Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that people living longer is making quality of life for everyone worse?

640 replies

Futurascope · 14/05/2024 22:04

Possibly controversial…,

https://www.itv.com/news/2024-05-14/one-in-three-councils-not-confident-they-can-provide-basic-adult-social-care

“The fears about meeting the legal requirements come despite eight out of 10 councils forecasting having to cut spending on other community services such as parks, libraries and leisure centres to try to protect funding”.

So - libraries, leisure centres, parks, all vital for young children, families and others - being closed because the elderly desperately need social care.

As awful as it is for us all individually to lose somebody that we love….. is curing every disease, and having us all live to 100 really a good thing if it is at the expense of quality of life for the rest of society?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
K0OLA1D · 15/05/2024 14:57

BruFord · 15/05/2024 14:55

@OhmygodDont I definitely think that older people should be given the choice to turn down treatment. My Dad (86) needs a hernia op, he’s been offered one in recent years, but he’s not having it. Fair enough.

And that is absolutely fine. No one should be forced into anything. But to not give the option if there is a good chance of success?A person who could go on to lead a relatively happy life just because they're over 75? Totally wrong.

vivainsomnia · 15/05/2024 14:57

Who are you replying to?
The posters who think old people are more in need of joint replacements and they are a drain to the NHS.

MrTiddlesTheCat · 15/05/2024 14:58

EasternStandard · 15/05/2024 13:41

Social care is a rising concern. Asking how are we going to afford it seems a good question. Institutes are set up to think about it as it’s so difficult

Plus we’re not really keen to do our own elderly care, some will but culturally it’s quite low

Show quote history

The OP isn't asking about how we are going to afford it though. She's saying we shouldn't be providing it at the expense of kids having fun.

EasternStandard · 15/05/2024 14:59

vivainsomnia · 15/05/2024 14:57

Who are you replying to?
The posters who think old people are more in need of joint replacements and they are a drain to the NHS.

The numbers are going up each year. It probably is due to aging population in part, why not?

K0OLA1D · 15/05/2024 15:01

EasternStandard · 15/05/2024 14:59

The numbers are going up each year. It probably is due to aging population in part, why not?

Show quote history

They are also doing them on younger people, who years ago would have been told to wait until they were older due to the fact they'd need multiple as they didn't last as long. Now they're offering them to people younger (I had my first hip at 27) as they are lasting longer and the metal parts are now permanent. So it's not just the aging population

vivainsomnia · 15/05/2024 15:01

The numbers are going up each year. It probably is due to aging population in part, why not?
The numbers are going up because of obesity increase.

So should healthy but elderly people be turned down for the benefits of the obese? Even when the former are likely to be making the most of their new joints?

NineChickennuggets · 15/05/2024 15:01

Perhaps we should stop the use of vaccinations. That should cut the number of people down quite easily.

Macaroni46 · 15/05/2024 15:01

vivainsomnia · 15/05/2024 14:34

The slope is so slippery that it's been made illegal.

What a great thread for MN, finding out that 60% are ageist. So much for expecting the world to support the rights of women when the majority don't care at all about the rights of the elderly! Truly a shocking thread.

Not ageist. Realistic.

K0OLA1D · 15/05/2024 15:02

Macaroni46 · 15/05/2024 15:01

Not ageist. Realistic.

Show quote history

Have you read some of the comments on this thread??

vivainsomnia · 15/05/2024 15:03

@Macaroni46
Haha, let's be prejudist. It's ok, it's only being realist. I can think of many crimes of war that happened thanks to realism!

EasternStandard · 15/05/2024 15:04

I mean people are studying it so it’s not that random

Effects of an aging population on hospital costs related to elective hip replacements

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0033350619303336

@vivainsomnia it’s not just obesity

Macaroni46 · 15/05/2024 15:06

vivainsomnia · 15/05/2024 13:55

Some people miss out. Those who have lived a full and long life have had their turn. And elderly people are so, so, so expensive in healthcare terms. I would not want to be kept alive at 85 while 50 year olds are immobile and out of work waiting for knee operations
I see. So if my 85 years old, very healthy and fit dad, who has worked hard all his life, ensured to keep a healthy lifestyle, did volunteering until a year ago, has all.his brain and still do arithmetic quicker than I had an accident through no fault of his, he should be left to die so that a 50 years old, needing a knee replacement due to self inflicted obesity and total lack of exercise, can have one, despite the fact they will still do no exercise and conti he with their unhealthy lifestyle afterwards?

Thankfully it is illegal for the NHS to discriminate on age because indeed, you can a much healthier 80 year old co pared to a 50 year old.

It sounds like many posters seem to forget that age IS a protected characteristics!

So quick to judge. I need a knee replaced. I'm not obese (though have put on weight since mobility has become compromised) and I still try to exercise despite being bone on bone. The pain is excruciating. I'm in my fifties. If I don't get one I'll have to stop working which I'd hate and go onto benefits. Luckily I can (just about) afford to go private.

vivainsomnia · 15/05/2024 15:10

and joint replacement Obesity and joint replacement

Age AND obesity explain the significant increase.

The difference is: one is preventable, the other not.

llamarammma · 15/05/2024 15:10

MsFaversham · 14/05/2024 22:48

The Government chooses not to fund social care properly. Councils’ budgets have been cut to the bone by this lot so it’s not surprising they can’t afford to fulfil their statutory responsibilities.

It’s about time we had another government and the public demanded improvement in funding for the vulnerable in this society. Other countries manage it. They are also shooting themselves in the foot by limiting who can work here. We need a young work force. Most of us are going to be old, get chronic diseases and become vulnerable and those who are saying we should stop treating the elderly, the ill and, dare I say it, the disabled, might well find themselves in this position. I bet you will change your tune then.

This !

vivainsomnia · 15/05/2024 15:11

If I don't get one I'll have to stop working which I'd hate and go onto benefits. Luckily I can (just about) afford to go private
I think you are confusing me. I don't believe NHS treatment should be based on any system of worthiness.

llamarammma · 15/05/2024 15:13

BreakingAndBroke · 15/05/2024 14:48

I don't think it is lifespan that is the problem, rather that the distribution of wealth is so insanely skewed these days.

Edited

Agree Smile

BorgQueen · 15/05/2024 15:14

When the State pension was brought in, it was only designed to pay individuals for around 10- 15 years and there were far fewer pensioners. No party wants to tackle the issue head on - which means forcing people to pay far more into the system.

Within 20 years, it will be unsustainable, hence the push for auto enrolment, but that is like throwing a bucket of water at a house fire.
I don’t understand care homes actively keeping dementia residents alive with antibiotics etc. Every dementia patient should have a DNR and no antibiotics as standard. They should never have received covid vaccinations either.

Years ago, a district nurse would see very ill elderly people off with morphine, as happened with my Grandma.

Macaroni46 · 15/05/2024 15:15

vivainsomnia · 15/05/2024 15:11

If I don't get one I'll have to stop working which I'd hate and go onto benefits. Luckily I can (just about) afford to go private
I think you are confusing me. I don't believe NHS treatment should be based on any system of worthiness.

Ok. Crossed wires!

K0OLA1D · 15/05/2024 15:16

vivainsomnia · 15/05/2024 15:14

Posting link again Obesity and joint replacement

(Just to get it out there, not saying you're assuming I am, but I am also not obese. Or even close to being overweight! Just very unlucky)

5128gap · 15/05/2024 15:17

Well its not going to be cheap is it? What do you think then, compulsory euthanasia at 80, or that we all get back on the fags and pies and stop wearing our seat belts?

BruFord · 15/05/2024 15:17

Macaroni46 · 15/05/2024 15:15

Ok. Crossed wires!

Show quote history

I really hope that you’re able to get your knee replacement done soon, @Macaroni46 💐 My friend who had one last year was also in agony and her op has been life-changing.

K0OLA1D · 15/05/2024 15:21

Macaroni46 · 15/05/2024 15:06

So quick to judge. I need a knee replaced. I'm not obese (though have put on weight since mobility has become compromised) and I still try to exercise despite being bone on bone. The pain is excruciating. I'm in my fifties. If I don't get one I'll have to stop working which I'd hate and go onto benefits. Luckily I can (just about) afford to go private.

Show quote history

Are you on a list? I hope you get it soon. Its a tough old recovery (I'm 2.5 weeks out on my 2nd, so still very fresh) but it's very worth it in the end. Already my mobility has improved.

EasternStandard · 15/05/2024 15:21

vivainsomnia · 15/05/2024 15:14

Posting link again Obesity and joint replacement

You’re not disputing the impact of an aging population though are you?

It can be both causing the rise in numbers

It’d be interesting to model the NHS if we were all a healthy weight

YourPithyLilacSheep · 15/05/2024 15:24

Gosh this is a horrible thread. The ageism is off the charts, as is the ableism.

I hope none of you becomes dependent on others at any point in your lives.