and it said 80yo for me. Which I thought was ok. I’m in my late 40s. But my friends in their 50s were horrified and said 80yo didn’t seem old. I guess in ten or fifteen years time 80yo might seem a lot closer.

however my parents both died in their 70s. I don’t want to be living to an age where I’m in pain, mobility issues, in a home, etc. so 80 seems ok.

If the deal is good health (no major chronic conditions or disabilities, able to do what I wanted) until 82 and then quick painless death, then yes, I'd take that deal.

I had a great aunt who lived by herself (single but lots of extended family nearby who visited regularly), spent her days seeing friends, volunteering, going on country walks and doing whatever she fancies. A week after her 83th birthday she spent the day tending to her garden, came inside and made herself a cup of tea, sat down in her armchair and died. I've always said I'd be very happy to have things play out like that.

I think I’d take the 82, especially if I was guaranteed pretty good health for the most of it. My kids would just be in their 50’s, if they had children they’d be at least in preteens/teenagers so I could have helped them with childcare, and my parents would be dead.

I have a sneaky feeling I’m going to check out in my late 60’s early 70’s (based on family deaths, the 80 and 90 somethings seem to be outliers) so 82 would buy extra time and I could get everything in order for it.

Really? I have friends who are 70, and I can assure you they would not be wanting to check out any time soon. 70 or 75 might seen "old" when you are quite young, but most people of that age are still pretty healthy and fit these days.

Only if I was in good physical and mental health.

I’d take a guarantee to die from a brief illness at 62, let alone 82! Was literally saying that to DP two nights ago.

I had breast cancer at 48 and stats are roughly 50% chance of being dead at 63 though big range within that and treatment does improve. I would take 82. I would like certainty for financial planning. Though would be strange to know. I wouldn't want endless chemo etc though to keep me alive and don't fancy being alone.

There's an interesting Netflix programme on how to live to 100, not sure would want that but did give good tops of how to stay healthy as long as possible.

Bit if a gamble. My nan lived to 93 and apart from loosing her hearing was in Good health. She died suddenly. I also know of quite a few people in their 80s who are still living well.

I have cancer and to have another 20 years guaranteed (provided I didn't suffer) would be lovely!

Definitely not. Both parents alive and living independently at 89, paternal grandparents lived into 90s, maternal both past 85 and all in reasonable health until, final short illness.

No. I'm planning to live well into my 90s.

I'd take 82. I doubt I will live that long, but wouldn't want longer based on how my parents are now in their early 80s.

If I had very good health until that moment & then a quick, unscary death... yeah I might take it.

The way the world is going, yes.

I can’t remember the name but there’s a myth about someone who wished to a god or genie or something to live a very long life and he became immortal but got progressively more decrepit until his life was unbearable. I’ve got the genes to live into my nineties easily but at 31 I’ve clinically “died” twice already and I have a host of health issues - I take more pills than two of my grandparents combined. At this stage I might actually just opt for the “quick death after short illness” bit instead of 51 or more years of decline.

Having nursed for over 30 years, absolutely.
The state modern medicine keeps some people in for years is pitiful.
Although my GM was flying abroad alone well into her 80's. Neither of my parents made it to 70.

I'm 70 next year. On Saturday I booked a flight to Australia to see family and celebrate and am planning all sorts of trips to do while I'm there - including seeing relatives in their late 80s.

A great aunt at 99 was still living at home and walking her dog. She made it to 100 - hoping to emulate her and working on being fit enough to do so.

Even if you retained peak health, immortality would be a curse, not a blessing.

@Iloveanicegarden

I am so sorry to hear that. I cannot imagine what you are going through. Sounds so tough.

@CesareBorgia my logical mind and the bit that sporadically wants to end my life agree. My very human fear of death disagrees! And I personally have a lot of difficulty imagining what peak health is even like, let alone at 80 or more years old.

I would prefer Euthanasia to be legal. I do not want to go into a nursing home and if I felt my quality of life was decreasing and I was becoming unable to look after myself I would choose to die.

Some 82 year olds still run better than me in our park run!

I have no fear of death as I’ve worked in HC so I have been present when many people have died. My fear is pain, suffering, immobility and a reliance on others to care for me.

Still feels depressingly close to what will be my retirement age- though I imagine it’ll be even older by the time I get there.

All the more reason to stop working myself into the ground now, I suppose.

Happy Monday. 😂

Yes definitely. Or maybe a bit earlier if there were options! I don't have any children, and it would be good to know purely from a financial planning perspective, so I know how long my pension fund needs to last!

My aim is to wake up dead one morning at 85. I’d be OK with anything up to 90. 82 is a bit too early for me, we’re a long lived family and I suspect my natural lifespan will be well into the 90s.