To not want to live to an old age

[2sidesofcoins]

Reading the eldery parents board it has filled me with dread for old age. It has so many wealthy elderly people living in misery, too old to enjoy life anymore, no matter how wealthy.
My generation won't see much of retirement as it's pushed up to 70. We have 2 working parents, a lot more stress, enviromental toxins and will see life expectancy reduce very soon.
But the altenative of having my brain die while I am live on is terrifying. I think I'll be refusing antibiotic treatment and going out with the old persons friend Pneumonia!
I'm mid forties and pissed off at all the age related shite already (Reading glasses, stiff joints, looming menopause, inability to lose weight!!)

What on earth made you peruse that chat room?

and will see life expectancy reduce very soon.

I take it you don’t keep abreast of the news?

It is the opposite

An elderly parent with Parkinsons

At present, but we are not seeing the effects of stress of raisng families with 2 working parents and enviromental toxins yet!

Oh don’t be daft

Sorry I read We have 2 working parents,

and thought the parents worked

I would try and enjoy life.you are still young with a young family. How would your DC feel of you died young. I am early 60s and in recovery from cancer. Your whole outlook changes .you always feel at 40 that 50 or 60 is old but the goalposts change believe me!

I think our generation will be severely hit by Covid impacts. After the Spanish flu outbreak people who were young then, developed Parkinson’s in much greater numbers. What’s in store for us?! I am planning to try to live my best life now.

I’m mid forties op and don’t relate to stiff joints and an inability to lose weight.

What is your diet and movement like?

There is a long you can do to try to improve life

healthy life expectancy hasn't increased.

I have an elderly parent with parkinsons. I responding to the poster who asked why I wa reading the elderly parents board. (It is for people with elderly parents)

But the altenative of having my brain die while I am live on is terrifying. I think I'll be refusing antibiotic treatment and going out with the old persons friend Pneumonia!

The state the NHS will be in by then means you won't be given anything to prolong your life so don't worry too much.

This makes very sad reading.
You are way, way too young to be thinking like this. You'll waste a lot of time worrying about things that may never happen. Enjoy your life. We're here for a good time, not a long time.

It's not old age that's the problem, it's ill health.

There are ill people in their 40's and 50's who don;t have very enjoyable lives and then there are people in their 80's and 90's who are fit and healthy and enjoying life to the full still.

It's not old age that's the problem, it's ill health.

and there is no correlation between the two 🙄

I think it depends to a degree, if you are relatively fit, my uncle is 87 and strong as an ox still. Unfortunately has dementia but early stages, on meds so still happy in himself.
My aunt was 86 and very happy and fit, she was working full time at 80 in a factory job, on her feet all day. Eventually suffered with dementia but was still happy, pneumonia took her about a year after diagnosis.
My dad had pancreatic cancer and possibly dementia we don’t know, he was strong but had an awful death.
DM has awful arthritis but loves life. She gets upset about dying. She’s not ready to go.

I really hope they legalise euthanasia as I want control over my death. That would give me comfort and I don’t know why I can’t make plans now whilst fit, healthy and sound of mind. If I get the same illness as my dad I’ll take my own life if I’m able to, I refuse to suffer like that.

I feel the same way OP. Don’t want to go on forever. Have seen too many long protracted deaths in my family, people living on and on but in pain.

I really hope they legalise euthanasia as I want control over my death.

Control & dignity in death does not come cheap...

I hear you and agree - having seen the rapid physical and mental decline of my old folks from about 75 - 80ish I really don’t want this for me, or for my own kids to have to deal with me when I’m like it. At 85 my own parents have lost all interest in everything and are disappointed each morning that they didn’t die in the night. They are literally just waiting for that and it’s heartbreaking for them.

It sounds awful and very uncaring of me but I do wonder why we keep old people alive when their quality of life is non-existent. People in constant pain, medicated, not aware of who they - or their loved ones - are, no real interest in eating or doing anything, exhausted, unable to move about safely etc etc. Unfortunately it just seems that old people (as above, who need a lot of care) are a money making racket. Some people are getting very rich at the expense of these elderly people and their families.

Improved medication and standard of living means pneumonia is no longer the old person’s friend. My dad is hospitalised at least once a winter with it, treated and discharged despite having a DNR.

I know it’s a privilege to get older and many people don’t, but once your physical and mental state mean you’re waiting to die I wish there was a humane and peaceful solution - it’s what I’d want.

She’s clearly referring to ‘our generation’ being a two working parents generation

I think you’d be better off keeping off it op

i have been aware of you on other threads… you find parenting very isolating; your last three jobs have been disasters and all in all… you are feeling very down in the dumps

My neighbour is almost 90!and fit as a fiddle. But even if she weren’t, to say that old age is not worth living is very sad, as every age can bring enjoyment and quality of life to some degree. I appreciate however that caring for an elderly parent can feel draining.

My dad had pneumonia and very nealry died but survived. Only to be diagnosed with Prostate cancer months after and died a long painful death to cancer.
I thought you can get an advanced directive to refuse antibitoics?

At the moment in the UK

I for one have taken action to try and ensure I’m fit and mobile and fully functioning in to late old age. How?

Exercise, exercise, diet, sleep, exercise, weights, mobility. Oh and exercise. Controlling my weight.

use it or lose it.

It’s not a given, my DM and her friends are slim, active and mentally fine in their late 80’s. You can’t rock up at 50 in shit shape, or 60 a basket case and expect anything good to happen as you age. I’m in my 50’s and doing the work now.