Was having some morbid thoughts today and got me wondering. Is our current method of caring for the elderly sustainable. People are living longer but unfortunately that does not necessarily mean healthier. Finding care workers willing to do this type of work is difficult at the best of times, and with the salaries they are offer do not do well to help.
People are not saving properly or simply out living their savings. Which means the bill is left to the states, especially in cases where children let their parents become wards of the state.
This probably can go on like this forever, does anyone else feel like it is time we explored death with dignity acts, and expand on allowing families to make the choice to end their parents suffering early?
I was talking to a social worker about this and what they told me is generally what families do is stop treating issues in hopes they die quicker. If this is the mindset people have wouldn't it be easier just to allow families to opt in to ending their lives.
I am in support groups and a common topic that brings up is people wishing / wanting their family member to just die. One of the supports / organizer of the support group liked to say that for one person with dementia to live carefree, it took a village to maintain that.
Are we getting to the point where the village can not really sustain this?
I think we are getting close to the point where we may have to put our foot down with care expectations and what is covered going forward. Was looking at what the facility bills, granted they do not get the full amount but it is crazy how much medcaid pays.
My view is that I, while cognizant, should study and understand my right to direct my next-of-kin to follow the instructions I’ve set on record. That would be doctor-assisted death when my quality of life can’t meet the standards I’ve previously decided upon.
I also advocate that each person upon reaching Medicare age or before should be counseled by their doctors about their right to die.
People need education for old age. The current model where they never think about who’s going to support them when they’re in decline isn’t working. We have generations of worn-out family caregivers that almost no one cares about. We have sick elders with no money who expect the government (Medicaid) to provide nursing care into their 100s. That’s not fair to taxpayers.
Which then puts the burden on the government, and I just cannot see how that can be sustainable for the long haul.
NO KIDDING!!! Lord help us. Where would that end?
That's not a question that needs to be asked. A good question to be asked is:
What if someone (like maybe you someday) is diagnosed with dementia but it is found out some time later that it's not dementia but another condition that has been easily and successfully treated?
What if there are new drugs for dementia that slow the progression? (like the most recent breakthrough for Alzheimer's)
You never want give up hope because situations can change for the better. Not always but it's always better to be on the safe side. I've seen it with my own eyes. It is sustainable. It doesn't take a whole village to care for one dementia patient.
I understand about hope, but has their even been a drug that reverses the damage already caused after years of having the disease? Like the ALZ drug it slows progression in early cases, not much is said about impact on those that have already suffered for years and have progressed. It is great for newly diagnosed and future diagnosed but sadly does not do much for those that have progressed. Unless I misunderstood the data.
The sustainable part also comes from places telling me they do not accept cases like my mother because last thing they need is people leaving the job because they do not want to deal with verbal name calling. My mom is in her early 60's, she can go another 20 years maybe 30. That is a long time. It is not cheap caring for someone that long. Is that really sustainable?
I get it though this is just my morbid thoughts everyone is different and I am not trying to sway people one way or another. I am glad you do not seem to have such thoughts and have a system that works for you.
If you want to do something good for the world learn about good health and teach other people how to engage in healthy behaviors as early as possible. 70+% of adults in the US are overweight and obese. If you want to know who is responsible for 80% of the healthcare costs, it's these people. That certainly may not be sustainable but it is totally preventable.
Why I am fighting to waste funds prolonging the life of a person that will not be happy unless she is with her family 24/7 and that is something we cannot do.
I love my mom and I will fight tooth and nail but it just does not seem very logical of me tbh.
I do agree we need to better educate people on healthy habits, proper saving, and proper retirement strategies.
I also do feel how we currently care for the elderly is not 100% sustainable, and if we keep on this road something will have to change like it or not.
People do not save. The mindset now is Social Security will be my retirement income. Social Security was NEVER intended to be the sole source of retirement income.
Now the add onto that is
Some parents EXPECT their children to support them
Some children support their parents to the detriment of their retirement savings.
Another "problem" is doctors that want to test, test, treat, treat and fail to accept that there is no cure, there is not going to be a quality of life yet they treat, treat and test some more.
My logic is If there is no point in curing why test or treat? (I am talking someone with Dementia being subjected to a colonoscopy or other testing that may result in a diagnosis that will require either more testing or extreme treatment.
There is nothing wrong with death. We are kinda all going that route. It is another "fact of Life" that no one wants to talk about. (sorta like the sex talk that no one wants to give or get)
I remember sitting next to my Husband the last week of his life and I was holding his hand and talking to him (he was not aware at this point) and I said I was going to miss him and I was crying and it suddenly dawned on me that I was crying what I called "selfish tears". I say selfish because for me to want him to continue to exist the way he was was not fair to him. He would not have wanted to live the last even 2 or 3 years the way he did if he had had anything to say about it.
Abzu00 your thoughts are not morbid. They are valid and insightful
Sounds like you have a good Support Group