I’m fine with people living long lives, as long as they are living at least something that remotely resembles a quality life.
I don’t mean lives have to be perfect. Bedridden is even ok.
But when I’m non-verbal, non-conscious, fully demented, joints contracted, bedsore ridden, have to be turned every 2 hrs, my wastes contantly cleaned, fed through a tube, etc, don’t even know who I am or who anyone else is anymore, and there is no going back ... It’s ok to let me go ...really. No reason to TREAT that. I think the fact that technology allows people to live long enough to get into these states is really NOT a blessing or a great advancement to us.
I’m telling this to my kids. I do NOT wish to be such a burden on others. I didn’t save for all of that expense for that sort of care. No one can, unless they’re very wealthy.
The problem here is, MANY people refuse to let go of their loved ones when they are in these states, and it’s a HUGE cost to society. They want FULL AND CONTINUED TREATMENT, for ALL problems, big and small. If my mind was gone ...why go on? I’m not even “in there” anymore.
As a nurse on a unit that cares for mainly elderly and many with dehabilitating diseases such as demtentia and stroke, I’ve seen so much. I think people would think much differently about this issue if they saw the type and number of folks who are in this condition.
I think every case is unique and every factor should be weighed. I’m not for one size fits all solutions, like Obummercare — but I’m not for letting people live on and on at society’s expense when their lives are essentially over already. It’s not even fair to them. In a lot of cases, it’s being done so the “kids” can continue to receive the society security benefits.
Perhaps if everyone took their elderly relatives into their OWN care at the end ...sort of like we all used to do — things would be so different. We’ve pushed the care of our elders onto others, and we’ve pushed the costs onto others. We need some other way.
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Yes, it's too bad that there are so many of them, isn't it? If only we ignorant fools knew about it.
Just whom do you propose determines your quality of life? I have been told for years that those people would be better off..........fill in the blank with whatever hedonistic cr@pola you feel fits.
Maybe we should just all report to the Soylent Green factory at age 65.
I agree.