Childless old people

Tabbytabitha

pollypenny wrote: »

Over the last few years, I!!!8217;ve noticed that those who attend church or chapel regularly have a good support network. I can see that in one chapel, the local Catholic Church and the church in Wales church in our town.

There are a number of activirun by each, separately, as well as services and these offer ways to maintain or develop friendships.

I would be a hypocrite if I started to go to church as a sort of insurance policy, though.

That's rather what I think about making friends.!!!128550;

Red-Squirrel_2

Tabbytabitha wrote: »

90?
I'd be happy not to make 80!

Happy? Really?

I'd be happy to carry on as long as my body and mind were in a fit state that I could enjoy myself!

PasturesNew

pollypenny wrote: »

I would be a hypocrite if I started to go to church as a sort of insurance policy, though.

It's on my list. I'll be checking them out over the next 5 years to see who has the best "offering".... the nicest hot lunch

I'm happy to be a hypocrite .... survival of the fittest and all that!

I used to go to Sunday school 50+ years ago and liked colouring in pictures of Jesus, so not entirely alien to a church.

Get in early, get in as a helper .... and, over the years, become the served not the server.

Tabbytabitha

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Happy? Really?

I'd be happy to carry on as long as my body and mind were in a fit state that I could enjoy myself!

Yes, really - I don't believe that more is necessarily better.

Serendipitious

I attended a course for work about 'older people.' The course defined older people as being 60+. Just saying.

I am 63. Working, consider myself single as I've been divorced for decades, just looked after the grandchildren by myself for a very action-packed weekend. So I'd think of 'older people' as being in their early 80s, with the oldest-old being late 80s/early 90s.

I am entirely self-reliant and have to meet all my own financial needs until SSP age kicks in, there are no top-up benefits for my age group, so my advice to anyone younger is to save as much as possible so that when you reach your 60s you have more options, as you might not feel up to having to work fulltime.

I don't expect my DD to automatically care for me when I'm older, or to make any major decisions. I have just one imperative instruction in the case of cognitive decline, and that is to keep me warm at all times, but from what I've seen of care homes that is not likely to be a problem.

Besides which, families move away and build their own lives. My parents were lucky, I lived in close proximity and was able to call in daily to do all the necessary jobs, and I mean all of them, as although they were ill and failing, they weren't ill enough for SSD help, and there weren't any private care companies in those days.

My plan? To stay healthy as long as possible, keep mentally alert and active as long as possible, and the rest is just down to trust. Or luck.

Red-Squirrel_2

Tabbytabitha wrote: »

Yes, really - I don't believe that more is necessarily better.

Well no, but I'm sure that if you reach 80 and are still mentally and physically well you won't have any desire to just lay down and die!

My grandparents are in their mid eighties, they've just booked yet another long haul holiday!

Red-Squirrel_2

Serendipitious wrote: »

I have just one imperative instruction in the case of cognitive decline, and that is to keep me warm at all times, but from what I've seen of care homes that is not likely to be a problem.

:rotfl::rotfl:

No I think you'll be alright, you can normally feel the blast of tropical heat hit you as soon as you open the door!

Tabbytabitha

Serendipitious wrote: »

I attended a course for work about 'older people.' The course defined older people as being 60+. Just saying.

I am 63. Working, consider myself single as I've been divorced for decades, just looked after the grandchildren by myself for a very action-packed weekend. So I'd think of 'older people' as being in their early 80s, with the oldest-old being late 80s/early 90s.

I am entirely self-reliant and have to meet all my own financial needs until SSP age kicks in, there are no top-up benefits for my age group, so my advice to anyone younger is to save as much as possible so that when you reach your 60s you have more options, as you might not feel up to having to work fulltime.

I don't expect my DD to automatically care for me when I'm older, or to make any major decisions. I have just one imperative instruction in the case of cognitive decline, and that is to keep me warm at all times, but from what I've seen of care homes that is not likely to be a problem.

Besides which, families move away and build their own lives. My parents were lucky, I lived in close proximity and was able to call in daily to do all the necessary jobs, and I mean all of them, as although they were ill and failing, they weren't ill enough for SSD help, and there weren't any private care companies in those days.

My plan? To stay healthy as long as possible, keep mentally alert and active as long as possible, and the rest is just down to trust. Or luck.

By that definition, most people wouldn't live long enough to be an old(er) person!

NeilCr

Some really interesting information here.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/reports-and-publications/later_life_uk_factsheet.pdf

I can't remember who (may have been Billy Connolly) but a well known comedian once said that he would love another ten years added to his life but could he have them now rather than at age 80.

Tabbytabitha

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Well no, but I'm sure that if you reach 80 and are still mentally and physically well you won't have any desire to just lay down and die!

My grandparents are in their mid eighties, they've just booked yet another long haul holiday!

Your grandparents are fortunate still having each other in their 80s - when one of them dies they may feel differently about things.