Posted on 10/02/2024 6:49:49 PM PDT by Az Joe
After seeing Carter being wheeled outside yesterday on his 100th birthday I, being 70, couldn't help feeling some sympathy for him and some fear of being in the same situation somedays. He looked oblivious to his surroundings and maybe pretty miserable.
I watched my sister deteriorate and die last May from complication's associated with Parkinson's disease over several years, especially in her last few months. She was very miserable and helpless to do almost anything for herself.
If she had wanted to kill herself and end her early misery, she would have been helpless to do it on her own. In the end, she went into hospice care and lasted almost exactly 2 weeks before she died. The hospice worker said when she was being admitted that she probably had about 2 weeks, (I guess they have seen it many times).
My faith requires that I would be expected to endure my medical condition, whatever it was, until my natural end. Of course, this may impact my loved ones greatly, who would be caring for me at least in some ways until the end.
I don't like the idea of all the suffering that might entail for me but also the burden I would be on especially my only child, and other loved ones who are currently dying off themselves slowly.
Any thoughts Freepers?
Thank you, yes we are all good despite. As I just shared to you post before this one, fortunately it is a common part of the lives and careers of our family. We take joy in the fact of how lucky we all were because of the circumstances. Most of the family are professional caretakers and nurses. And because of this she had direct “family friend” care in all aspects. All the Administrators, Doctors, Nurses, testing staff, treatments staff, and themselves were there for her as family friends and coworkers. Even the funeral home staff went to high school with my kids and one had his wedding at my daughter’s house, and the other was the brother of his wife he married. So she received personal direct care like no other. I personally could not ask for anymore blessing than what she received. So despite we are all happy in our hearts that she was so fortunate through it all. It was inevitable but it could have never played out any better than it did. :)
Don’t worry about that guy. He tends to pee on every parade he sees.
I am so sorry about the loss of your wife. I hope the memories of her passing will fade (they never go away) and be replaced by the memories of the fun times.
I will keep you both in my prayers.
At 82, I wonder. My third ex room mate died last week. There will be no service. No one to come.
I am still well, very active and even work some. Why me?
As an octogenarian, I know there are still really a lot of us left. We carry on. Clint East Wood is 90+. Warren Buffet is 90 +. My aunt, active pretty much till the end recently died at 101.
I have decided to just keep on keeping on, being active, just living.
It was Clint that taught us....... Don’t let the old man in. So I tell you at 70, don’t sweat it. Don’t let the old man in
Getting old isn’t for sissies...
I'm 80 and have had a somewhat successful life (by the world's old standards). I've worked hard to care for myself so that I could take care of my family. I've had some great successes in life -- along with some big and stupid personal decisions.
The bottom line is that I'm still here, functioning at a relatively high level. I work at it.
My view on longevity........
-I have faced death and have no fear of it. It's natural, and frankly, the move into eternity will be one heck of an improvement. My God and his word assure me!
-That previous point is liberating.
-I have no desire to live a long life just for the sake of time.
-I desire to continue leading a healthy, productive life that manifests my independence and a focus on my immediate family.
-When any of the above stops, it's time for me to move into eternity from which I came.
If I had a final point to make, it is this (if you are still with your spouse): Be very thankful you remain with your life partner because that too will change. Recognize it and be sure you work together to correct and heal any prior bad decisions in your life. You should personally take that on as a goal and take the lead.
Why? Because you don't know if there will be a tomorrow for either of you. It's too late when one of you is gone.
Looking at life in the rearview mirror at our age is like watching a short movie. It's quick and about all we have left here on this planet.
Most of all -- be thankful!
I’ve sat with half a dozen relatives who were dying. They were all good Christian’s. Their death process was anything but joyous. Some of them were wishing death, not to be closer to their God…but because it hurt so much.
Personal decision even if it affects others...just be sure they aren’t blind-sided if you decide to call it quits.
That’s called cheyne-stokes breathing (the guppy breathing)- i5 starts with fast short breaths, then slow breaths, then periods where it seems like they aren’t breathing at all (apnea), then the pattern repeats.
“We had home hospice for almost a year. The nurse and I grew very close and we still call and text each other several times a year.”
Yes this happens a lot. During my Father’s ordeal the hospice nurse became very close with us as a family, we adopted her whether she liked it or not, she didn’t have a choice. And because my kids are in the same industry, one of my daughters was able to hook her up with the pediatrician doctor my daughter was nursing for at the time. So when it came time for my wife needing care she would not let any of the other hospice nurses take on my wife as a patient. She came and did it personally as now part of our family. :)
One could not ask for anything more wonderful and fortunate considering the situation.
You make it sound like the hospice set out to kill. That is ignorant of you. My wife recently passed in hospice care. She was treated with outstanding care and consideration and by the most professional group of people I have ever encountered. They use morphine to stop suffering and mental anguish and not to kill.
You make it sound like the hospice set out to kill. That is ignorant of you. My wife recently passed in hospice care. She was treated with outstanding care and consideration and by the most professional group of people I have ever encountered. They use morphine to stop suffering and mental anguish and not to kill.
I bookmarked that article. Thanks.
Yup- we had to do that when taking care of alzheimers patient- it’s so overwhelming and physically drain9ng that we had to have someone come in once in awhile and give us a few hours relief. The professional caretakers get to go home after 8 hour shift, but when the patient lives at home, there are no breaks as the patient can be up and moving around at all hours
Note to folks taking care of alzheimers patients- I stall locks up high on doors in addition to the regular lock by handle. The patient may be able to undo the handle lock because theyve done that their whole lives, but won’t realize that there is another lock. It is for their own safety and your peace of mind as you try to sleep.
“I am so sorry about the loss of your wife. I hope the memories of her passing will fade (they never go away) and be replaced by the memories of the fun times.”
Thank you. Here is something cool about that. Because we knew what was to happen, her and I spent two weeks laughing and crying together about all those fun times we had together before she passed. It was absolutely priceless and I am a fortunate man. It is hard for me to be sad for myself when I am so happy for her great blessings while going through this. :)
“That’s called cheyne-stokes breathing (the guppy breathing)- i5 starts with fast short breaths, then slow breaths, then periods where it seems like they aren’t breathing at all (apnea), then the pattern repeats.”
Yes, that is it. I had forgotten the term for it. But it is a sure indicator it is soon.
The death process is sometimes difficult and painful. The joy is on the other side. But only if one knows and has accepted Jesus as savior.
Got to agree with some of those. Of course, I've got to put on some more mileage to catch up to you.
“The professional caretakers get to go home after 8 hour shift, but when the patient lives at home, there are no breaks as the patient can be up and moving around at all hours.”
Yes, that was the case with my Father. Because of his mental state he DID NOT SLEEP once or stop trying to escape for the last two months... Honestly, it was very hard to stay patient and live through the 24-7 yourself. Like I say, even ducking off to the kitchen for a bite to eat real quick was almost impossible or he would slither around the side rail onto the floor at the foot of the bed, or jerk his Foley out (he already did that twice). It is a constant mental regiment of “He doesn’t know he is doing it” in your mind 24-7. It can be extremely rough physically, mentally, and emotionally on the caretakers. So they need to find the time to care for themselves too or they will die before their loved one does. Depending on circumstances it can be a serious thing. Emotions, sleep deprivation, and lack of sustenance can send YOU to the hospital and then you are no good to them at all.
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