Old age and getting run down

willowbank said:

That’s the bummer.. so many work hard all their lives, looking forward to a better life in retirement only to become so ill or pass before “ “payout” even worse is the younger wife left behind.

One of the biggest “crimes of the century” in my opinion was putting up the pension age when so many were “ that close”

Willowbank

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Daisymay said:

You know on keeping up with this post you have got to ask yourself, why is it that the political fraternity think that if you keep raising the retirement age as if its for the good of the country, we are all talking about ailments of all sorts here and quite a few have taken early retirement, myself included, now if we are struggling with what is essentially a hobby what chance have the work force who engage in the like of bricklaying, scaffolding and such like, as a country we really need to start holding our politicians to task regarding idleness and ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION to start with.

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MarinePMI said:

I am a pup years wise in comparison to you, but can say that you are correct that you must never give up, when faced with something like cancer.

I am about to turn 56 and retire. But at age 48 I was diagnosed with a rare (benign) tumor of the head (skull base). Very difficult to operate on, with low success using a gamma knife, and a frightening level of morbidity during surgery (14 hrs in my case). At the time I was in excellent physical shape, so having a cold that would not seem to go away, I went into see the doctor only to be told (after several tests, CAT scans and MRIs) that I had a tumor the size of a golf ball located at the base of my skull, that was slowly cutting off blood to my brain (was wrapped around my carotid). The news was...well, a shock. The surgery(ies) were...brutal. Lost hearing, had paralysis on the right side. Recovery was...brutal.

But as you said, you just have resign yourself to never giving up. I coded after my 3rd surgery...while conscious. Passing over to the other side is quite easy and comfortable. Coming back though, that required that same "never give up" attitude, as I realized I wasn't breathing anymore, and needing to force that to happen. It was hard. But after keeping at it (focusing on trying to breathe) I woke up to the Neuro ICU staff standing over me with a defibrillator.

There is no doubt in my mind that had I just given up, I would not have come through it all. So your advice is spot on. Never. Give. Up.

I am now back to almost a full recovery (which will never happen), but can still do most things I enjoy, even if not at a competitive level anymore. But the recovery was, as you say, successful from making the decision to not give up.

Much respect to you Merlyn. I only hope we all can have that same attitude in our advanced years.

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MarinePMI said:

Any pension controlled by a government, by it's very nature, usually ends up being a Ponzi scheme. If the working age population declines, then the pensioners are almost assuredly going to get shafted. The funds for the pensions is just too tempting a pot, for the government to keep their hands out of it. They tend to rob Peter to pay Paul...until there aren't enough Peters to rob.

Hence why individual retirement accounts are the only reliable (and still not guaranteed) nest egg for retirement. Anything else is just a hope and a prayer. And hope is never a good plan.

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Bavarianbrit said:

I have never figured out how the USA Social Security (pension) can pay out a full pension after you have accumulated 40 quarters = 10 years of working full time. Perhaps there is a lot of drifting happening there with large portions of the population? I did 16 quarters in 2.5 years as I was paid well and get $356 per month after hitting 67. It is a hell of a deal (sleepy Joe even sent me a $1,400 check during covid on top. It is half the value of my UK pension that took me 40+ years to pay into.

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MarinePMI said:

That 10 year working time thing is actually a number that was set, so that (in the past) a widow could count her part time work over her lifetime (to hit that 10 year number), and still have some subsistence. I remember as a child, a lady that lived across the street from my grandparents, that was working part time at 68 yrs old, and her saying she only needed two more quarters at part time to get her SS check. Her husband had died, and left her with nothing (he had elected no survivor benefits with his pension). It was sad, but she worked until she could start collecting her check, and her daughter helped with the rest.

While many portray the US capitalist system as heartless, it is far from that. We do try to take care of our our weak and elderly. What most Americans do NOT support is perfectly able bodied people, sitting on the government dole. I suspect that is why "keeping up with the Jones" is encouraged by government policy. Bigger house, newer car, nicer watch, etc. It instills a drive to work and succeed. It's probably why we're third in the world of millionaires per capita. Only Switzerland and Australia exceed us (per capita), and they both have significantly smaller populations.

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• Reagan's Approach (1980s): Reagan focused on reducing benefits and tightening eligibility to move recipients from "dependency" to work, though he did not implement a strict, nationwide two-year time limit on all government support. His administration targeted a reduction in welfare roles through tighter work requirements.
• The Family Support Act of 1988: Reagan signed this act, which was aimed at welfare reform and required some recipients to work for a portion of their benefits.
• 1996 Welfare Reform (Clinton): The landmark Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, passed in 1996, fulfilled the policy of a lifetime limit of five years for federal welfare, with many states choosing to implement stricter two-year time limits on receiving support.

thistledeyke said:

76 in 10 days time 2 new knees 2 years ago gave me full mobility back all be it at a slower pace and the usual age related aches and pains. Still activly game shoot and help part time on the shoot, have 2 cockers to keep me going and stalk in Scotland when I get chance and stalk localy. Went to SA on a hunting safari last year and going again in June. I only say this as I've seen too many give in and become sedetary which brings on the end! Never been an active gym/exercisor but there is plenty of advice and appropriate excersise programs on youtube which I have found helpful to keep my mobility and strenght up. Oh and a few beers and red wine along the way helps.

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Flash G 74 said:

Happy Birthday tomorrow

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Flash G 74 said:

Hello, Now 76 but feeling age has crept up to quick, I use to be out and about most days and on the farms 3/4 days and nights, Now i can hardly go out after developing a stomach problem about a year ago, Already go to the Hospital twice a year for a PSA check up and on going about 12 years, After a GP visit i was sent some paper work to fill in, That took weeks, Then i had the dreaded camera, Still no joy on finding out problem , So more tests and have been told would need a scan, Still waiting after 1 month for test results and a scan appointment , I know there are people worse off in hospital etc but it has made my life not so good, If it carries on i am looking at not fishing or shooting much and that would be a real pain and not just my stomach, Most likely sell off some shooting gear

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