[senior citizen]

A friend of mine sent this overnight.......click on hyperlink and then scroll to the bottom map of the United States.......Florida is one of the "grayest" states.


Note their prediction for 2010 and 2030 as the Baby Boomer generation enters their "elderly years". Don't shoot the messenger. This "thought" originated in 1995.


http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/statbriefs/agebrief.html


U.S. CENSUS BUREAU : STATISTICAL BRIEF of MAY 1995
AGE SIXTY-FIVE PLUS IN THE UNITED STATES
''America's elderly population is now growing at a moderate pace. But not too far into the future, the growth will become rapid. So rapid, in fact, that by the middle of the next century, it might be completely inaccurate to think of ourselves as a Nation of the young: there could be more persons who are elderly (65 or over) than young (14 or younger)! ''


''According to the Census Bureau's "middle series" projections, the elderly population will more than double between now and the year 2050, to 80 million. By that year, as many as 1 in 5 Americans could be elderly.


Most of this growth should occur between 2010 and 2030, when the "baby boom" generation enters their elderly years. During that period, the number of elderly will grow by an average of 2.8 percent annually. By comparison, annual growth will average 1.3 percent during the preceding 20 years and 0.7 percent during the following 20 years. (See graph below.) ''


''The "oldest old" -- those aged 85 and over -- are the most rapidly growing elderly age group. Between 1960 and 1994, their numbers rose 274 percent. In contrast, the elderly population in general rose 100 percent and the entire U.S. population grew only 45 percent. The oldest old numbered 3 million in 1994, making them 10 percent of the elderly and just over 1 percent of the total population. Thanks to the arrival of the survivors of the baby boom generation, it is expected the oldest old will number 19 million in 2050. That would make them 24 percent of elderly Americans and 5 percent of all Americans. ''


The elderly population has grown substantially in this century ....
''During the 20th century, the number of persons in the United States under age 65 has tripled. At the same time, the number aged 65 or over has jumped by a factor of 11! Consequently, the elderly, who comprised only 1 in every 25 Americans (3.1 million) in 1900, made up 1 in 8 (33.2 million) in 1994. Declining fertility and mortality rates also have led to a sharp rise in the median age of our Nation's population -- from 20 years old in 1860 to 34 in 1994. ''


So......"middle age" or median age is 34 and not 40 as I assumed.......Our kids were middle aged beginning at age 34?
I GUESS SO.....long out of college, independent, married, with children of their own, longtime homeowners. In other words mature adults, middle aged, at age 34.


Click link above and scroll down to the map of the United States.........


In closing, we have known many many many geriatric folks who remained "young at heart" well into their 90's...........they were a blessing in our lives, no matter what their chronological age.


We love old people and don't consider it a stigma to grow old. "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be".


Likewise, we've known some prune faced middle aged and/or younger folks..........but facts are facts as to what constitutes youth, middle age and old age or old old age according to our U.S. Gov't. Census Bureau. What is the alternative?
　

[Golfingnut]

Now is the time to allow end of life assistance. The more money you have, the longer you will be kept alive artificially.

[rubicon]

This is a subject matter that has been repeatedly told. China and Japan also have the same issue . In China's case it was there one child policy rule that created the problem and is why they repealed the law

[Golfingnut]

Like other archaic laws, this one is also on the way out.

State-by-State Guide to Physician-Assisted Suicide - Euthanasia - ProCon.org

New Mexico was added to this compassionate list on 17 march this year.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

Now is the time to allow end of life assistance. The more money you have, the longer you will be kept alive artificially.

Not necessarily. Not if you make your wishes known via an "end of life directive" drawn up by a lawyer.

Our 42 year old, almost 43 this August, son recently called to ask us to make the final decision for him (as he just redid his will, etc.) if he were on life support due to some tragic occurrence (he flies a lot each week, coast to coast, but says driving is even more dangerous).

Our role would only come into play if his wife was also comatose, passed away or otherwise unable to make the decision.

He specifically said that he only wants to be on life support for 7 days. If , at the end of the week, there is no improvement or hope for recovery, he wants the plug pulled. We told him we understood.

On the other hand, my 71 year old sister in law, wants to be kept indefinitely on life support as she believes that there is always hope for a recovery or cure........none in her immediately family, like her own children, would agree to that..........so she had my 46 year old daughter agree and sign the "end of life directive". Her Godchild. My s.i.l.'s own children disagreed with keeping her forever on life support.....but I guess it can be done?

When my mom entered skilled nursing care near end stage Alzheimers, they asked her, and us, if she wanted extra means of life support at the end.......it was explained to her in detail and she said NO. She did comprehend what the doctor and nurse were saying. She also had it in her will, made years earlier....so that made the process at the end easier.


All Mom received were frequent shots of morphine, no water, just swabs in the mouth.....and oxygen. All "comfort care". Her death was peaceful.......all in one day, from morning to evening, as I sat by her side. The nurse sat with me, as did Mom's roomie.

By the way, this was predetermined the day before when she stopped swallowing and would not keep even water down nor food. They kept attempting to spoon feed her but it really was the end. She couldn't take her vitamins either.......so the doctor stopped them.

We saw others kept alive on machines. At age 91. What is the point?

All of our wishes can be put ahead of time into a will.
She made her new will out at least ten years prior to her death.
No life support....no feeding tubes, etc.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

Not necessarily. Not if you make your wishes known via an "end of life directive" drawn up by a lawyer.

Our 42 year old, almost 43 this August, son recently called to ask us to make the final decision for him (as he just redid his will, etc.) if he were on life support due to some tragic occurrence (he flies a lot each week, coast to coast, but says driving is even more dangerous).

Our role would only come into play if his wife was also comatose, passed away or otherwise unable to make the decision.

He specifically said that he only wants to be on life support for 7 days. If , at the end of the week, there is no improvement or hope for recovery, he wants the plug pulled. We told him we understood.

On the other hand, my 71 year old sister in law, wants to be kept indefinitely on life support as she believes that there is always hope for a recovery or cure........none in her immediately family, like her own children, would agree to that..........so she had my 46 year old daughter agree and sign the "end of life directive". Her Godchild. My s.i.l.'s own children disagreed with keeping her forever on life support.....but I guess it can be done?

When my mom entered skilled nursing care near end stage Alzheimers, they asked her, and us, if she wanted extra means of life support at the end.......it was explained to her in detail and she said NO. She did comprehend what the doctor and nurse were saying. She also had it in her will, made years earlier....so that made the process at the end easier.


All Mom received were frequent shots of morphine, no water, just swabs in the mouth.....and oxygen. All "comfort care". Her death was peaceful.......all in one day, from morning to evening, as I sat by her side. The nurse sat with me, as did Mom's roomie.

By the way, this was predetermined the day before when she stopped swallowing and would not keep even water down nor food. They kept attempting to spoon feed her but it really was the end. She couldn't take her vitamins either.......so the doctor stopped them.

We saw others kept alive on machines. At age 91. What is the point?

All of our wishes can be put ahead of time into a will.
She made her new will out at least ten years prior to her death.
No life support....no feeding tubes, etc.

As long as the individual has the option for peaceful and immediate end of life, I am happy. Nothing can be considered a more important personal freedom, than choosing your time and method of death. To allow ANYONE to have that power over you is, well, a horrible thought.