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Would you like to live to 100?

(149 Posts)
Chestnut Mon 18-Sept-23 17:14:02

Apparently 'Coastal towns dominate league table for centenarians - as numbers in England and Wales top 13,900 compared to just 110 in 1921'

Wow, that really shows the change in 100 years.

So would you want to be resuscitated if you were in your 90s or would you like to reach 100 (assuming your health is reasonable)? Although can anyone really be in reasonable health at 100, or are they going to be in constant pain one way or another?

nipsmum Wed 20-Sept-23 14:18:31

My Mum was 100 1/2 when she died in a Nursing home. She had lovely white hair and looked great at her party. She had Alzheimer's unfortunately but enjoyed herself and never complained

sharon103 Wed 20-Sept-23 14:29:58

No way. I've seen enough of what old age can do.

homefarm Wed 20-Sept-23 14:34:55

Yes. I always want to know what's in the next chapter!

Gossamerbeynon1945 Wed 20-Sept-23 14:39:58

I have



I have AMD and will probably be blind soon, so I would not like to live to be 100. I also have a pinched nerve in my spine, which is very painful


amd

Musicgirl Wed 20-Sept-23 14:46:01

I think that if we were all like you, Bijou, then it would be a pleasure to be a centenarian. No-one in my family has been anywhere near it yet, apart from one great aunt who lived to be 98, very sharp and sprightly, and died after two days’ illness. That’s definitely the way to do it. My two grandmothers lived to be 88 and 90 respectively. My paternal grandmother lost very little of her hair colour and my mother (so other side of the family) still has most of hers at 81. Barring a few grey hairs, mine is its natural colour and long and thick. My mother has far better hearing than me - l am the one with the hearing aids. I also have glasses and I can see mobility might well be an issue as I get older as I have lipodoema. However, if I can keep my teeth and my marbles l will be very happy to reach 100. The worst thing is when a very elderly person dies in hospital but is revived in time as in far too many cases it means the person lives for several months or years with no quality of life either in body or mind. For this reason l will have DNR on my notes if I have to go into hospital in my eighties or nineties and die.

Ikiesgranma Wed 20-Sept-23 14:52:37

I’m 63 with terminal cancer so it doesn’t apply to me. My mother however is 90 next month and is bomb proof. She has had 3 heart attacks and two big bleeds on her brain due to falls. She also has dementia and now lives in a care home as she just wasn’t safe living independently.

singingnutty Wed 20-Sept-23 14:55:11

My Mum lived to 87 but was in poor health for her last few years. My Dad lived on for 10 years after that and died at 97. He managed very well until the last 3 or 4 years. I suppose therefore I may live to be in my 90's but would not like to live to 100 because I am creaking a bit already. From the point of view of appearance, that would not bother me - people who get to their 90's usually have some sort of robustness and the look of old age is not repulsive IMHO. People over 100 can be amazingly sprightly - the 102 year old who abseiled down a big building last week was incredible.

Cossy Wed 20-Sept-23 15:00:23

Personally, I wouldn’t give a crap about how I looked at 100, 80, 70 and I’m not that bothered at 64 ! However I’d like to live as long as I can in as good a health as possible and not be a burden on anyone else. There’s an “old gal” who is 108 in my MiL carehome who is amazing for her age, pretty lucid and still has a Cinzano and lemonade every night. Each to his or her own.

I would also welcome something similar to Dignitas (?) in this country, so those with physical long term illnesses like MND can chose to die in their own time, in their own way, with Dignity.

Cossy Wed 20-Sept-23 15:03:12

Wow Bijou, you’re amazing xxx

Gwenisgreat Wed 20-Sept-23 15:04:22

I don't want to be resuscitated - chances are something wouldn't be working very well, i.e. brain? I don't want to be a cabbage!! If I had a reasonable standard of living the I'll be happy to live as long as possible!

Polly7 Wed 20-Sept-23 15:37:48

Hi Ladies
Petty to some I'm sure🤔. I wouldnt have bat eyelid once upon a time but todays standards made me think when 'a friend' said to me 'Are you blind as well as deaf!' 🤔. ( I couldn't see what she asked me to pasx to her)
And I am sad I am hard of hearing - Some will say she didn't mean to be unkind but now I see her with different eyes I guess. How would you feel. I'm Oversensitive right ? But also human
I know it's maybe petty ......

Polly7 Wed 20-Sept-23 15:40:04

Sorry! I was doing a new post. Or so I thought !!🙄🤷‍♀️

Polly7 Wed 20-Sept-23 15:43:14

Yes re post age is just a number if im fit and well and no trouble to fam! Choice of living or not should be acceptable in older age especially Dignity all the way for younger too as long as in good enough mental health x

Fleurpepper Wed 20-Sept-23 15:44:27

Ikiesgranma, I am so sorry to hear. Can't quite find the right words to say I wish you a peaceful time remaining, without pain.

Bijou, you are just amazing.

Ellypat Wed 20-Sept-23 15:51:54

My mum is 95, in constant pain, with very limited mobility. She has never stopped grieving for my dad, and recently lost her last sibling. She wants to die, and, if she lived here in Canada, would be able to do so peacefully through Medically Assisted Dying . As it is, she is condemned to who knows ow many more years of suffering. Not for me, I hope!

4allweknow Wed 20-Sept-23 15:54:05

A lot of improvements in medical science are keeping us alive longer but to me not necessarily in better health. Unless resuscitation meant I would be in a fit state to carry on independently, well, not for me.

Stella14 Wed 20-Sept-23 16:01:06

Absolutely if I am in reasonable condition!

Musicgirl Wed 20-Sept-23 16:13:22

I meant to say that I would still want to be able. to read and play the piano.

CrazyGrandma2 Wed 20-Sept-23 16:26:04

Whitewavemark2 your comment is spot on! My mom always said, 'Old age is not a privilege granted to everyone." I've never forgotten that.

grannybuy Wed 20-Sept-23 16:53:32

This post has made me think of the film, Cocoon. When the people in the retirement complex were offered the opportunity to go with aliens to their planet, where people lived forever, there was quite a long queue!
I’m still fairly fit in my mid seventies, and not too forgetful, but somehow can’t imagine being the same in twenty odd years’ time, so probably not.

CBBL Wed 20-Sept-23 17:04:38

Only if I could still be independent!

Sjonlegs Wed 20-Sept-23 17:12:51

I absolutely loved spending time with my grandparents all sadly long gone and just generally love the wisdom and the understanding of older people. However I'm not sure that I'd like to live until 100 myself, unless I was in pretty good health. My father has had dementia for the past 8 years and is now existing rather than living, but his body is physically in good nick! I visit him regularly out of both love and duty, but I fear that my visits are breaking my spirit a little each time, as I know that my father doesn't have a clue who I am or often that anyone has even visited. He sleeps 90% of the time.

My husband and I have already made a pact that we're not going into a nursing home - instead we will go cruising! If either of us starts to fail health-wise we're either taking up dangerous sports or a trip to Switzerland - but we're definitely not suffering nor putting each other or our children through it.

ileea Wed 20-Sept-23 17:56:10

This is my 100 year-old Aunty. She looks great for her age. Along with my 82 year-old mom and me (64).
So far she is still at home, and attends community events. Mom and I fully expect to also reach 100.

ChrisBFC56 Wed 20-Sept-23 21:14:43

Yes

Thisismyname1953 Wed 20-Sept-23 21:42:39

grinif I made it to 102 my children would be 80, 81and 82 so I doubt if they’ll be looking after me . It might be better if I go a bit before that 😂