How the 'Old Old' Can Have Best Lives

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We can all expect to become frail if our health fails and our bodies wear out and our hearts remain strong. Often death would be welcome.
Recently a woman celebrating her 100 birthday in a nursing home said she wished for a "gentle death". Wouldn't we all. Some achieve such a goal but with modern medicine that isn't always possible.
Often we are blessed or not by our genetics and our environment more than our activities.

Madeline Heer of ND 3:12PM August 03, 2009

I have always wondered about the "be active" advice... Some times (MANY TIMES!) you can't! Your ailments won't let you be active. My observation is that active old people are those that are lucky enough to be able to be active! Their great shape is not a result of their activity but their activity is the result of their great shape... Making them a modle for those that their situation won't alow them to be active is futile and counter productive. The ability to stay positive about life at old age, in the most dire situations, is largly a result of acceptance and recognition of the limitations by the old persons, their caregivers and(less controllable) the society as a whole.

Avi Schneller of CA 6:02PM July 31, 2009

I think it's too expensive to have doctors be the only care givers allotted the listening role. It makes complete sense to me to have PA's listen as well. What can a physician provide in terms of listening that a PA can't just as well, if not better?

Tamara SM of VT 1:40PM July 31, 2009

to our ranks of primary-care physicians who can and will actually see the patients to give them this counseling as well as the necessary maintenance meds. No, not nurse practitioners at corporate-chain Minute Clinics for this purpose. Not emergency rooms staffed by traveling temps for this purpose.
We need real old-fashioned rooted doctors with real time to speak with real patients. Must we resign ourselves to believing we can necessarily afford plaintiff lawyers, defense lawyers, malpractice insurance, corporate administration, computerized records, and third party review---but we can't afford the doctors? At the moment, unfortunately, that looks like the trend. Who can alter it?

Muser of NM 12:36PM July 23, 2009

There are several examples that come to mind of seniors past the age of 80 that have or had an excellent quality of life. Jack La Lanne, the fitness guru still exercies for 2 hours daily. Gichin Funakoshi (who founded the Shotokan style of karate) also practiced and taught daily until well into his 90's. Les Paul (a famous guitarist) also continues to perform on a regular basis. What the first two have in common is a commitment to staying physically active. They all share a sense of purpose and doing something they enjoy

Mike Perez of NY 12:28PM July 23, 2009