Suicide, Assisted or Otherwise
When it’s time to say goodby
Let me start with a disclaimer. This article is not about suicide due to depression. If you have strong religious beliefs regarding suicide, maybe you shouldn’t read this. I’m not planning on killing myself today so don’t send the authorities to my house.
This is about suicide among the elderly. It’s about choosing to end your life because you’ve lived a long time, and at some point, you’ve lost the ability to care for yourself and you’re unable to participate in the simple things that had given you joy for many years. You might also be in a lot of pain for various reasons.
I’m 71 years old and in good health. I live my life as if I have a long future. It’s easy to do when you’re in good health. I know it won’t last forever, but I choose not to think about it too often. However, we all have to make plans.
My best friend’s mother died at 100 years old in an Alzheimer's nursing home. After her mother’s death, Linda wanted to thank the staff for taking care of her. She took a large sheet cake to them and I went with her. There are things about that visit that stick in my mind. At 11:00 A.M. the facility was very clean and all the doors to the patient’s rooms were open. I could see patients lying on their beds wearing street clothes.
My thoughts were; this is a warehouse for the dying. What is it costing the taxpayers to keep these people alive?
I took care of my mother and my aunt in their final years. My aunt died two days after she had a stroke at 90 years old. My mother had a stroke and lived in a nursing home unable to talk for one year. Mom had Macular Degeneration and had become blind and could barely hear. I lived with her for ten years before her decline. I watched as she lost the ability to enjoy TV and reading — her favorite pastimes. Mom would often say you can live too long. She said that to me and to all of her doctors. She passed away at the age of 94.
At this time, eight states and the District of Columbia have death with dignity laws which means assisted suicide is legal under specific conditions.
- California
- Colorado
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
