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How long do you really want to live?


Wilbur

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No idea. 

I'd like to think of a lifespan that is safe for myself, so that I don't endanger myself.

I hope to continue unafraid. My 84 yr. old friend who lives 45 km. north of city in another smaller city, keeps on pushing herself to walk outside on her walker because she knows darn well, as a former nurse, to keep on being active mobile helps maintain body balance and self-confidence in surrourndings.

 

 

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1 hour ago, Wilbur said:

How long do you really want to live?

It depends...

If I'm healthy, I've still got things to do here.

16 minutes ago, jsharr said:

I have watched one too many people die a slow demeaning death.  

Then again...  I've seen this too.   WoBG's mother lived (not very well) with Alzheimer's for 9 years.  The last few years were kind of horrible.   My mother also had  Alzheimer's but 3 or 4 years was a blessing (that it wasn't 9 years) , but still bad.

So... our future doesn't look good at all.  The one thing that we have here that you don't have in TX is lots of COLD weather.  WoBG and I agreed... it would be OK for the one afflicted to wonder off into the night when its -5 outside.   Neither one of us wants to live with Alzheimer's.   

Later this week we meet with our lawyer,  One of the things on the agenda is health care POA and our wishes.   Our daughter knows that all of the scenarios listed in the document, our choice would be to move on and she gets our stuff. 

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39 minutes ago, donkpow said:

Looks like somebody is thinking about a career in insurance. "How old is everybody? How long do you want to live? How much is your estate worth?"

Just too much death in friends, colleagues and family in the past couple of years.  I have a great aunt who married an angel of a man that was 25 years her junior.  She is now 92 but has spent the past 12 years in long term care due to a series of micro strokes that has left her bed ridden and unable to speak.  Her husband though, has stayed true to his wedding vows and feeds her three times a day even though she has no idea who he is.  I feel for her but I really feel for him and his adherence to those vows.  He has been a trapped man for a very long time. 

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How long do I want to live?  I never really thought of it that way as I don’t really have a say in that.  I’d like to stick around at least 25 more years putting me in my 80’s but if I should go tomorrow I’d die knowing I lived a good life. 

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It's all bad news. My dad was in fabulous shape but now his body has totally failed him at 90 and his mind shows signs of deterioration.  He once said being trapped in a bed was like being in prison.  He may go on living another 10 years trapped and not living per se.

I'd like to make it to my mid to late 70s I suppose.

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In all honesty, I don't think I have yet lived certain good things I wish to experience.  A portion of me feels "untapped", some interests not yet more fully realized. Or released like a bird to fly.  For now, it feels like a hibernating dove, sitting content for now, but knowing there are other things to try.

There was a time where I wondered if some years, I was spendy on travel ....but as it turns it was great to have done and shared some great trips in North America and overseas, of which many trips which were not much or at all car-based. I'm very grateful...

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22 minutes ago, sheep_herder said:

Medical assistance in dying?

Correct.  The push is toward no medical condition required.  Consequently, there are numerous requests for people who just can't afford life.  Even vets are being peddled assisted suicide as an option rather than appropriate care.  Some candidates are pushing pre-adult suicide as a cure for depression.  Sad state of affairs. 

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33 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

Correct.  The push is toward no medical condition required.  Consequently, there are numerous requests for people who just can't afford life.  Even vets are being peddled assisted suicide as an option rather than appropriate care.  Some candidates are pushing pre-adult suicide as a cure for depression.  Sad state of affairs. 

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/medical-assistance-dying.html   

Interesting...   This seems like a bad idea.   

And we sent Dr Kevorkian to prison.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kevorkian

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I'm judging my longevity off my brother, he is 20 years older than me and lived a similar lifestyle. He is pushing 90 and still healthy, reasonably active. Pissed off this year that he was unable to start a chainsaw, my nephew wouldn't start it for him, said he wouldn't help him cut his leg off.

So I'm hopin to get to 90, but there is no predicting, and I do not want to be an invalid.

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Much like I say about my pets, as long as I have a good quality of life and can enjoy things.  My Dad was mid-80's and my Mom 91 when they died, but they both retained their mental capacity.  My Dad was able to drive to SC and enjoy a visit with  friends a couple months before he died.  My Mom had some mobility challenges and used a walker, but she loved reading and visiting with her friends and enjoyed each day. 

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2 hours ago, Bikeguy said:

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/medical-assistance-dying.html   

Interesting...   This seems like a bad idea.   

And we sent Dr Kevorkian to prison.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kevorkian

In the past 6 months, I've done some reading on physician views who chair internal medical ethics committee within their hospitals. Also 1 of my closest friends is currently writing a book about a disabled good friend who died 1 yr. ago requesting MAID.  Her husband was /is a physician.

Her blood was being poisoned because she had metal rods inserted decades ago to supposedly solve a bad congenital back problem of some sort. It's probably an older technique. :(  She was also deeply religious.

There have been reports of inappropriate question on MAID, presented to the patient when the patient didn't think of it nor would have wanted it since they weren't that seriously near end of life anyway, and strong powerful response from within the Canadian national  medical profession that MAID should never used for someone has suicide tendencies, is simply disabled (physically or mentally), etc. Bikeguy this is a serious debate within the medical profession. Some doctors will refuse to be involved. In fact only certain ones can /will administer MAID. In Alberta, a nurse cycling friend told me there is a cooling period of 3 wks. or something like that, after patient requests for MAID.  It is to give patient time to revoke it after pondering over it more.

Doctors are trained to save lives...which is why many will not administer MAID.  I have not yet engaged discuss with the 2 physicians in my family to find out their views.

 

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4 minutes ago, shootingstar said:

Doctors are trained to save lives...

Exactly... 

So how long before some accountant (or government agency) determines that the last few years of someone's life can cost a LOT of money in medical expenses, and the benefit (living a bit longer, with possibly poor quality of life) costs too much, so the just let you die.  Or they expect you to go and use MAID? 

Seems like a very slippery slope we are starting to slide down, with possibly no way to recover. 

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14 minutes ago, Bikeguy said:

Exactly... 

So how long before some accountant (or government agency) determines that the last few years of someone's life can cost a LOT of money in medical expenses, and the benefit (living a bit longer, with possibly poor quality of life) costs too much, so the just let you die.  Or they expect you to go and use MAID? 

Seems like a very slippery slope we are starting to slide down, with possibly no way to recover. 

It is being debated in the House of Parliament currently with one group wanting to expand the use and remove wait times. Over 10,000 have used the service in the past year.  A slippery slope indeed. 

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20 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

It is being debated in the House of Parliament currently with one group wanting to expand the use and remove wait times. Over 10,000 have used the service in the past year.  A slippery slope indeed.

Maybe Soylent Green was a prediction of our future?  :(

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11 minutes ago, Scrapr said:

I think Oregon has hit it pretty well on Death with Dignity (DwD) similar to MAID. WoScrapr used it. Criteria is 6 months tor less to live, no psycological issues, 2 Dr sign off. 3 outside people (friends)  sign off. And a waiting period. Generally it takes about 3 weeks to get everything done 

I'm a big supporter

I could get behind that as the qualifiers are reasonable. 

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6 hours ago, shootingstar said:

guess one has to state that in will/wishes also.

mr. and I both have “do not resuscitate” orders on file. 
 

@Wilbur, it’s an interesting question. I approach every day with gratitude for new mercies, and I reflect every evening on the grace and joy of the day. I can do that indefinitely. Always have. I could also take a final breath. It is well with my soul. 

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