The worst way to go- alone AND in pain. POPPED The worst way to go- alone AND in pain.Agreed. I could do without the pain, but would not mind being alone. I would have my son's & my father's spirits there to guide me. I would want to be at home NOT in a hospital. Home hospice care for me. It's a symptom of how our society treats death generally. How many of us have actually ever watched a person die? We tend to hide from death, or more importantly, to hide the reality of death from ourselves, and one way we do that is by consigning the dying to understaffed, anonymous hospitals. I am sympathetic to the concerns described in this article, but it seems to me we have to view them as part of a much larger phenomenon. If more people died at home in the full view of their family, then maybe we would have less trouble remembering that old age and death are natural and unavoidable parts of the life cycle. I'll try not to stay on my soap-box too long. I believe this dying alone phenomena began years ago in our culture when we began the idea that "at 18 (or 21) you're on your own". It became fashionable and expected for families to separate at the end of the teen-age years. It was the American-way to be "independent" and self-sufficient, to "live your own life". Those things are good, but with them came separation, alienation, loneliness. Soon the family ties began to dissipate. Have you seen it in your families? I took care of my father for 8 yrs., the last 4 in a nursing home. I went every other day and took my Mom. When the NH called, I went immediately. I thought there was more ti... Have you seen it in your families?Good comment Jatfla. *pop* for jatfla's comment! I have similar feelings as Jatfla... Thanks for the timely clip Deb. I just attended a meeting this evening here in Clearlake,CA where we are coming up with policies for the city & wouldn't you guess? It was about the needs of the elderly. I will make it a point to bring this up next Thursday. Thanks again. Wow, That makes me feel good allenmarkowski. Let me know how the meeting went. Hey Deb, We finished our meetings of The Clearlake Vision Task Force & you can see the wiki I just started to see our vision though. You can also read our presentation to the city, the article in the press & our report to the City Council of Clearlake(Calif). If you go to the report page & in the search box type in the word senior you will see the point... Fantastic Allenmarkowski! Thank you so much for updating me on this. Please keep up the good work!  I held my Father's hand when he died. I kept on holding and stroking it and talking to him for quite a while afterwards too. I've heard that the brain dies slowly after the heart stops beating and the senses fade slowly, hearing is the last thing to go. It's the hardest thing I have ever experienced in my life. None of my pets, when they got too old or sick, died alone either. Even at the vets, if they have to be put down, I stay with them, comforting and talking to them all the way. If I die alone, they will all be there to meet me. I'm not afraid. That was beautiful TN. I bet your Dad was proud of you. He would always call me and start singing this song and tease me and I would always roll my eyes and say "Daaaad!! Quit it!" Haha, he loved teasing me and I can still hear his chuckle.. He was the last family I had, so I know I will probably die alone, but that doesn't matter. He'll be the first to meet me, when MY day comes, I am sure.  I was very,.very proud of HIM. Still am. . I wish I would have had a father like that TN . . . you are lucky |
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