Can I just say...I don't understand having "profound grief" when someone dies pushing 80. IDK...maybe I'm a hard ass.
The Judds were/are being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame tomorrow, too. Edit: Maybe the radio conversation I heard earlier today was old.
Well, I’ll be damned. Older adults make up 12% of the US population, but account for 18% of all suicide deaths. This is an alarming statistic, as the elderly are the fastest growing segment of the population, making the issue of later-life suicide a major public health priority.
Somewhat related to this, I'm a theoretical proponent of assisted suicide. If you're suffering and want to go out on your own terms then I think you should be able to. Or even if you're not suffering. It seems like guaranteeing yourself a peaceful and painless death with your loved ones around you is the best-case scenario we can possibly imagine. I only say "theoretical" because I think there are only a couple states that allow it these days and Alabama ain't one of them.
Me on inpatient psych rotation in med school: where are all these older adults who are supposedly at higher risk for suicide? Me on forensic pathology rotation: oh. You gotta invest some worry on older adults with mental illness. They don't tend to cry for help. Most people are "theoretically" aligned with the idea of physician assisted suicide. In practice, not so much. Even in states where it is legal, it's practiced exceedingly rarely. There just aren't that many circumstances where it's necessary. Most often you can create a comfort and dignity- focused care plan that allows them to experience much of what brings value to their life without prolonging it beyond the point when they can't
if you are indifferent that is okay, as long you are polite and don’t interrupt others grief or paying of respect with your indifference. i’ve never felt profound grief, but my closest loved ones are still alive. my time will probably come.
Thankfully I’ve not experienced this yet but I can only imagine that regardless of age when you lose a parent the senses of loss and sadness are immense
At least in Oregon the hurdles to getting the meds are decently high. Time and money the big ones. If it was easier you'd see much higher usage imo
This is the most ignorant thing I have read in a long time. I don't care if my parents live to be 150, I'm going to be devastated when they die. What in the world does someone's age have to do with how much grief someone else feels at their passing? The only thing I can imagine here is you're saying that someone in their 80s has lived a full life and their passing shouldn't hit you as hard as them dying younger. But good Lord, have some empathy man.
Just anecdotal but having seen my grandmother with zero quality of life kept alive for years for ultimately no reason I think there has to be something. The combo of resources and the strain it out on family members was immense and I think we should have some kind of way not to prolong the inevitable when it’s way past the point of no return.
Sorry to hear that. Too many stories like it. My take isn't that physician assisted suicide is wrong. I don't think it is. It's just usually unnecessary, and in my experience, most people who want it actually just want thoughtful end of life care, once you boil it down for them. There are many ways to not prolong life, which isn't the same as ending it. There are so many entrenched misunderstandings about medicine, death and dying. Can't tell you the number of times I've had a long, drawn out philosophical end of life/goals of care conversation with someone who doesn't want to prolong their suffering, only to get to the meat and potatoes and they say they'd wanna be intubated. We are so alienated from death in this country.
Today I learned that Ashley Judd was the daughter of Naomi Judd. I should have put that all together years ago but here I am.
I can’t imagine a much better way to go than my great grandfather surrounded by his children, grand children, and great-grandchildren But does everyone get that lucky/unlucky to remember who everyone is on the way out?
I had a coworker in Canada choose medical assistance in ending her suffering, and while still sad she was able to go out with what she felt was a very dignified way.
been present for many deaths and a few compassionate ones its absurd that the latter isn't allowed nationwide and people should really contemplate those options when they get old