I hope I die before I get old
 

Would you rather die at your prime, or would you prefer to die a incontinent, whithered, frail, dependent probably in some retirement home forgetting which month it it is, yet alone what day?

My dad's own words "if I get too old to be able to care for myself, forcing me into a care home - please shoot me in the head before it gets to that stage"

Dying has never bothered me. But getting old and having to depend on everyone to support me when you become unable to care or do anything for myself scares the crap out of me.

you're full of cheer tonight.

It was supposed to be a poll too! :mad:

I'm off to whinge at the webby ;)

Go out for a drive in your crap-handling ****ty scoob. Death can't be far away. :p

Roads are wet, crap tyres, hedge finding handling, so that's a fair point :)......


The Scoob is the hell which will convey me to heaven :D

I am of the same way of thinking as your father

When you get old, you realise that you are not actually old, life is very short.

NEVER, EVER, think anything is worth more than living life ....... never work that extra little bit at work if it makes your home/life balance suffer!!

I can tell you now that no-one, no-one, lies on their death bed and wishes they had worked a little harder, earned more money, or spent more time on SN!! What they DO wish is that they had spent more time with their families, more quality time with the simple things.

Don't confuse old with the end of life ..........

Pete

He said that after we visted my grandad on his deathbed. And I'm inclined to agree.
I think I may manage ok if I lost all my marbles as I would not be aware of it. But if I keep my sanity (!?!?!), I don't think I'd cope.

Quality Post, if only I had the time to read the other 15,716 posts before I get boxed up :p

The natural instinct is to survive, so no matter how old you get, you'll want to keep going. My gran died of Alzhiemers, which is a horrible, long, drawn out way to go and she went down hill with it for nine or ten years, with the last two being the worst.

But with all her confusion, fear and the pain caused to her family, she still had moments of clarity and warmth. Obviosuly no-one wants to get ill, but generally it'll take a long, long time before you are willing to give up!

And don't associate old age with being frail, my other gran is 91 and plays 18 holes twice a week and goes to the gym everyday, and has better vision and hearing than me!!!!

It's not age. It's more to do with ability and mentality. The day I can't do anything myself will be the day I want to pop my clogs. Be that 45 or 90, problem is, if I can't do anthing, then killing myself will be a tricky task :wonder:

Hmmm, you'll change your mind..........

When you get to the age that you think is old, the will to live is just as strong as at any time of your life. Just make sure you live a healthy life so you give yourself the best chance to enjoy it.

Les

Quality :)

its the reason i dont have a pension.....:)

It is indeed a scary thought (getting old that is) I'm only 22 and it worries me even now:(

.......so when is end of life ...:wonder:

Define living :)

Existing interms of being medically living. Yet being a vegetable in a bed waiting for god.

Or living as being physically aware of your own existence and be capeable of self support and independence, physically and mentally, with little or no need for outside support, be it NHS, welfare or family/freinds.


It boils down to quality of life. And how much you personally need to detremine if it is worth the pain to yourself and others. It's something that cannot be quantifed (although doctors will try ;) )

Jesus, is there some genetic threat hanging over you? Think you are probably worrying this far too much.....................

It isn't an either or. Plenty of people die in their sleep having been fit and active up to that point. Having seen 1 grandparent die of a stroke at a point when she was still very active and having seen another spend 10 years or more gradually deteriorating to dementia, I'd take the former, I think anybody would. The problem is when you are on the slippery slope, do you try and hold out a little longer in case a cure comes or just end it now? Once you get past a certain point do you even realise you're a gibbering mess? I don't know and I'll worry about euthenasia when it becomes an issue to me, in the meantime I'll get on with making the most of what I have.

Genetically, I'm doomed (according to the quacks anyway :D )

I'm, not worrying. More so philosophising on the meaning of life and living ;)



As you probably will be aware by now, I do advocate voluntary euthanasia.

I certainly agree that people should be able to make the choice for themselves. How that's done in a "safe" manner is perhaps the bigger issue.

It's a similar scienario to the reliance of doctors to keep you alive "no matter what". To what point do they quantify that you should be written off? And more importantly, who ultimately decides.

Obviously it's the patient that decides, but when the patient is no longer coherent to make their wishes known, matters become interesting.

Well obviously you will provide your solicitor with a document outlining your wishes, and make sure your friends and family are aware of your wishes and how to get hold of the legal document that says you want the plug pulled as soon as humanly possible.......

Or get yourself a flight to Switzerland.

And bear in mind that you can still live like a vegetable without the need for medication. The trip to Switzerland maybe the only option - that is if the doctors deem you medically fit to travel ;)

Well, let us know how soon you decide to do it, mate!

I'll setup a public webcast, I was thinking of going out with more of a "bang" though.

Might enrol for Iran's nuclear weapon testing ;)

Ali get down Madame X ....with out delay.:mad:

exactly how ill are you ?- or is it all in the heed...:Suspiciou

Being old is a state of mind.
Being too old is also too final.
Recognizing when you have become an excessive burden, to your loved ones, is a luxury.
Having that knowledge, at the proper time and knowing what to do about it and when to do the terminal thing is a very personal issue.
I'll be 87, this year, and do not consider myself to be too old, yet.
Over here we have an acronym, DNR. Means, Do Not Recusitate. Worn on a bracelet or neck charm. I have both.
If I suffer a debillitating incident that requires heroic measures to "bring me back" (so to speak), my wishes are to NOT do so.
After the appropriate two or three days, fire me up, can the ashes, and distribute them as per my will.

Sound a bit morbid? Hope it gives you something to think about.
Great thread, BTW, for me anyway! :D