Do we really want to get old?

[prose3589]

My grandmother used to say “darling, there are a lot of things worse than dying”. As I watch family and friends age and suffer, I see just how right she was.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Rusa, then appoint a legal guardian to take care of things. I did this for my parents and a couple I am good friends with where they both had cancer and she also had dementia. It involves sacrifice. If you don’t want to do it then stop.

 

[Bubblepuppy]

I have no such illusion. Given the longevity gene DW has, I will probably be taken care of by DW in my dying days. I worry about DW. I made a note that before my brain cells deteriorate too much, I will set up DW's LTC plan. She will get the best money can buy as long as I can help it.

Since you see the importance of LTCI, please, please apply for it ASAP. I was a LTC specialist in both my nursing career and in my second career, insurance. This second career was unintentional, but no less important. After my grandma’s care depleted her entire estate, I researched and purchased a policy for my mother, which is a daunting task I soon learned. So I became an insurance agent and helped her friends and then the general public choose an appropriate policy for which to apply.
You can only decide to APPLY; the insurance underwriters make the decision to offer a policy...or not. I believe you would be shocked at the number of younger people who are declined. Money is not saved by waiting either; rates increase based on attained age at application.
This insurance is complicated and even the best policies can be made nearly worthless by not truly understanding how to design properly.
I could go on for pages, so bottomline: if you are interested in LTCI, find a LTC insurance specialist to help you. If you decide that it is appropriate, APPLY immediately. One of the more difficult things I had to do was break the news to someone that they were uninsurable. This often turned their entire retirement plan on its head. We purchased our LTCI when I was 49 and so thankful we did.

 

[rando348]

I know of a couple ages 81 and 88 who bought a mattress and had it delivered to their garage. They made themselves a little bed, turned their car on and left it running, drank 2 bottles of wine, and went to sleep...permanently. I don't know anything about the 'why" they did this. Just that they left a note saying this was their chosen plan.

Until a better plan comes to mind, this sounds OK to me.

Helium is another option.

 

[Nick12]

Helium is another option.

As long as the persons deciding their fate doesn't take innocent ones with them, let them decide the how and when.

 

[JJpop]

I try to keep the word old out of my vocabulary.I am 67 and dress the same as I did when I was 30 and try to live in many ways like I am 30.As soon as you surrender it is all downhill from there.Discovered I had prostate cancer 6 months ago and am going in for 2 HDR Brachytherapy treatments the next 2 weeks.If it all goes well I will be playing with my 4 year old grandson a couple of days after each procedure.I asked him how old he thought I was and he said 6.My wife agreed

 

[3moreyears]

So my health care POA is now very restrictive...i.e. in the event of dementia or other terminal illness, no antibiotics, period (oral, IV, etc.)

My Dad has been bed-ridden and uncommunicative for past 2 or 3 years (Alz for past 10 years). My Mom is still caring for him at home and so wish I had the foresight to have her put something like that in his POA 8 or so years back when they were updating them. She can't bring herself to not address the minor and not so minor issues and he is on tons of meds now and has had 2 hospital stays in the past 6 months. It is killing her now too but I can't convince her to let him go next time something comes up. I'm on the other side of the country and visit 2 or 3 times a year but can't influence her much by phone...

I will definitely be more specific in ours!

 

[COcheesehead]

I try to keep the word old out of my vocabulary.I am 67 and dress the same as I did when I was 30 and try to live in many ways like I am 30.As soon as you surrender it is all downhill from there.Discovered I had prostate cancer 6 months ago and am going in for 2 HDR Brachytherapy treatments the next 2 weeks.If it all goes well I will be playing with my 4 year old grandson a couple of days after each procedure.I asked him how old he thought I was and he said 6.My wife agreed

A 37 year old wardrobe?

 

[Teacher Terry]

3more, so sad for both your parents. It would be a blessing for her to let him go. I think it’s important to know when it’s over.

 

[LARS]

I can only speak for myself: so far it has been considerably better than the alternative.

Yeah, right up until it isn’t. Just saying...