Quote:
Originally Posted by Sliver
And that's where it's like, WTF are we even doing? Why is longevity a goal? Who wants to live into their late 80s and 90s? Of course you'll get a few CPers who will say their grandpa was sharp as a tack right up until his 97th birthday and there are those exceptions. If, however, you're living in a government-run care home for your last decade or so, that is an absolutely miserable existence. There is no way to "do better" for those people to the point of giving them a fulfilling life. They are literally waiting to die. All their milestones have come and gone. Anything they have to offer is irrelevant and unneeded.
The best we could do is give them an off ramp. "Do better" for them. Yeah, how do you do better for an 85 year old with dementia? And how much money and human resources do you throw at that for absolutely no pay off and when it isn't even benefiting anything or anyone? And dragging somebody's life out for an extra 10 years plus is cruel to them and their family who is expected to visit them and pay for them. It's stressful and takes a lot of time and energy family members may not have to spare. And it can go on for years and years.
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The figures I have seen places Canada third from the bottom, in terms of how they treat their elderly, with the US in last place.
If there is any nation, that is blessed with the abundance of resources that we have, they should be able go give their elderly a better sendoff.
I think it's difficult and wrong for young people to try and judge what constitutes a life worth living. Many elderly who have diminished freedom, poor health, even pain, are still managing to enjoy what they have left of their life. Simple things like the voice or sight of a loved one, the touch of a hand, the memory (if they have one) of things past, etc. may be able to make a person's day.
My uncle's wife started suffering from dementia, starting at 86, and my uncle visited her in a nursing home faithfully almost every day for many years. He said his wife, even in the later stages, always gave him a smile, seemed to know he was there, and I think somehow in a way it gave added meaning to their lives.
"the greatness of a nation can be judged by how well it treats its weakest member" Ghandi