I agree! And the rational is simple- I believe in purpose, without any proof, it seems obvious. The counter? Apologies if I’m repeating myself. If in an infinite time line we find ourselves with consciousness for the equivalent of a micro-second, and then go back to not existing, is there a point? Could it be chance, without any logic? Certainly, definitely beyond our understanding. But although I don’t, can’t believe in anything specific, the miracle of consciousness, would seem too special to be wasted on a micro-sec of it.
but I couldn’t see this thread and skip it. My heart wouldn’t let me. I know you’re a stranger, but I know Someone who has compassion on strangers. If the tone of my post has been any indication, I would be glad to help you—even if that is something as simple as being a listening ear.Judging by my parents and mother in law they eventually get to a state where you can't introduce new technology. All they have got is those abilities that were learnt a long time ago. My mother in law's microwave is playing up so my plan is to buy exactly the same make and model (if we can find one).
My mother-in-law turned 98 in October this year, and she's still using her laptop to write letters and documents, etc. She works (volunteer) at a local museum in Washington, and so on. She has to use a walker to move around, but still lives in her own house. The great difference is that she has a great number of friends, some close to her age, and others much younger. Most of them are retired, and quite skillful (foresters, IT technicians, realtors, a lawyer or two, etc.). Some drive and give her rides, sometimes they go on group drives. She is happy and contempt with her life
My mother in law is adamant she won't go into a home. The problem is she can't look after herself nor afford carers to help her. The pattern is she deteriorates until she becomes ill and ends up in hospital. The hospital nurses her back to health so she can return home and enter the cycle again.
My sympathies lie with her.
Why?
And it is also a common pattern for some people to enter homes and die (because they have given up, feel abandoned and of no worth, and they no longer live in a place that is familiar, and feels comfortable and safe to them) very shortly afterwards.
Now, this sentence does bother me.
Indeed.
All that has gone, she can't take herself to the toilet on her own, can't dress herself, can't warm soup in the microwave, can't operate her TV, can't leave the house. She has no independence, she is totally reliant on us and carers.
She had two close calls in the last month, she isn't going to last long at home. She had five falls in the week up to Christmas.
Which we have been supporting for years.
Some very valid points. My Dad worked hard all his working life. Often two jobs. He retired late.
My father is like this. He needs a new phone for the house, we go buy one, everything seems fine, you can tap in a number on the keypad, pick it up to answer. Have some numbers in a contact list for me and my brother. But a second phone in this set is wireless. After I’m gone, he’s got it in his pocket out back in his yard, it rings and he can’t figure out how to answer it. A single answer button. He calls me in a panic, “I can’t handle it!” and wants to return it… My guess is he can’t access the contact list now, but he does know how to call us. 😳
Personally I’d rather die poor in my own home than anywhere else.
To clarify my sentence, I was not advising or suggesting this solution and in fact simply commented that "the concept of 'aging in place' sounds appealing...." I then went on to remind people that there are potential pitfalls. And, yes, one of those is trying to later get the client to then move out of their home at the time when it really is imperative for a higher level of care.
I could not have said it better!
Which is why I used the word potential in the original post.