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My aunt is 62. She always talks about how she's "slowed down," struggles, etc. Their mother was healthier at 75 than either my mom or aunt are in their early-mid 60s. I don't see either one of them living to 80.
My dad, on the other hand, doesn't seem 66 at all. Before this year's drama, he'd go to the bars with me. More women would flirt with him than me.
Ugh, sorry. They all sound difficult in their own ways. It doesn't sound as though there is much that you can do for them. You aren't responsible for their ignorance and bad choices.
I don't know -- If someone had to make do living on $1,000 a month with no savings, would they be in the same financial position as someone who chose to live frugally on $1,000 a month, but had hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings?
For purposes of this thread, having children is like having savings. You may choose not to rely on them, and they may not want to care for you even if you wanted them to, but they are still there as a possible safety net that people without children do not and will not ever have.
Agree, and especially emphasize the "possible" part. There are very few guarantees in life. Sure, your children may just totally abandon you in old age but more than likely they will still be involved in your life and provide at least some assistance when you need it. So many people think help only comes in the form of being a full time caregiver for a parent who can't take care of themselves anymore. That any other kind of assistance doesn't count. What I see personally is that a large majority of kids are still involved and assist their parents in their old age. Most are not full time caregivers, but do things like help around the house, taking care of finances, driving them to appointments, and just as importantly, conversing with them and letting them know they care. Some posters mention parents being put in nursing homes but that does NOT mean their children don't care about them. Not everyone can care for someone 24/7, even children, who have their own lives to live. Sure, having children does not guarantee they'll care for you later in life, but NOT having children does GUARANTEE you won't have children to care for you later. I don't have children for what it's worth.
The reason early pioneers came alone was because untill very recently, the average human lifespan was under 50. There simply wasn't very many elderly to leave behind
Correct.
The elderly of today are living far, far longer than they ever did due to medical advances and other factors.
The costs associated with a nursing facility cost thousands of dollars. I've been looking into it and they run between $6500 and $8500. Per month. The days of young people caring for their elderly are over. They need specialized care that can't be provided by anybody with a pulse rate. Care is now specialized and costly. The younger generation is paying for medical insurance, student loans, rent/mortgages. Apart from helping Mom and Dad find a good nursing home, they can't care for them at home anymore. The costs associated with a nursing facility cost between $6500 and $8500 in my part of the world. Per month.
To the OP, I'd say to set yourself up in a nice facility BEFORE you get too sick. There are places where you can stay even after you "spend down" all your assets. Then you go on Medicaid. If you don't have any heirs, no worries. Spend it and enjoy your last years.
Today, skiing the moguls quite proficiently, someone passed me going far faster and skiing far more gracefully than I. I caught up with him & rode back up the mountain on a ski lift, and we talked a bit. He's not quite a Stein Erickson, and certainly not Bode Miller, but he's one heck of a skier.
He's 84. And he skis better than most who are 40 years his junior.
Still skiing moguls ! — you must have knees and hips of steel (no pun intended)
Interesting. I have heard that it is beneficial to start some of the medication in the early stages. And, yes, while it is definitely nice to have a spouse by your side, you need to keep in mind that your spouse could predecease you leaving you with these documented results anyway - then what?
If testing for dementia and treating it early on could slow down the progression I would do it. The doctor isn't going to put you in a nursing home or even take your driver's license away for some mild cognitive changes - whether you have a spouse or not.
I'm not sure of the side effects involved, though. I'd need to look into that.
Where do you get a baseline test done? Is it with your primary care doc, or do you have to go to a specialist?
Interesting. I have heard that it is beneficial to start some of the medication in the early stages. .
I'm not sure of the side effects involved, though. I'd need to look into that.
Bless your heart! Not all of us believe everything we hear. I'm highly suspicious of most prescription drugs these days. It seems they harm more than they help, and all are for profit.
My neighbor's long-time doctor retired and a new one came on board. Younger. Gave my neighbor a test for dementia and it came out she has early onset.
If her doc didn't talk to her about going on one of the cholinesterase inhibitors that can help treat early Dementia, she should ask him. The time to start those meds is when in the early stages of the disease.
I was watching a video recently where an expert was giving advice to adult children who were trying to help their parents downsize.
The expert kept saying how important it was for the adult child to remain calm and not push their parents. Take time, don't demand for things to get done today, etc. The belongings represent their parents entire lives and blah, blah, blah.
Last month I spent 10 days staying at my mom's (I'm long distance). Mom's become a bit of a hoarder, and she's also like a cyclone, constantly making new messes and building up piles of stuff. So, every time she'd crawl into bed for a nap, I'd get busy and throw out whatever I could.
I went through multiple piles of paper...there were old receipts from 10 to 20 years ago. I found one receipt from the 1970s. I shredded so much paper. There were stacks of old magazines... you name it. I think I made 25 trips to the garbage bins in her condo. I recycled 30 empty 1 gallon jugs.
Where do you get a baseline test done? Is it with your primary care doc, or do you have to go to a specialist?
There is the basic annual screening that is done there at your physician's office, usually by a nurse trained to do them - I think that's the standard Medicare screen where they check for noticeable changes.
Then there is also a more in depth "dementia screen" (not sure if that's the correct term) that your doctor can order for you that is done at the neurologist's office.
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