[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by jblum315

I guess my biggest worry is becoming incapacitated and having my daughter and son disrupting their lives thousands of miles away to "take care of Mom." I had to do that for my mother and, while I don't regret it, it is extremely difficult.

Yes , I'm not alone and not single, however, your post resonated with me as having been someone who walked in your shoes, caring for my elderly mom for six years in our home and then watching her take the long end journey of Alzheimers disease, first in assisted living for two years , followed by 18 months in a skilled nursing end stage Alzheimers nursing home.............

The long goodbye.........and having to travel that road alone, with no one by your side.........not wanting to disrupt our adult kids lives, and so on...........would be extremely difficult.

Like you, I DO NOT WANT MY CHILDREN to have to do for me...what I had to do for my mom. It's not easy, mentally, emotionally or physically.

I'm sure this is a universal thought.....as my own mother in law, who passed way too young at age 51, used to tell me the same thing........."I hope my children do not have to care for me as I did for my parents"..........first her father........and then her mother.

Ironically, they did.......especially her eldest daughter, my sister in law.......first her mom......and later her dad.

If I was alone I would miss the sharing of thoughts and plans.

People are polite, but really do not want to hear your innermost dreams such as a significant other is more than willing to do.

Especially after being together for 53 years.

But, in the end, we all end up alone. One way or another.