Old folks dying of,,,,,,old age?

[MrsDeltaB]

Whilst I appreciate there is a general outpouring of someone or the actor of a character that you may have grown up with.

Liz Dawn. Died at 77. Yes. Sad. To her family. But why the outpouring of grief to a person of elder generation who may or may not have simply died of old age?

I can't help but get cross when folks are 'gutted' 'devastated' about the death of an old person dying of, being old! "97 year old died of old age'

My grandmother's death certificate stated that she died of old age. She was 98.

My mum is 72 and just come back from a hen weekend in Dublin, so still plenty of life in the old(ish) dog yet.

I commented to my husband, when it came on the news, I was surprised, but glad, that she made the news for dying. A lot of people watched her for many years, she wasn't a Dame or national treasure - just a normal lady who people warmed too and liked.

Old age is a legitimate cause of death. It can appear on a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, completed by a doctor, as exactly that with no need for any other cause to be on there.

Losing someone to death, however it happens, is always sad. Age is totally irrelevant.

At what age does someone have to be before they would no longer be missed?! They are still the same person as when they were young - still someone's parent/spouse/sibling/friend/idol.

You have an odd view OP.

Pacificplaza is right - a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death can state 'Old Age' as the only cause of death, but the person must have been aged 80 years or older. Liz Dawn was 77.

My DM is in her late 70's, very active (moreso than me) and goes out every day from one thing or another.

I think 77 is young to die nowadays. There is always a cause, never 'just' old age.

Maybe I'm badly wording that I don't see the death of anyone beyond say 70 (which my lone parent is) as being shocking? Maybe only based on my own life experience.

Jesus. I look at my grandparents who are 69, 70, 76 and couldn't think of them dying any time soon.

They cruise, golf, drink, holiday frequently, eat out, 1 smokes, 2 of them go gym, the other walks everywhere, have active social lives.

They've only really not been retired long if you think of it!!

People live past 100 these days and I would expect most people to live over the age of 85, tbh. Unless they're truely ill before hand.

I hope my grandparents have still got 20 or so years left in them.

My dad turns 50 next year if I told him he's 2/3rds of his way through life he would kick me out the door!

Everyone dies from something btw, oldage/dementia and such isn't a cause of death. Sometimes the reason but never the 'cause' on the death certificate.

Op you could have a 70 year old who has never suffered with any significant health issues, living a happy, healthy life, a job, plans for the future etc who suddenly drops dead - you don't think that could be in any way shocking to their loved ones?

Now I am 50 I don't regard 77 as old. However when I was 25 it would have been elderly.

In the C19th, people were frequently recorded as "dying by the Visitation of God".

Old age seems rather prosaic in comparison.

Of course you can die of old age! Sooner or later, even if you've been fit and active all your life, your time will be up.

These days we don't consider people in their 70s as ancient, but 30 or 40 years ago you would say they'd had a good innings to reach that age.
So many people live linger that old age is bringing a new set of problems: people used to die before geriatric problems showed themselves.

It's not reported because it's shocking. It's reported because it's sad. Not for you maybe, but for many other people

I don't find the death of anyone over 70 as shocking, either.

My Dad was 88 when he passed. Not unexpected but I was bloody sad.

" I do feel that as you/we/us get older we may or may not die I guess I struggle to deal with the death of anyone 70+ as being an unexpected shock"

People aren't in shock, they are grieving. You are saying that people have no right to express their grief.

In the case of Liz Dawn, she worked hard in the entertainment business and later for charities. She was a vibrant woman up until the end. Read the decent press pieces on her and surely you understand the big loss that she is to some people.

My children lost their Dad young, it certainly didn't stop them from grieving for my Mum, who died at 87. We meet up and do something special on her anniversary and her Birthday. We don't do that for my DH, because they wasn't old enough to have done that when he was alive. They missed having a Dad but they miss my Mum more, as the person that she was, to them.

Maybe I'm badly wording that I don't see the death of anyone beyond say 70 (which my lone parent is) as being shocking? Maybe only based on my own life experience.

Well, everyone is different. But I care for around 3 people currently who are over 100. (through work) and 2 out of 3 are still 100% physically and mentally able, just occasionally struggle. The other IS bed bound but mentally aware of all her surroundings.

To write someone off 30 years before the age of these people is crazy. BUT if you don't know people who live to ripe old ages, especially in a happy physically form, your view may be cloudy or different.

It's just one of those things, I guess!!

I'm going to go a bit with Delta, maybe quite a bit - my dad, his brother, my MiL all died early 70s, but now I am getting near to that I am thinking hmm, that's not what I had in mind! So hoping to hang on till 80 at least. If someone has a good life, and dies 70+, then personally I agree its not as unexpected or tragic as if a young person dies.

But of course, that person's loved ones would still be upset. I suppose its all relative - they'd be upset because they loved the person dearly, but maybe not as shocked as if a 50 year old died. Anyway, that's my take on it.

And your re-wording doesn't help, OP

Mourning can be complicated if a death is unexpected, but it's still a loss whenever a person dies

I take issue with the word Tragedy being used when an elderly person dies, as it so often is with everyone being so melodramatic nowadays, it’s no tragedy when someone reaches old age and does what they are born to do.

user

Your grandparents cruise? They are living it up! Tell them it's illegal though

Tony Booth also died aged 85, which has got less coverage, because he was less of a National Icon, as are all long standing Coronation Street stars.

My understanding is that doctors put old age on the certificate if the person was over a certain age (70?) and then on the second part they write what the contributing factors were. Basically if you die after a gradual decline in health rather than suddenly from a heart attack etc, they could write old age, but it's rare that they would.

I've just looked it up and there is legislation saying not to use "old age" as the sole cause of death on the certificates as further information and investigations may be requested by the family.

You don't just hit a certain age and your body switches off.

Old age was the cause of death on my mother's death certificate when she died (aged 100!)