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Campion, I think your first sentence is a vast exaggeration. Many single, childless introverts live quite happy lives in their old age. Especially those with many varied interests or hobbies, and those who read.
You add 'infirm' - health is a variable, but even suffering a malady or two, life can still be interesting and well worth living and not the picture that you portray.
And you seem to think that assisted living centers are automatically not preferred. Many assisted living centers are very nice. Many assisted living facilities are comprised of regular apartments and are somewhat high-end. There is an 8 story very nice assisted living apartment building in a beautiful urban neighborhood of gorgeous tree lined residential streets in my city that I would like to live in if I had the money when I'm older and need it. Assisted living apartment buildings are not all like the undesirable 'nursing homes' which you mention. Assisted living apartment buildings often offer many different levels of care - from very little care to more advanced care. Nursing homes most often are comprised of just rooms instead of apartments.
One of out good friends, also childless, has had the communal living idea for a while. Problem of course is we are all the same age. Not sure how 85 year olds are supposed to take care of other 85 year olds.
I caught the post where someone is planning on selling their home to fund a senior living lifestyle. We will be downsizing at retirement and I hardly think our home will bring that kind of money.
Campion, I strongly recommend purchasing LTC insurance now or at least before your late 40's. Be sure to get one that covers paying at-home caregivers to put off assisted living and NH care as long as possible. It's very reasonable when purchased at a younger age like you are now. Find one with inflation protection and caps on premium increases.
Campion, I think your first sentence is a vast exaggeration. Many single, childless introverts live quite happy lives in their old age. Especially those with many varied interests or hobbies, and those who read.
You add 'infirm' - health is a variable, but even suffering a malady or two, life can still be interesting and well worth living and not the picture that you portray.
And you seem to think that assisted living centers are automatically not preferred. Many assisted living centers are very nice. Many assisted living facilities are comprised of regular apartments and are somewhat high-end. There is an 8 story very nice assisted living apartment building in a beautiful urban neighborhood of gorgeous tree lined residential streets in my city that I would like to live in if I had the money when I'm older and need it. Assisted living apartment buildings are not all like the undesirable 'nursing homes' which you mention. Assisted living apartment buildings often offer many different levels of care - from very little care to more advanced care. Nursing homes most often are comprised of just rooms instead of apartments.
It's not the thought of not having anything to do that concerns me (I've got hobbies and I love to read), it's the idea of group/apartment living that repels me. I'm sure I'll be perfectly happy right up to the point at which I'm no longer able to maintain my own house or take care of a dog. At that point, being stuck in any kind of group setting, whether that's an apartment complex catering to seniors or a nursing home, will make me very unhappy. As I said, I work to maintain my mind and body so that hopefully won't happen, but I dread the thought of something uncontrollable like Parkinsons (which is what my grandmother developed) debilitating me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheShadow
Campion, I strongly recommend purchasing LTC insurance now or at least before your late 40's. Be sure to get one that covers paying at-home caregivers to put off assisted living and NH care as long as possible. It's very reasonable when purchased at a younger age like you are now. Find one with inflation protection and caps on premium increases.
It's part of my work benefits package, fortunately, and I can continue it once I'm retired.
uh, huh, what makes anyone think the children will take care of them. Folks live into their nineties. Many children will be in seventies and be looking for caretakers for themselves. Next group in their fifties will have jobs god willing. Choosing not to have children could mean you will have a lot more money to provide for your care. So two sides to every coin. Live long and prosper and enjoy your life and those who choose to stay close.
My wife and I will care for each other as long as we are able. After that, we will die as anonymous old people in a nursing home somewhere. BTW, for us it was not a choice. We always wanted kids, it just never happened.
I tried to organize a Childfree group for this very reason - to make sure people with no children or family had a group to bond with regardless of income for things like hospital stays, etc. I soon learned that many Childfree people are selfish and wanted everyone else to do the work and then complained when it didn't meet their needs.
We need something like this but no one wants to step up. Many want the benefits but don't want to put in the work. There will be a lot of lonely people dying alone. Sad.
OR: There were many of us with impossible work hours that never wanted to have kids involved to be raised by someone else. I was never the stay at home type so why have kids if I'm not going to be around to raise them. Nor did I have this overwhelming biological urge to reproduce. John rotated shifts every 28 days for over 20 years. I worked odd shifts as well. Add to the mix that there was zero family involved in our lives to help out. That leaves only paid strangers to help raise our offspring. There are many reasons not to have children. I think it would be selfish to have kids and put them in that situation. As far as dying alone, we all do that love. I see this all the time at work with my end stage patients. Even if someone is there my patients aren't aware of their surroundings. What difference does it make if a health care worker or family is with you at that point? The sadness comes in your golden years when there's no one around to talk to, and even that has a solution if you're willing to put out some effort. If you have children for the purpose of not being alone in your golden years then couldn't that be considered selfish?
One of out good friends, also childless, has had the communal living idea for a while. Problem of course is we are all the same age. Not sure how 85 year olds are supposed to take care of other 85 year olds.
I caught the post where someone is planning on selling their home to fund a senior living lifestyle. We will be downsizing at retirement and I hardly think our home will bring that kind of money.
A bunch of 85 year older can handle almost any situation as long as they have access to tools, wits, a phone, and money.
Subscribe to a daily newspaper. If it piles up for weeks and months, someone will notice.
Actually, I read about someone dying at home and being left there 2 or 3 years. Someone bought the home at a tax sale and once they gained entrance, they found the body. Because it was at the time of foreclosures and many people walked away from their homes, the neighbors thought the person moved away and left the home.
Some women do beat the odds in finding that meal ticket, of course .
Their meal ticket is looking back at them when they look in the mirror.
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