My mom had about 90 good years out of 95. My dad had 73 good years out of' 73. Who's to say?

Well, it's a complicated question, but I can say that many times I have thought that I really don't want to outlive all my family and friends. I don't want to survive a major health problem and then be disabled and dependant on others.

So, whenever it is, as long as it's quick, I'm OK with it.

Before someone blasts me, I know I can not choose. Just posting my "best case scenario".

"In what you say of another, apply the test of kindness, necessity and truth, and let nothing pass your lips without a 2/3 majority."

"In the end, it's not the years in your life, it's the life in your years" Abe Lincoln

Both my parents....and my dads side of the family loved long lives...well into their 80's...My moms side died young...so I have a 50/50 on this one...I am 70 now...But like betteb...I don't want to outlive everyone...nor do I want to be a burden to my children..

How old do you expect to live to be?

I have no clue. Whenever the time comes I will be ready. Most people do not get the 9 lives that I have been blessed with since the year 2002. Eight events that kill lots of people on a regular basis, and for some reason I made it through them, and in pretty good shape at that. Of course, not without a lot of hard physical and mental exercises.

hckynut(john)




"IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR HOCKEY"

I am 67 and already living on bonus yrs, since 4 yr cancer survivor. Hubby is 5 yrs older. We are helping with grandchildren so Hope we stay healthy for a while.

I have had cancer so every day is a gift. I hope to continue receiving this gift for many years until I am worn out and ancient- really very ancient. There are so many things I want to learn, do, and see. I know that the older we get the fewer of our friends and family are here with us but I know that I have lots to share and give and I want many more years. I grew up with women in my family who were near 100 and beyond who still had vital lives and they are my role models. Besides, my animals would miss me. LolLast edited on 8/7/2012

I attempt to live each day as if death could in front of me....every second is so precious! Quality of life is critical...but more importantly, your state of mind. My mother currently has VRE, metal rods in her back from head to base of her spine, in a nursing home on her back with her heel removed as a result of the VRE....she never complains and chooses to think about the beauty in life. She is calm and at peace. How we live our lives and our reactions to the challenges is a choice. The amount of years is not critical, it is the paths that we choose for ourselves.

Parents passed away when they were in their mid 80's and they weren't 100%. My mom had cardiomyopathy for the last 20 years of her life and my dad lived with kidney cancer in the last 10 years of his life. But they were relative healthy, complete, full healthy years. So, since I never smoked and my weight is under control (more or less) and I eat well and exercise....I expect to live well into my 80's. I do not worry about cognitive issues or senility. I know several women in our church who are in their 90's and they active and healthy and still involved in the community.

The way people drive around here........every extra day is a blessing

On 8/8/2012 Ford1224 said:

I just posted on a similar thread (about old people shopping). So I'll just adapt that to this thread.

I'm a great believer in quality of life, not quantity of years. I am 74, I do not expect to live much longer because of my bad health, maybe three to five years.

Aging is ugly. Sorry if that's hard to hear. You start losing your physical health first, leading to chronic depression. Most of the time you are alone, and when you do get to go out, you are in pain and so uncomfortable that you can't wait to get home to your bed. Antidepressants are not recommended for the 'elderly,' so that's not the answer. The truth is, there is no answer.

Family should intervene more, but they usually don't because their lives are still busy and they get depressed around their parent, or whoever it is. Grandchildren lose interest in an old, feeble looking grandparent who is no longer able to spoil them, sit with them and tell them stories, take them shopping, etc. Or they have just grown up and are beginning their own lives.

Even in the best of situations, living longer and growing old is just marking time because everything in one's life is pretty much in the past, usually one has lost siblings, friends, and there is nothing to look forward to. More visits to where the elderly person lives would help tremendously. It takes the onus off them to do the visiting, which can be very difficult. But even the most loving of children have very busy lives, probably feel some measure of guilt, but put things off. Before she went into hospice, I saw this happen to my sister. She was alone most of the time, she had forgotten how to use her phone, things one never even contemplated happened. She lived three hours from me, and I am unable to drive, so I could only visit when one of my girls was available to give me a day of her time. I would call my sister every day, but she would not answer the phone. It was agonizing.

This isn't me yet . . . but I see it coming. I have a reasonably good situation. I like my apartment, I support myself, and though I am physically unable to do a lot of things, I am not in a wheelchair yet. But my apartment needs cleaning, my laundry needs to be done including clothes gone through and put away. These are things I can't do. I hate asking my kids to do these things . . . and they know if they are not doing it, it's not getting done.

As has been posted here, there are people in their eighties and even nineties who are still very physically capable and active and have busy lives. As I said, the physical disabilities usually come first and if they don't have them, they usually stay mentally healthy too. But it is rare.

Sometimes a long life is not necessarily a blessing to either the elderly person or their family.

Ford, your post was pretty depressing. This is not a put down for you, just a fact. Happiness is all in the mind. I see lots of people in their 70's, 80's and 90's in my store that are so upbeat and happy. But of course they are of good enough health they are out shopping for furniture. Thinking back, my husbands grandmother was in horrible health and she was always so happy and jolly.

We just have to deal with what we are given I guess. I hope I'm one of the upbeat happy people even if I'm stuck at home a lot.

We are lucky, in our town we have an apartment building that is all seniors. They have each other, so they aren't lonely. We also have a bus that takes them all around for those that can't drive.

Mima

interesting question...

Well, after what my sister and I experienced and had to go through with both dad and then mom for their last 5-7 years of life, I am ready to go now. I never want tohave to live my last few years like either of them with really bad health problems, AZ, kidney failure, leukemia I've seen and had way too much of all of that.

I do thank my Lord for each and every day that He gives me (I'm 59 btw) but I'm scared to death of alzheimer's and I'm 99% sure it will also catch up with me. My hubby and I have no children, I only have my sister and he has only his brother in Arizona so I will not be a burden to my hubby, sis or bro-in-law. I've seen what it did to my family with my (younger) sis and I taking care of our parents. We have an older estranged sibling who totally chose to desert us with dad & mom not even caring enough to attend a viewing nor the funerals for either parent.

I do not want to live to become old, senile, no longer able to care for myself.

I am ready any day that my Lord wishes to take me. Amen.

Last edited on 8/8/2012

I would like to be old enough to be a "full grown adult" but not so long that I regress to my "infancy": diapers, liquid food, bathed by others, no speech, having to be carried or pushed in a "stroller", etc.

On 8/7/2012 leehare said:

I want to live long enough to go through my "terrible twos" again so I can have the last laugh on my only child!

I love this!!! If you don't mind, I'd like to send it to my only son!!!!!

"jus' sanwiches and milk"