How long do you want to live?
Discussion
Gretchen said:
I work with someone who is 107 next month! They still read a daily paper and played piano until recently.
As long as I have my faculties and am mobile I’d be happy to carry on.
I does seem to depend on what level of activity your life has contained..As long as I have my faculties and am mobile I’d be happy to carry on.
The people who are less active are happy to carry on later as there’s not much impact as age progresses vs their previous years.
Ive never seen anyone beyond 80 leading a life i’d be happy with, last bastion of downgrade for us is most likely the ability to carry out luxury cruises and their land excursions.
Still being able to play the piano & read a paper? err, no, doesnt encourage us in the slightest.
We both have OA and are 2 x hip, 1 x shoulder, 1 x elbow replaced so far which have a 20 year shelf life, all joints are replaced or fused at any point where they start to affect our active lifestyle in any way as we want to carry on being active as its the only way we enjoy life.
Those who wish for a big heart attack may find that heart trouble can draw out into a decline lasting multiple years.
Lots of relatives have had heart failure and took many years to eventually croak by drowning in their own fluids. My father has been slowly chopped up and new pipes added for the best part of ten years and now sits in his chair all day.
Still better than cancer of course.
Physically capable until mid/ late 70s would be fine for me. After that, as long as I'm not in agony, I'd likely be very content to sit in my chair reading and watching films until Satan claims me.
Lots of relatives have had heart failure and took many years to eventually croak by drowning in their own fluids. My father has been slowly chopped up and new pipes added for the best part of ten years and now sits in his chair all day.
Still better than cancer of course.
Physically capable until mid/ late 70s would be fine for me. After that, as long as I'm not in agony, I'd likely be very content to sit in my chair reading and watching films until Satan claims me.
Edited by bloomen on Monday 15th April 10:49
Kerniki said:
Ive never seen anyone beyond 80 leading a life i’d be happy with, last bastion of downgrade for us is most likely the ability to carry out luxury cruises and their land excursions.
I should perhaps introduce you to my mother, who is 88. She is still globe trotting (just back from a three week tour of Japan). Despite falling and breaking her hip and femur in October she is back playing golf and tennis. She is working through her bucket list as the fall has shaken her a bit and made her realise she might not have too many good years left.
Skeptisk said:
Kerniki said:
Ive never seen anyone beyond 80 leading a life i’d be happy with, last bastion of downgrade for us is most likely the ability to carry out luxury cruises and their land excursions.
I should perhaps introduce you to my mother, who is 88. She is still globe trotting (just back from a three week tour of Japan). Despite falling and breaking her hip and femur in October she is back playing golf and tennis. She is working through her bucket list as the fall has shaken her a bit and made her realise she might not have too many good years left.
Alickadoo said:
I can't speak for anyone else, but as an elderly person I can assure that as far as I am concerned being alive - albeit with simpler pleasures - is better than the alternative.
My oldest friend (from schooldays) had a massive stroke some 15 years ago, leaving him with very limited feeling and fine motor skills in his left arm and leg. He agrees that his restricted life is far better than the alternative.Skeptisk said:
Kerniki said:
Ive never seen anyone beyond 80 leading a life i’d be happy with, last bastion of downgrade for us is most likely the ability to carry out luxury cruises and their land excursions.
I should perhaps introduce you to my mother, who is 88. She is still globe trotting (just back from a three week tour of Japan). Despite falling and breaking her hip and femur in October she is back playing golf and tennis. She is working through her bucket list as the fall has shaken her a bit and made her realise she might not have too many good years left.
maybe you could introduce us 
Lets see, if we are still that active and going strong then i’m all for it
Gigamoons said:
James6112 said:
94 would be good, to beat my grandad (93), father (58)
I’m 62 so currently running second!
Still doing 5k in 20 mins on a good day. Own teeth.
Maybe they will cure death/aging soon though.
That's a really good 5k time for 62. I’m 62 so currently running second!
Still doing 5k in 20 mins on a good day. Own teeth.
Maybe they will cure death/aging soon though.
Edited by James6112 on Friday 12th April 20:28
So if the grim reaper does knock on your door, have faith you'll out run him!
I'd go further, at age 62, I'd say almost 'unbelievable'.
simple example: Andrew Butchart – ie: the ‘Olympian’ and ‘current 5k Parkrun record holder’ at just under 14 secs – yeah, quite a bit faster than James, but he's an elite athlete, and much more to the point he's only THIRTY-TWO, ie Butchart is '30 years younger' than James6112 !!
The record Butchart broke, only last year, had previously been held for ELEVEN years by another Andrew, namely Andy Baddeley, at 16m 45s.
I'd need to see hard evidence.
dandarez said:
Stuff
He's 3-4 minutes off the age related record: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_masters_wo...Gretchen said:
I work with someone who is 107 next month! They still read a daily paper and played piano until recently.
As long as I have my faculties and am mobile I’d be happy to carry on.
You 'work' with someone who is 107 next month!As long as I have my faculties and am mobile I’d be happy to carry on.
or is that meant to be 'care'/'look after'/ etc?
The current record holder for the oldest man alive is now a 'Brit', he's 111.
But there are a few more (including some women) on his tail, like this 107 yr old Bristolian, who now lives in Cornwall.
Secret?
He has had Shredded Wheat and spoonful(s) of sugar and importantly, full fat milk, for as long as he can recall, also battered Fish & Chips.
His 107th birthday cake icing was of... fish and chips! LOL
I think one real help is he's not been put in a care home. He lives at home with his son and daughter-in-law.
here he is with great grandsons.
10 yrs ago for his 97th birthday he got a new i-pad!
As said,
If I remember rightly the proportion of people who wind up in care homes is far lower than most expect. Most don't get there.
I wouldn't mind the right care ish home at all.
I had a long chat with a resident here while wandering Bruton - https://www.sexeyshospital.org and would've been pretty content to move in the same day.
I wouldn't mind the right care ish home at all.
I had a long chat with a resident here while wandering Bruton - https://www.sexeyshospital.org and would've been pretty content to move in the same day.
This is an interesting one. My grandfather, 84, is in a care home after a massive fall, he/we were lucky that there was no lasting damage but it uncovered postural hypotension. Throw in his rather advanced Alzheimer's and he's only leaving the care home in a box. He has no awareness of whats going on and who any of us are.
He's had it from about 78 and the symptoms started shortly after recovering from prostate cancer. So from about 75 he's had his quality of life has slowly declined. Its an interesting one as a friend's husband is 84 and despite a few health issues, still leads a good life. My neighbour is in her mid 80s and was involved (as a passenger) in a serious RTC where the driver sadly died. She broke her pelvis, but nearly 6 months later she's back on her feet unaided and is driving her Fiesta again. We got chatting at the weekend and she told me she was determined to get back behind the wheel and live her life again. She's definitely someone to be admired.
I'm only 31 and I'm in good health regardless of my CP and wheelchair use. But I've always had a heightened sense of mortality and I think living a long and active life comes down to how we look after ourselves, genes, exercise, determination, a good social life and just dumb luck I think.
Michael
He's had it from about 78 and the symptoms started shortly after recovering from prostate cancer. So from about 75 he's had his quality of life has slowly declined. Its an interesting one as a friend's husband is 84 and despite a few health issues, still leads a good life. My neighbour is in her mid 80s and was involved (as a passenger) in a serious RTC where the driver sadly died. She broke her pelvis, but nearly 6 months later she's back on her feet unaided and is driving her Fiesta again. We got chatting at the weekend and she told me she was determined to get back behind the wheel and live her life again. She's definitely someone to be admired.
I'm only 31 and I'm in good health regardless of my CP and wheelchair use. But I've always had a heightened sense of mortality and I think living a long and active life comes down to how we look after ourselves, genes, exercise, determination, a good social life and just dumb luck I think.
Michael
Due to a neurological condition I have experience some bouts of having memory loss/amnesia: being unable to remember friends names/faces when looking at contacts in my phone.
Very distressing.
Also aphasia
Bursts of being unable to read or write.
Forgot my PIN when paying. This was very different to ‘oh I can’t remember my PIN’, this is access to memory of the number and how it would work just gone; no access to it.
I have zero interest in living with dementia or similar after these experiences.
My daughter will complete her education in 16 years times. That’s my goal - get her through that. I’ll be 72. Anything after that in good health will be a bonus.
My parents are in their 80s and have neighbours with dementia etc that go missing, can’t remember their houses, no short term memory…..
It’s not for me thanks.
Very distressing.
Also aphasia
Bursts of being unable to read or write.
Forgot my PIN when paying. This was very different to ‘oh I can’t remember my PIN’, this is access to memory of the number and how it would work just gone; no access to it.
I have zero interest in living with dementia or similar after these experiences.
My daughter will complete her education in 16 years times. That’s my goal - get her through that. I’ll be 72. Anything after that in good health will be a bonus.
My parents are in their 80s and have neighbours with dementia etc that go missing, can’t remember their houses, no short term memory…..
It’s not for me thanks.
Chris Hinds said:
If I follow my paternal grandfather I’ll make my early 80s, maternal grandfather will be late 80s. Dad is still running on all cylinders at 74 nearly 75. Mum died at 31 though, so given that I’m 40, I think I’m past that.
I’ll go with 80 being a reasonable target… on that basis, like Bon Jovi, I’m half way there
I haven't read all of this thread but did pick up for a bit where I left off and have just skipped to the end.I’ll go with 80 being a reasonable target… on that basis, like Bon Jovi, I’m half way there
But reading earlier posts thanks for a chuckle. Livin' on a prayer is what we're all doing.
It all depends on your experiences of older people in your family I think.
Anybody who has seen the decline of a parent or grandparent from dementia will probably say that they don’t want to end their days like that - it really is a cruel illness and as an advert says, you see the person “die” several times and by the time death finally comes, it is a blessing for all concerned.
Out of my 4 grandparents and 2 parents, only one lived beyond 71 (83) and he was the one who has smoked from the age of 12 including at one point Capstan Full Strength!
On the basis I keep relatively fit in body and keep my marbles, then I would be quite happy with 80 (currently 64) although I am sure as that gets nearer then my view might change.
I certainly don’t want to spend my last year’s dribbling in a chair not knowing what the hell is going on.
Anybody who has seen the decline of a parent or grandparent from dementia will probably say that they don’t want to end their days like that - it really is a cruel illness and as an advert says, you see the person “die” several times and by the time death finally comes, it is a blessing for all concerned.
Out of my 4 grandparents and 2 parents, only one lived beyond 71 (83) and he was the one who has smoked from the age of 12 including at one point Capstan Full Strength!
On the basis I keep relatively fit in body and keep my marbles, then I would be quite happy with 80 (currently 64) although I am sure as that gets nearer then my view might change.
I certainly don’t want to spend my last year’s dribbling in a chair not knowing what the hell is going on.
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