Is longivity a boon or bane?

PushpavalliSrinivasan · May 3, 2007

Dear friends,
! am not sure this topic should be posted at this forum or not. Any way I wanted to discuss this topic. Medical science had advanced rapidly. This is really a very good thing. But nowadays nucleus family system is prevailing and most of the senior citizens are left alone are forced to live in homes.
For most of the senior citizens life has become a burden. Younger generation is busy with their work and taking care of their family. We could not blame them. They feel guilty,leaving the elders at home without any one to care for them.
I myself faced the problem both with my mother and mother in law. We did whatever we could do to make them comfortable, but we could not take away their sufferings.
I feel that people who cross over 70+ should not be advised to undergo bypass surgery and surgery for fatal diseases like cancer. They should be kept only under medication to relieve pain. This is for middle class people only, not for the rich who can afford to have the best medical treatment and also could engage 24 hours nursing assistance.
I hope that you all will post your opinion in this matter.
See you,
Pushpavalli

sunkan · May 3, 2007

dear pushpavalli,
i agree with u in many ways, but y go up to the 70 one starts feeling very lonely the minute the children have made their life good,they have to give first preference to their spouse and no time for the elders, and only when they r very sick we r needed, that too life with out a spouse and being a senior citizen u get into all kinds of activities, still nothing helps in forgetting that none are basically intertwined with ur feelings which is always alone, even among crowd, so a aged home is sometime any day better it is not the money part of it but atleast u will have ur age group to talk abt....regards sunkan

PushpavalliSrinivasan · May 4, 2007

sunkan said: ↑

dear pushpavalli,
i agree with u in many ways, but y go up to the 70 one starts feeling very lonely the minute the children have made their life good,they have to give first preference to their spouse and no time for the elders, and only when they r very sick we r needed, that too life with out a spouse and being a senior citizen u get into all kinds of activities, still nothing helps in forgetting that none are basically intertwined with ur feelings which is always alone, even among crowd, so a aged home is sometime any day better it is not the money part of it but atleast u will have ur age group to talk abt....regards sunkan
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As you quoted no need to go up to 70. But the life span had increased and after seventys it becomes unmanagable. People get frustrated. That too person without spouse, be it male or female finds it very lonesome. Hence I feel longivity is a bane. I do hope lot of people will have the same opinion.

shobabu · May 6, 2007

hi,
I find that it is a boon for some people...i do know couples in their seventies and eighties who are quite happy with their children and grandchildren around them(not necessarily staying with them)...meeting up for occassions,going on family trips etc.mainly it is the attitude one has...one should try and be happy and contented that now the children are settled so pls let go....both physically and emotionally
why not an old age home?i feel it should become more common in India..afterall u will get to meet people in your agegroup....i am sure it will be fun...also u wouldnt have the responsibility of running a home...just meet up for meals,go for walks together,have endless discussions on similar topics.. ...
instead of feeling neglected and cribbing about normal health problems..
hey all this is easier said than done...yes it is a nice written message to myself....
cheers
shobha