My inspiration for this article came after watching a couple on TV, each 99 years old, and married for 81 years.
They had some physical problems, but appeared mentally sound with a good sense of humor and clearly very, very fond of each other.
And yes, I think they're still "living a vibrant life.
" Oh, how much they would have missed if their lives had been drastically shortened! The story of the elderly couple reminded me of an interesting article I had read a while back titled, "Why I hope to Die at 75.
" It was written by Dr.
Ezekiel (Zeke) Emanuel.
I had pondered a few things in the piece, i.
e.
,"...
increases in longevity have been achieved mainly by extending the lives of people over 60.
Rather than saving more young people, we are stretching out old age.
" I wondered if that could mean that the young who are ill are being neglected, unattended, or abandoned in favor of treatment for those 60 years and older? That doesn't seem likely; if that were the case, wouldn't there be definitive information coming from multiple sources? Perhaps it was simply a matter of interpretation.
There were more words that confused me: "Americans seem to be obsessed with exercising, doing mental puzzles, consuming various juice and protein concoctions, sticking to strict diets, and popping vitamins and supplements, all in a valiant effort to cheat death and prolong life as long as possible.
This has become so pervasive that it now defines a cultural type: what I call the American Immortal.
" And the following introduced us to unfamiliar terminology: "'Compression of morbidity' is a quintessentially American idea.
It tells us exactly what we want to believe: that we will live longer lives and then abruptly die with hardly any aches, pains, or physical deterioration-the morbidity traditionally associated with growing old.
The American immortal desperately wants to believe in the 'compression of morbidity.
'" And, "It is this dream-or fantasy-that drives the American immortal and has fueled interest and investment in regenerative medicine and replacement organs.
" Do the costs in terms of dollars and time expended by health professionals seem too great to be spent on those of a certain age? Maybe.
My belief is that the 'American immortals' are simply making an effort to maintain good health as long as possible.
Surely they aren't so uninformed and naive as to believe that they can escape pain and suffering forever, and that they will eventually die peacefully in their sleep.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as most health professionals see exercise and eating properly as essential to good health.
In fact, I, too, recognize the importance of exercise and proper diet, and believe that more adults should adhere to such a plan.
I can attest to the benefits of exercise, since I just might have become a complete invalid without it.
Years ago I sustained severe injuries in an automobile accident, affecting my hand, arm, foot, leg, and back.
During my lengthy recovery process, an Orthopedic Surgeon suggested that I could reduce some of the pain and maladies associated with my injuries by taking daily walks, a minimum of five days a week.
I followed the doctor's advice and over the years have continued the practice of walking on a regular basis.
Few things can interfere with my daily walks.
We know that dispensing pills by doctors as if they're M&Ms isn't always the answer.
It's been my experience to know senior citizens who are over-medicated, some tell me they take as many as 12 or 15 pills per day.
Is that really necessary? It can, of course, cause them to be disoriented, incoherent, and often unable to function.
Perhaps prescribing a walk, a good book, meditation, or just a hobby, could be a more effective remedy for some ailments than so many pills.
One good reason for exercising and eating a healthy diet, it seems to me, is that it might help with the obesity problem in the United States.
Information from the CDC indicates that one-third of adults are obese-that's about 78.
6 million people, and obesity-related medical costs in 2014 were $147 billion, with the numbers increasing annually.
Billions of healthcare dollars would be saved if the colossal tide of obesity could be stopped.
Those costs may be more onerous than potential needs for the estimated 20.
5 million in the U.
S.
who are 75 and older.
I'm in wonderment as to why anyone would hope to die at age 75 or any particular age.
Even more astonishing to me is why someone would refuse medical treatment in an effort to ensure death? But apparently there are those who do.
What of the following hypothetical situation: suppose you're 75, in good health except for a bit of osteoarthritis, and naturally you don't have the energy you once had, but otherwise feel great.
And then, boom, you're seriously injured in an automobile accident, you're bleeding profusely from an open leg wound, and you have a broken arm.
What do you do if you've previously made the decision to refuse medical assistance? The pain is excruciating and you're losing a lot of blood.
Would you wish to be transported to a hospital, or would you ask the medics at the scene to stop the bleeding, give you pain medication, and let you go home? Would you refuse further treatment, or any kind of tests? I see that as a real problem.
It could mean that such an individual would now become a very real 'old man' or 'old woman'-miserable, in pain, barely able to get out of bed.
It's possible one could sit around, or lie around, for six months, two years, perhaps longer, in that condition.
Would you, in a similar situation, consider an alternative method of solving the problem? Would that be courageous? My view is that if there's a broken part, why not fix it, if it can be fixed? And unless there is extreme mental and physical decline, why would one refuse treatment for a condition that can restore them to reasonably good health? Might you feel at age 75 that you have lived a complete life? There are millions at age 75 who are healthy, and continue to contribute to society.
They're active, independent, engaged and vibrant, with few ailments.
Most of us realize, of course, that as we age we're subject to more illness and disease.
There is usually a slow decline of the body, and sometimes the mind as well.
However, just being old need not be a death sentence.
Here are a few of the millions who seemingly are actively engaged at age 75, some older: There are ten U.
S.
senators; sixteen in the House of Representatives, myriad in their early 70s; four Associate Justices of the Supreme Court; Twenty-five CEO's of major corporations; numerous business magnates, financiers; untold numbers of painters and sculptors still highly productive; a number of space program scientists and researchers; innumerable volunteers in every sphere of professionalism.
And there are millions over 75 who do not fit into the categories previously mentioned, but shouldn't be called 'ordinary' because that might tend to diminish them, and minimize their accomplishments, their self-worth.
But they, too, have done their part in working hard and contributing to society.
They are carpenters, plumbers, truck drivers, sales people, farmers, accountants, librarians, and the list goes on and on.
They deserve respect, regard, and appreciation for what they've contributed to their families, their homes, their work, and all of society.
They're now in a privileged position, and should be esteemed and honored.
They are fine examples of elderly men and women who are able-bodied, hale and hearty, with an accumulation of knowledge, insight, sageness, and common sense.
On the subject of those who might want to die at a certain age, I do feel strongly about extraordinary measures being utilized in order to prolong life when there is no chance for recovery.
I am adamantly opposed to that, and think that an Advance Directive is an extremely important document, and not only for the elderly.