Quote From: ceildh1To be honest, this is something I had never really thought about, I always joke that aging is inevitable, but "Growing Up" is a choice, but even at 37, I still don't really think about it, but this question did bring up a couple of issues I try NOT to think about anyway.
My biggest fear about aging is Alzheimers or any other type of Demetiaassociated with aging, I drive people crazy because I am ALWAYS exercising my brain to keep it sharp ( if you don't use it you loose it ) the idea of my children changing my diapers, or myself not recognizing them is completly reprehensible to me, and I really think I would kill myself before I let that happen.
After watching people die from this, watching them deteriorate, I came to the conclusion that if there is any kindness in this, the patient has NO IDEA what's going on anyway, but the toll it takes on the other members of the family can be devastating. My relatives were lucky enough to have supportave caring family around them, but there are many who are left alone in nursing homes (why bother if they don't know me anyway ), or end up being abused physically or financially ( the wrtong person being made power of attorney ), many times the family feels relief, yes I said RELIEF when that member passes, because then they can get their lives straight ( the amount of work these patients NEED is incredible, sometimes overwhelming to the uninitiated ), and they can really then grieve for the parent, grandparent Aunt Uncle etc., that they reall lost long before.
So that's my ramble, the wrinkles ( there are creams for those ) , the grey hair ( my hairdresser can fix that ) are superficial, if my mind is guarenteed, then I'll go for as long as fate allows, but I will NOT allow myself to lose my mind, that simple.
I used to work in Nursing homes and love the elderly with all my heart. I have worked on an alzheimers unit as well. What little people know about this disease! they may not know what they ate for breakfast, or recognize faces, and sometimes their bladder and bowels loose control, but they can feel love! i know this for a fact, and that is why i loved working with them. the mean ones and the ones who spit and threw things, they all need love. My main theory behind the way i think of them is this... they have lived obviously alot longer than us, they have every right to feel the way they do, or act the way they want. i worked there to make the last few years of their life enjoyable and hopefully they felt some love when i cared for them, because i loved them all as if they were my own grandparents. they may have forgotten who i even was the next day but i loved them and cared for them just the same. sometimes it is a relief when they do pass, because we do not want to see them suffer. do not feel sorry for yourself, just do everything in your power to make the last years of any elderly person their best!!! They deserve it no matter what. i no longer work in a nursing home because i cannot afford to take care of my family with what i was being paid, but i do love them all with all my heart and will stand up for them for the rest of my life!!!
sorry for any grammer or spelling, but sometimes i get upset thinking about the way the elderly are treated.
