Financial Protection in Early Dementia?

2456

Comments

  • Fire_Fox wrote: »

    We definitely feel there is more than stress or even a 'normal' level of forgetfulness for their age, there have been a few strange incidents of definite confusion or odd behaviour. It's a bit of a running joke in my family that all those in that generation are so youthful and have active lives. I think of them all as being ten years younger than they really are, the seventy somethings are definitely not 'elderly' you know?

    Oh, thank you! Very much appreciated. We definitely should not be written off as 'elderly' or as OAPs just because of the year we were born. Having said that, not everyone is alike. We all probably know people who were 'born middle-aged' and I can certainly think of a few people of my own generation who speak and behave as if they were a lot older - and always have done!

    Infections e.g. urinary tract infection, can cause confusion and 'behaving oddly'. This can be 'low-grade' i.e. not enough to be diagnosed except in the laboratory and maybe the person himself/herself hasn't even noticed it. One thing with 'older people' is that often they don't drink enough fluids. Maybe they were taught not to drink with meals, not to drink after 7 pm, I've heard it. You can get low-grade dehydration i.e. by the time you feel thirsty you're already dehydrated.

    Having said all that, any form of dementia is tragic. I was in hospital over the weekend and there was a man there who was staying longer after joint surgery because he lived alone (what would that be costing him???) He told me that his wife is an Alzheimer's victim and is in a nursing home. That was why he wasn't there on Saturday afternoon. I felt so sorry for him. Poor man, and his wife too - poor lady. Obviously they were our generation.
    [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Æ[/FONT]r ic wisdom funde, [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]æ[/FONT]r wear[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ð[/FONT] ic eald.
    Before I found wisdom, I became old.
  • teajug
    teajug Posts: 488 Forumite
    Fire_Fox wrote: »
    Thank you. :)

    I don't know exactly what tests were done so far, definitely some blood and urine tests (ruled out urinary infection and diabetes at the very least), also cardiac tests done in the GP surgery (?ECG). I assume the docs are considering/ ruling out a stroke somehow, the relative has had hypertension in the past (improved with weight loss, no meds AFAIK) so there obviously would be a risk of that. But I will check.

    We definitely feel there is more than stress or even a 'normal' level of forgetfulness for their age, there have been a few strange incidents of definite confusion or odd behaviour. It's a bit of a running joke in my family that all those in that generation are so youthful and have active lives. I think of them all as being ten years younger than they really are, the seventy somethings are definitely not 'elderly' you know?

    I am in my early 60's and I consider myself 'elderly' or 'senior' or 'old aged' or whatever. I would not consider myself as having the same energy or agility as some in 10 years younger than myself. When I received my state pension aka 'OAP' how else would it classed as... maybe it could be reclassified as 'middles age pension' 'MAP' or 'near old age pension' 'NOAP', or maybe refuse the Old Age Pension as the recipient does not want to be classed as an OAP. I must not put ideas into the government minds as they may put it up again and they will not let me have it until I am seventies or eighties.:(
  • It's correctly called 'State Retirement Pension'. No mention of age.

    I didn't think my very recent surgery would be agreed on because of 'age'. Does it matter what you look like? Well, yes, it does. I didn't ask the NHS for it though. I love my cosmetic surgery specialist nurse because, when discussing this with her, she said very firmly '77 is not old'.

    Physically I can't do a lot which I did 20 years ago, but the brain is still there, the interest in doing things and in life. Being in a happy marriage makes a huge difference, which is why I felt so sorry for that poor man at the weekend.
    [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Æ[/FONT]r ic wisdom funde, [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]æ[/FONT]r wear[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ð[/FONT] ic eald.
    Before I found wisdom, I became old.
  • teajug wrote: »
    I am in my early 60's and I consider myself 'elderly' or 'senior' or 'old aged' or whatever. I would not consider myself as having the same energy or agility as some in 10 years younger than myself. When I received my state pension aka 'OAP' how else would it classed as... maybe it could be reclassified as 'middles age pension' 'MAP' or 'near old age pension' 'NOAP', or maybe refuse the Old Age Pension as the recipient does not want to be classed as an OAP. I must not put ideas into the government minds as they may put it up again and they will not let me have it until I am seventies or eighties.:(

    Attitudes to age are very subjective. Ultimately it is your choice how you want to be perceived.

    For myself, I just want to be treated as an ordinary citizen. I was for many years a member of my local british legion. I was happy to pay the ordinary membership fees. Then when I was 65 they stamped my membership card with a large OAP sign. I have not been back there since.

    Last week I went to the barbers. When it came to paying, the hairdresser asked me whether I was a pensioner. Just treat me as an ordinary customer, I said. There then followed a discussion about whether I was over age 55 or not (I am well over 70). I was not at all happy. I wont be going back to that hairdressers.

    Yes I have my retirement pension and my free bus pass. Thank you very much. That does not give people the right to treat me any differently from others.
  • teajug
    teajug Posts: 488 Forumite
    edited 27 February 2013 at 3:14PM
    Of course everyone want to be treated the same regardless of age. However, I am not naive enough to think that I can do the active thinks as i did in my twenties. Like staying out clubbing until the next day. When I get my 'OAP' a abbreviation of state pension I will then be a 'OAP' whether I like it or not, that is a fact of life.

    I would not like to be treated the same as younger starter at work regarding pay as I have worked my way up a bit since I first started my job and I would like to be rewarded for my age and service.

    Some hairdressing places gives discount to pensioners and when I am a pensioner and if that is offered to me when I am 'OAP' I would say 'yes' I a a pensioner, but again everyone is different.
  • mumps
    mumps Posts: 6,285
    Home Insurance Hacker!
    Forumite
    Well if people in their 70s don't want to be classified as old or elderly what are they? If we start off as infants, then children, at 18 adults how long does that give us as adults? Maybe 70 years on average? How does that work then, we stay young for 62 years? Can we be old when we hit 80 or is that a no no?

    I am 60 this year, I am not young any more, I am fit and healthy, work, look after grandchildren and am husbands carer, walk the dog and lots more I am happy with who I am and don't need to pretend to be anything else. Mind you I was quite happy the last time I saw a doctor and he asked me if I could be pregnant? Guinness book of records here I come, not least because I don't have a womb anymore.

    Anyway I am going backpacking round Eastern Europe this summer so I am young at heart even though I am not young anymore.
    Sell £1500

    2831.00/£1500
  • Errata
    Errata Posts: 38,230
    First Post Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    she said very firmly '77 is not old'.
    So what is it? Because it's not young, and it's not middle aged and it's only a few years away from average life expectancy.
    .................:)....I'm smiling because I have no idea what's going on ...:)
  • mumps
    mumps Posts: 6,285
    Home Insurance Hacker!
    Forumite
    Errata wrote: »
    So what is it? Because it's not young, and it's not middle aged and it's only a few years away from average life expectancy.

    It comes across as very patronising to me.
    Sell £1500

    2831.00/£1500
  • Errata
    Errata Posts: 38,230
    First Post Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    mumps wrote: »
    It comes across as very patronising to me.
    Maybe so, but what description would feel is appropriate?
    .................:)....I'm smiling because I have no idea what's going on ...:)
  • mumps
    mumps Posts: 6,285
    Home Insurance Hacker!
    Forumite
    Errata wrote: »
    Maybe so, but what description would feel is appropriate?

    Well I know it won't be popular but I think it is old.
    Sell £1500

    2831.00/£1500
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 342.5K Banking & Borrowing
  • 249.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 449.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 234.6K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 607.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 172.8K Life & Family
  • 247.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 15.8K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards