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I have said this to my kids - When I get older, I am NOT going into a nursing home. There's no way. I swear that I will take my own life before I am incapable of taking care of myself. Just curious, do you have any plans for your late stages of life when you are bordering on incapacity?

Jesusluvsu 6 Feb 8
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21 comments

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9

My brother suffered from ALS, and when he felt he was on the edge of total disability he took his own life, so none of his family could be implicated in his death. He held a big farewell party, bid each person goodbye, and was gone the next morning.

What a brave story that included everyone!

8

Has anyone watched the movie Soylent Green? That should be legal, not the eating people part but certainly the euthanasia part. When you are ready to die you go to a place where you lay down in a nice room with headphones and a TV screen, if I remember right, it's been a while since I watched it. Then they give you an injection and you peacefully die. Who could ask for anything more? Why are we more humane with our choices for our pets than we are with ourselves? Again it is religious interference in our government.

Soylent Green IIRC it was compulsory to be euthanised at a given age.

Not too keen on that!

Uncorrugated: Oh No, I don't remember that part but now that you mention it I think that is true. oooopppsss not too keen on that myself!

8

When I get to the point that I can no longer care for myself then I want out.

Betty Level 8 Feb 8, 2018
8

I am in the late stage of life. I juice, eat organic, take two tablespoons of coconut oil every day for my brain, no meat, I walk when I can't get to the gym, I work with my students and still sing Verdi arias in public... I have no intention of becoming incapacitated. The point is...there is hope. We can beat it if we work at it...even though it is against all odds. No junk food...no GMO's...no smoking...no alcohol,,, positive attitude...no hates (except Trump)..."Don't Worry; Be Happy". Enjoy life.

I am in great sympathy for anyone who is ill. My heart goes out to you. I have been ill and have turned things around, but then I could do it. If you can, I support you in your fight. I know life is not always a "bowl of cherries."

@Atheistman I do not eat sugary foods. After staying away for a period of time I actually lost my taste for it. However, once in a while I love Tiramisu and some fruit.

7

I have told all my children that if I'm debilitated enough to not know I'm even alive to either put me out of my misery or put me in a nursing home (I wouldn't know anything anyway). Personally, I really hope assisted suicide if legal by then.

I have a small tumor in my brain and other chronic diseases so I felt I had to have this conversation. When there is no quality of life left, I feel something should be done. I do NOT want to be that person in a fetal position shitting and pissing on myself and being fed by a feeding tube. I saw too many of those when I worked in a nursing home.

4

I worked in a nursing home and could absolutely picture myself there in my old age. The thing is, whether it is horrible or not-at-all bad depends in part on how much functional autonomy the person retains and also how much loved ones come to visit. It is the confused and paranoid demented patients and or totally impaired physically that I feel badly for.

4

I have not put my final wishes in writing but I should soon. I agree with you that I don't want to end up in a home because I cannot do basic tasks for myself. I have a plan.

4

Sure do. Won't elaborate, but I do.

3

Having had a sudden severe illness at age 38...be aware you may end up not having a choice, once you are in a hospital your options narrow. The best you can do is Research nursing homes in your area! There are HUGE differences between them!!!

3

To be perfectly honest? I don't think I'll make it that far. So if I do... well, that will be a shock for us all.

3

Please do not be so quick to judge. I have friends that thought along your line of thinking and they fought going into a assisted living both parties have now been in them for two and three years and have seen their grandchildren graduate from college ,marry and have become grandparents on one occasion.They need help on a daily basis for various illnesses etc but they are treated with dignity and are really enjoying the life they have left.

Who did he judge?

just a saying

3

My daughter works in a nursing home so I hear the horror stories and would not like it. She tells me the main problem is too many patients and not enough nurses, that way the managers maximize their profit margin. My plan is to go live with my son in Alaska, he is married to a Tlinget native and they honor their aged people rather than dumping them in a home.

3

Yes, I am relocating to NM, to begin the last part of my life! You do need a plan. And, if you have children, you must not base your plans on your children's fears! Just this past week-end, my oldest daughter and my son-in-law, gave (major confrontation) me about 10 critical reasons that I do not need to be 1500 miles away! My son-in-law, had to put his own parents in an assisted living facility, the week before, because they are not able to care for themselves and we are all in our late 70s! So, yes they are very fearful...that I will need help and they want be able to help me! (I may even want it that way.) But, I must live...I am not living just waiting to die! I will die...and I will die in one place, just as well as in another! But, I will have some adventures before that happens! I hope my children 'get it,' before they are my age?

@Hugh I know this is strange...but I do not see myself at such a point. If I am given the 'word' in time, that I am dying...I will inform my children, actually I will keep them up to date with my 'comings and goings!' I am making my plans to be 'living' as long as I am still breathing! I am also seeing to it, that I have connections to other people! I will ask for help, should I need something. I am not isolating myself, by no means!

1

Like you, I will not EVER be placed in a nursing home. If I am ever faced with that I will chose to end my life. A nursing home is not a life, but simply warehousing while awaiting death without dignity.

1

I agree completely. And happily so. I hope to think of a way to rid myself of my body ahead of time so that my children won't pay for a funeral. Got some ideas but none set in stone. Could camp out with the bears or fall off a boat in the ocean. I'm still thinking.

Goat Level 5 Feb 8, 2018

You can always donate your body to science.

@Freedompath - Thanks. That's currently the plan. Although I like the other stuff just in case someone decides to throw me a funeral.

@Goat...they have great memorial services, with big pictures of the person! Sometimes, picture displays from early age into old age! I kinda like that myself!

1

I can tell you from experience that life comes at you every day. It does not knock politely on the door and ask "would you like to have cancer today?" Things happen and it's easy to say I won't do that but the truth is , sometimes you just don't have a choice.

My baby brother received his cancer diagnosis less than a month before he died. The time between my father's diagnosis and death was less than six months. Middle brother's was three months. One minute you can believe you're healthy and the next minute you're told that you're dying.

0

I want to either get struck by lightning, just not wake up, or simply walk out into the wilderness and never come/go back.

0

if I can't wipe my ass and feed myself of to Sweden I go.

0

Nope.

Just going to wing it - like I've done all my life!!!!

0

Yes, no need to say anymore than it's all under control.

0

They gonna have to kill me because I like it here. I like it here on earth... a lot. So I am one of those of until the last breathe. I do said... do not put anyone's organs on my body. They can take mine after I die but I don't want anyone else.

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