Not exactly an early retirement issue, but some food for thought to tuck away in the back of your mind.
When my mother reached 90 years of age, she was on two or three different prescription medications. One day she looked at me and said "Don't you think I should be able to stop taking these pills now that I'm 90?"
I was momentarily taken aback, but then I realized that she was right. I replied that anyone who reaches that age should be able to do whatever the hell they want, including eating whatever they like and cutting out the annoying pills. That seemed to please her.
She told me not to say anything to her doctor, so I kept it quiet and she just tossed the pills in the garbage every month. They were all generic, so Medicare only wasted a few bucks. Her doctor never caught on, and confided privately to me that Mom was a really good patient who took care of herself.
She died recently at the age of 96, so those last six years were happier for her and no harm was done.
I mentioned this story to one of my best friends, and he told me his own story.
His mother had made a very similar comment a while back, and his reaction was the same as mine. Her pills go in the trash. The interesting thing is that after she stopped taking her meds, all her blood numbers improved noticeably. Her doctor is very happy that his prescriptions seem to be exactly right for her.
She says she feels better than she has in years. since she quit taking the pills. She is now 101 and still going strong.
Obviously, I'm not saying this as advice or recommendation, or even suggestion, but I believe that when we reach a certain age we ought to be masters of our own destiny.
When my mother reached 90 years of age, she was on two or three different prescription medications. One day she looked at me and said "Don't you think I should be able to stop taking these pills now that I'm 90?"
I was momentarily taken aback, but then I realized that she was right. I replied that anyone who reaches that age should be able to do whatever the hell they want, including eating whatever they like and cutting out the annoying pills. That seemed to please her.
She told me not to say anything to her doctor, so I kept it quiet and she just tossed the pills in the garbage every month. They were all generic, so Medicare only wasted a few bucks. Her doctor never caught on, and confided privately to me that Mom was a really good patient who took care of herself.
She died recently at the age of 96, so those last six years were happier for her and no harm was done.
I mentioned this story to one of my best friends, and he told me his own story.
His mother had made a very similar comment a while back, and his reaction was the same as mine. Her pills go in the trash. The interesting thing is that after she stopped taking her meds, all her blood numbers improved noticeably. Her doctor is very happy that his prescriptions seem to be exactly right for her.
She says she feels better than she has in years. since she quit taking the pills. She is now 101 and still going strong.
Obviously, I'm not saying this as advice or recommendation, or even suggestion, but I believe that when we reach a certain age we ought to be masters of our own destiny.