Posted By

March 31, 2008, 9:55 pm
Flag as Inappropriate Crawford  

  Subject

Quality of life 

Medical science and a better understanding of what and who we are, are allowing us to to live longer. Do you think that the quality of life for the elderly is making living to a ripe old age a benefit or a curse? 

April 1, 2008, 12:30 am
Flag as Inappropriate tmostuff says...

I think everyone is different. Some are experiencing a better quality of life while others aren't. Personally, I'd rather live to be happy, healthy and to 70 than to be unhealthy and miserable at 90. 

April 1, 2008, 6:54 am
Flag as Inappropriate Hale'nHearty says...

My exact sentiments. I don't want to be a bother to anyone in my sunset years. However, I see a lot of senior citizens doing a lot for themselves and enjoying themselves much more now than in the past. 

April 1, 2008, 10:31 am
Flag as Inappropriate rjames says...

When I'm old and I would just be "imprisoned" in a home-for-the-aged, I'd rather choose to rest in peace. I'm already happy if I reach 70 as long as everything that I wished for will be granted.

Its good that science is discovering ways to prolong life. But having a good life in the old years will be expensive for most of us. I have to start saving now but with the rise of prices, saving is a hard word. 

April 1, 2008, 3:11 pm
Flag as Inappropriate hect says...

I would only want to live old if I still had things around me that I love. If I ended up being an old crabby hermit just shoot me now, nothing worth wasting that time over. 

April 2, 2008, 2:56 am
Flag as Inappropriate K to the J says...

My girlfriend and I don't want to grow old. We feel that being old just makes your life worse, as you are incapable of doing many things and highly discriminated against in society. :( 

April 2, 2008, 3:09 am
Flag as Inappropriate Cassie says...

Something doesn't seem right in our path in life. We start out needing help in life and then if we live long enough we need help to survive. Who wants to stay long enough for that?  

April 2, 2008, 7:06 am
Flag as Inappropriate Hale'nHearty says...

I don't think that just growing old means it's a sentence to becoming cooped up. Senior citizens have access to a host of mobile aids and there seems to be a lot of stuff out there specifically targeting the needs of that group. Senior citizens are much more independent, affluent and savvy now than they used to be 

April 2, 2008, 4:45 pm
Flag as Inappropriate jazzycatzz says...

As long as there is a modicum of health and mental stimulation, as well as a bit of independence, I'll stay as long as I can. Poor health, boredom, and institutionalism are deal breakers. I'm not afraid of death, I just like it here, too. 

April 2, 2008, 4:49 pm
Flag as Inappropriate jazzycatzz says...

P.S. Old age seems to be be all part of the plan though. Seeing things from the perspective of wisdom without the need for things like the material or the fast-paced is indeed a different phase. 

April 6, 2008, 7:05 am
Flag as Inappropriate skatss says...

For some reason the media talks about old age as if you will have the years on you but will be hale and hearty and healthful then too. Yet we all know that not to be true.

There are people who live to be older and still get around well and their minds are as quick as anything. I can't think that these people's good health has to do only with medical breakthroughs. The really old and healthy seem to come from long lines of families who can get through the decades well. They might need some medical help that prolongs their life spans some, but for the most part they'd do well anyway.

The rest of us, without those great genes, I think will be the majority of the people living longer, but not well. We will be the ones suffering with illnesses that can't be cured, but can be made less deadly. These people will be the ones overfilling old age homes because they will need more care than family can comfortably give. 

April 16, 2008, 12:47 am
Flag as Inappropriate saluki says...

My parents, both in pretty good health are both in their mid 80's and a lot of my family that have already died made it to their early 90's . They mostly enjoyed good health. As for me I was ok until I went to Iraq a couple of years ago. I was found passed out on a street in the Green Zone and woke up 4 days later in an Army hospital in Baghdad. Since then I've been on disability, had several operations to my lungs (I never was a smoker) and I am in pain all over. No one knows what is causing this. 

May 12, 2008, 9:27 pm
Flag as Inappropriate faithib says...

My dad just turned 92 and is in great health, still lives on his own, drives his car and enjoys his life. He still has the mental sharpness he has always had.
I am so glad he is still here and a big part of our lives!