75 is long enough to live?

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Here's a really interesting and provocative article by Ezekiel Emmanuel, the brother of Rahm Emmanuel, the mayor of Chicago. Ezekiel is a retired oncologist and bioethicist, and this article appeared in The Atlantic last fall. He makes a compelling case, but I can think of plenty of arguments on the other side also. Check it out; I think everyone will find it interesting.

http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/09/why-i-hope-to-die-at-75/379329/
 

He was born in 1957.
He will change his mind later.

However, I've been quite ready to die since that age of 45. Not seeking death but ready should it come. It is very liberating.
 

AGE is not the important issue....rather, Overall Health, and the ability to lead an active life...is the deciding factor. Some people are "vegetables" by the time they reach 50...while others can stay active and functional well into their 90's. Genetics and overall lifestyles are probably the determining factors regarding how well people age.

The reality is...no matter how old we become...we all reach the point, eventually, where life is no longer much joy. IMO, when that time arrives, everyone should have their wishes known...via Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, etc., and society, and the medical community should honor those wishes with "Death with Dignity" options. There is NO need to see a persons lifetime of assets flowing to the doctors and hospitals, when there is no hope for improvement.
 
I think this guys article is rubbish. People die when their time comes, at a variety of ages as we have all seen from a variety of causes, and I can't believe anyone really wants to die unless they are severely impaired from either mental or physical illness and life becomes too much of a struggle. Of course many are 'prepared' with their affairs and mindsets in order, but if they are functioning and enjoying life, there are still many things to do, learn and contribute, even at an advanced age.
 
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This is outdated for me because I know too many 75 plus years old.

To it's simple, you don't use it you will lose it. Too many older doctors and patients are in new territory and do not know what to do or are afraid. Too many patients in particular are using their senior citizen relatives, parents, aunts, uncles etc as the basis for their decisions/lifestyle. But those older relatives were basing their lifestyle and medical choices sometimes over 50 years ago. They are trying to use 50 year old technology sometimes antiquated treatments. They fail to take advantage or take into account advances in treatment & technology or progress in fitness & nutrition. I know too many that want a procedure or pill and that's it.

What do they say time is relative?
 
I have too much purpose and quality of life left in me to think about death.

True, I'm not near 75 but my mother is 90 and still has a tremendous amount of quality of life and purpose left in her too. We were taking a walk uphill the other day and I said, "My legs are a little sore, are your's, you want to head back"? She said, "Mine aren't but if you want to". She was at line-dancing today.

Tomorrow I'll take fish tacos over there for lunch and we'll play scrabble. We go over the daily Crossword Puzzle and Jumble together every morning and she always has the crossword puzzle finished when I call. I often have some blanks left and, when she tells me the answers, my online crossword site tells me "Excellent [you're finished]".

She entertains dinner for 4 once a month and it's on time and delicious. Grant it, it's either meatloaf & roasted veggies or chicken & roasted veggies and wine…but it's amazing. It's hard to keep up with her.
 
Dame Warrigal said:
He was born in 1957.
He will change his mind later.

However, I've been quite ready to die since that age of 45. Not seeking death but ready should it come. It is very liberating.
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OMG I thought I was the only one...me too..


ETA...meant to say, this man is younger than me but in that picture he looks very much older than 58, so perhaps he will get his wish
 
I read that article a while back and I'm in agreement with his statement here:

I came to the decision that I'd like to go when I'm 85 after watching as my two aunts lived until they were 92. The last six years of their lives saw them go through exactly what the articles author describes and except for the one aunts fears about her still living disabled daughter, I know she was done with this life and the other aunt's faculties had diminished just enough that life was empty and lonely and confusing to her.



"...But here is a simple truth that many of us seem to resist: living too long is also a loss. It renders many of us, if not disabled, then faltering and declining, a state that may not be worse than death but is nonetheless deprived. It robs us of our creativity and ability to contribute to work, society, the world. It transforms how people experience us, relate to us, and, most important, remember us. We are no longer remembered as vibrant and engaged but as feeble, ineffectual, even pathetic....'
 
hollydolly said:
OMG I thought I was the only one...me too..


ETA...meant to say, this man is younger than me but in that picture he looks very much older than 58, so perhaps he will get his wish
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I don't know Holly. He just climbed Mt. Killimanjaro recently (according to the article) so I think he'll be around for a while. Personally I don't think he looks a lot older than 58. Thinning hair can give that impression but his face looks great and he has a really engaging smile.
 
I agree with every word Don said. It is the quality of life that should matter not some arbitrary age. I live in a seniors-only community (55 plus) and see tremendous variations in people. Some are still
frisky and enjoying life into their 90's; others are already old by 60.
 
Debby said:
I don't know Holly. He just climbed Mt. Killimanjaro recently (according to the article) so I think he'll be around for a while. Personally I don't think he looks a lot older than 58. Thinning hair can give that impression but his face looks great and he has a really engaging smile.
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Perhaps it's just that he is roughly the same age as me, hubby and all my friends and he looks so much older than them, but perhaps my friends all look young for their age :D...but in all seriousness I only skimmed through the article, altho' I did read the part about Kilimanjaro...I will read it through properly later..
 
I am 66 days from turning 79. As a young man I never expected to be here this long. I need to live to care for my wife but I do not fear death. My only fear would be to be disabled by stroke and not only not able to do things I need to do, but be a worry to her. Several times I have wished I had no reason to stay longer.
 
I'm 77 and will be 78 Aug 3rd.....I don't know why I'm still here but the sure the 10 year and 17 year (Guardian) have a lot to do with it.:)
 
Don M. said:
AGE is not the important issue....rather, Overall Health, and the ability to lead an active life...is the deciding factor. Some people are "vegetables" by the time they reach 50...while others can stay active and functional well into their 90's. Genetics and overall lifestyles are probably the determining factors regarding how well people age.

The reality is...no matter how old we become...we all reach the point, eventually, where life is no longer much joy. IMO, when that time arrives, everyone should have their wishes known...via Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, etc., and society, and the medical community should honor those wishes with "Death with Dignity" options. There is NO need to see a persons lifetime of assets flowing to the doctors and hospitals, when there is no hope for improvement.
Click to expand...

I agree. But as long as there is even one thing left to enjoy, a good book, a good meal, children's laughter; life is worth living.
 
Don M. said:
AGE is not the important issue....rather, Overall Health, and the ability to lead an active life...is the deciding factor. Some people are "vegetables" by the time they reach 50...while others can stay active and functional well into their 90's. Genetics and overall lifestyles are probably the determining factors regarding how well people age.

The reality is...no matter how old we become...we all reach the point, eventually, where life is no longer much joy. IMO, when that time arrives, everyone should have their wishes known...via Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, etc., and society, and the medical community should honor those wishes with "Death with Dignity" options. There is NO need to see a persons lifetime of assets flowing to the doctors and hospitals, when there is no hope for improvement.
Click to expand...

I agree with you, Don. I've known people who were done with life at 40, and others who were still enjoying life in their 90s. Much of enjoyment of life is attitude, and it's silly to put a number on how long your life will be enjoyable to you. Such things might become a self-fulfilling prophecy. AND, despite what the author opines, many people still live fulfilling lives with a functional disability. I don't like the tone or premise of the article at all.
 
Butterfly said:
I agree with you, Don. I've known people who were done with life at 40, and others who were still enjoying life in their 90s. Much of enjoyment of life is attitude, and it's silly to put a number on how long your life will be enjoyable to you. Such things might become a self-fulfilling prophecy. AND, despite what the author opines, many people still live fulfilling lives with a functional disability. I don't like the tone or premise of the article at all.
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self-fulfilling prophecy

Says ALOT. Most realize there is a point in life where things simply won't be the same anymore. This isn't just about an older person trying to do younger person stuff. It could be a divorce, death, loss of job etc. May be life is supposed to wear one down and that's how nature thins the herd.

I heard an anthropologist years ago say by the time one has graying hair and/or alot of other signs of aging that is a sign nature is done with you. The gray could mean weak prey to a predator. Stuff like loosing teeth could be to starve or weaken a person for a predator. Same for declining eye sight, how can one see approaching predators or danger. That being said humans have adapted and overcome that physically but not mentally. Aging has become a biased forced narrative. Out with the old in with the new. It's not true but it's seen that way.
 
Whatinthe, to biologists it is a mystery that women live beyond menopause until they notice that grandmothers tend to help their offspring to raise their offspring. The survival of humans tends to depend on co-operation and the ability to form groups. In these groups experience and wisdom is an asset and a resource. The young have need of the old in human society.

Even in our last stages of life we have something to offer. In the end all we have to offer is our helplessness and our need. These call out the very best of the humanity of those who care for us. Love and compassion are human qualities that are essential for civilised societies and we dispose of the elderly to society's detriment IMO.
 
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What is long enough is a year older than you are...:D
 

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