In 2010, more than 230,000 Japanese centenarians turned out to be missing, imaginary, clerical errors or dead. In Greece 72 per cent of census-reported centenarians in 2012 were discovered to be no longer alive.
Do we even want to live so long? Rising numbers of oldies are enduring chronic medical conditions that restrict their quality of life. And do we really want to wake up every day to yet more horrific crimes, international conflicts, dictators and corporate greed? Better a shortened age with a good quality of life than an advanced age that isn't any fun any more.
My mum lived until 96, by which time her quality of life was pretty poor. She had had dementia for several years, and had problems with walking and personal care, as well as having limited physical energy. Quite honestly, she would have been better off if she had died a few years earlier.
So I don't take any notice of people's sure-fire blueprints for living longer. I'll leave others to test them out. I'll happily accept whatever life span I've been allotted, as long as I'm still fit enough to enjoy it.
I worked in geriatrics for about a decade. I've seen it all. There were a lot of elderly, mostly women, who lived a different, but not unhappy life. I also saw the other side, which was worse when they were aware. That I do not want. My parents lived to late 80s. My father had physical restrictions, my mother did not. I seem to be taking after my father, but then I always have. Time is going to tell.
ReplyDeleteSandra: You mean they were not unhappy because they were not really aware of what was happening to them?
DeleteYes. Many dementia patients were happy or at least not unhappy because they were not aware. If it happens to me, that's the way I want it. Sandra
DeleteSandra: Yes, that's how I would like it as well.
DeleteSo we've been told a whole lot of fake news about all these centenarians in Japan and Greece?? I'm rather shocked by that.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: It is rather shocking, isn't it? We need to be a bit more sceptical of advanced-age claims.
DeleteMother lived to be one hundred and two, but booked her funeral with the Coop when in her eighties and always said that if she lost her wits she would try to kill herself.
ReplyDeleteFly: If I lost my wits, I hope something (or someone) would carry me off rapidly.
DeleteDave's mother had Alzheimers; she become a loving person instead of her previous judgmental self. I wouldn't mind that.
ReplyDeleteMy father lived to 94 and was healthy except for arthritis. Unfortunately, I do not take after him. He did die of lung cancer but it was fairly quick and he was still comfortable even though breathing became harder.
Linda
Linda: Her judgmental self became a loving self - that's good news. My father died of lung cancer but it took him a long time to die.
DeleteI don't want to live so long that I'm sick and other people are taking care to me.
ReplyDeleteMary: Me too. Why should other people have to burden themselves with looking after me?
DeleteI'm becoming too infirm, and don't like or appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: Yes, you're having a lot of problems. I hope they don't get too overwhelming.
DeleteI'll be happy with a normal lifespan. I just want to be around for my grandchildren for at least 10 more years.
ReplyDeleteColette: That's a worthwhile aspiration.
DeleteWe once stayed in a cottage reputed to have belonged to someone called Old Parr who was supposed to be well over 100 years old. The king apparently believed this was true and made a bit of a pet of the old fellow. He was used to plain food and hard work and sadly It didn't take long for the "good living" to kill him.
ReplyDeleteJenny: It's tragic when people who've been perfectly healthy switch to a western lifestyle and diet and succumb to all sorts of ailments.
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