3 ms·

Sure, of course it is a statistics game. The point is to improve your odds. As someone who cares for two older family members, I can tell you that the more we

Sure, of course it is a statistics game. The point is to improve your odds. As someone who cares for two older family members, I can tell you that the more we do to keep our weight down, and maintain agility and strength, and give some priority to cardiac health, the better the odds of maintaining a high quality of life for a longer period of time. Its about creating some health margin so we can better handle the inevitable problems. Pointing to anecdotes of healthy people who were stricken anyway as a reason to live an unhealthy life will end predictably.

emodendroket 4y ago
Or it might not since chance goes the other way. My point is not to encourage people to live in an unhealthy way but to challenge the flippant suggestion that anyone who has serious health problems with age deserves it for their unhealthy lifestyle.
- dev_tty01 4y ago
  Fair enough. I don't think that's what the parent comment was trying to say and I certainly wouldn't want to say that in general. However, some times it is true, but those people still deserve kindness and care. Life is hard. My personal intent is to try and remain as healthy (physically and financially) as I can so that I can minimize the chance of becoming a significant burden. It is personal for me. My grandfather spent several years spoon feeding his mother who had severe dementia. He didn't resent her. He loved her but it still impacted him. When his own health later degraded to the point where he was going to need more care from the people he loved, he couldn't live with the thought of losing control and being a burden to his children so he ended his life. It was not a spur of the moment decision. He had all the legal and fiscal matters lined up. He even had his tombstone in place. He lived a full life with lots of close family and friends. Was he a coward or a saint? Maybe some of both. Maybe neither. Maybe he was just practical to the end. I haven't figured it out.

emodendroket 4y ago

Or it might not since chance goes the other way. My point is not to encourage people to live in an unhealthy way but to challenge the flippant suggestion that anyone who has serious health problems with age deserves it for their unhealthy lifestyle.

dev_tty01 4y ago
Fair enough. I don't think that's what the parent comment was trying to say and I certainly wouldn't want to say that in general. However, some times it is true, but those people still deserve kindness and care. Life is hard. My personal intent is to try and remain as healthy (physically and financially) as I can so that I can minimize the chance of becoming a significant burden. It is personal for me. My grandfather spent several years spoon feeding his mother who had severe dementia. He didn't resent her. He loved her but it still impacted him. When his own health later degraded to the point where he was going to need more care from the people he loved, he couldn't live with the thought of losing control and being a burden to his children so he ended his life. It was not a spur of the moment decision. He had all the legal and fiscal matters lined up. He even had his tombstone in place. He lived a full life with lots of close family and friends. Was he a coward or a saint? Maybe some of both. Maybe neither. Maybe he was just practical to the end. I haven't figured it out.