My experience as a carer - an 85 year old living alone with no family nearby,not a good scenario. Fine at the moment maybe, but the chances of him learning to use any mobile phone device ar slim at best and as he gets older, forget it. My dad was still driving at 89; at 90,going downhill rapidly,at 95 - doesn't bear talking about. Get this old guy somewhere safe asap - move him near family or get him into an aged care facility. Give him maybe 5-10 years, he'll be forgetting to bathe and will poop on the toilet seat or anywhere else that takes his fancy. He will fall over, he will forget what the heck that funny little plastic thing that rings is.........

My good friend is 64 and lives on the Gold Coast, his mother is 92 and lives alone at home in Adelaide and still mows her own lawn.



My aunty Ette danced at her 101st birthday party (yes she used a walking frame.......but hey!) and I have the movie to prove it, and she was still living at home alone.



Yes I can see from a carers point of view, you have seen the majority that are in great need, but to classify everyone over 80, and to strip their independence, do we have an age limit where all people need to be placed in nursing homes?



My father at 62 taught me computer literacy, I admit by the time he was 75 I was teaching him, but he could still learn and finished up making about $50,000 on ebay the few year before he died.



I realize the job you have may give you a more jaded look on the elderly, and that maybe right for the majority, but there are a lot of elderly in our community that don't need to be institutionalized they just need a bit more help and some one keeping an eye on them, even if they are a few 1000's kilometers away.

Like you Corvette know not all seniors fall into the same catogory

My Mum-in-law is living alone and looking after herself at 96 and my aunt died a few years back at almost 104 and living at home with few problems.

If we were all only able to look forward to:-

.....................

quote from Jacinta. Give him maybe 5-10 years, he’ll be forgetting to bathe and will poop on the toilet seat or anywhere else that takes his fancy. He will fall over, he will forget what the heck that funny little plastic thing that rings is.........

.................

We would maybe take a pill at 60 before as some seem to think the inevitable takes place...



Old age is something we are born to strive for and I realise like Diabetes, Parkinson and all the diseases including Dementia it can happen but please God not to all of us and we can live in hope of an old age without too many problems. If we thought too much about it who would want to live past 60?

The retired years can be happy healthy years taking into consideration not quite as easy to do many things like when young. There are sick young folk so why should seniors be exempt? - We all just hope to keep our independence and be able to make decisions for ourselves I think that is a real worry having others decide what is best for us?

We have today enjoy it.

Phyl.

I am quie happy to live for however long AS LONG AS I CAN BE INDEPENDENT--if I can't I WANT a pill

That is Peter and I also Jane. I hope to be a lovely Senior Lady and live as long as I am happy, interested, and independent.....with Peter the same of course.

The pill has to be a godsend to many and I agree with it in some cases! but it is just the worry it could be used in the wrong hands for the wrong reasons. I still wonder what happened to the couple travelled to was it Mexico to buy them, and accosted and told they would go to jail but hey they were clever enough the pills were never found last I heard.

They both had terminal illnesses I think (at least the one did anyway) and wanted to be prepared and able to make the

decision if the time came and they felt it was right.

Phyl.

and wanted to be prepared and able to make the

decision if the time came and they felt it was right.

--



Yes if you had "The Pill" you may never use it but it would give you a nice safe feeling if you knew you were able to take it if need be.

Oh, corvette, my caring is not a job. I care for my dad.I also have numerous elderly relatives and friends with elderly relatives. I am talking of people over 85. Some are still in their homes and to the outsider, all would appear well. But the marks from falls are there. The saucepans that have been burnt to a cinder. The weight loss from not eating properly. A number of them have had home invasions - a 100 year old neighbour had two home invasions and fell and broke her hip twice, having to wait hours until a relative called over.

I am not knocking elders who want to remain at home - but they need a lot more help than just some emergency contact device, which if they fall over they may not have on their person....They may need an ACAT assessment to establish their abilities and needs, and to get assistance set up for them, for example, a nutritionist,physiotherapist,someone to help clean house, do yardwork, meals on wheels......if they have all this, then maybe they can remain in their own home safely.But don't assume you can hand them a contact device and no further involvement will be necessary.