It just gets more complicated
- Thread starter SillyOldBear
- Start date
You're absolutely right! How could anyone argue with that? When it comes to medical-science, what really galls me is that they have prolonged our lifespan but not its quality. It's like having a choice between two apple trees. One apple tree has a hundred apples but they're all rotten. On the other hand, the other apple tree has only a dozen apples but they're all good and edible. So rather than quantity, one would prefer quality. Quantity means nothing when there's no quality. In the case of the human lifespan, the quality gets less and less the older one gets.
Definitely it depends a lot on your situation (the "golden age"). Some people have it really good. Many of my co-workers worked for the same company for 30-40 years, retired early with excellent pensions and paid-off houses. Many had healthy children who grew into good adults, and now they have grandchildren. They have enough money to travel and enjoy themselves. Spend time with their grandchildren. And know that if they have any problem, their kids will step in and help.
Maybe this is the exception, but because I know so many people in this boat it seems common to me. I think the age group 55+ are statistically the richest. Of course that only makes it harder if you're in that group and not well off. Canada does have an excellent system of supplements and tax breaks for seniors who are low income, but it can only do so much. My mother knows a lady who receives all the supplements and still lives on very little because she pays $1200/month rent. And that is very low rent for our city. I think she's trying to get into seniors' housing so her rent will be much lower if she does that. There are several kinds of housing other than rental but they tend to have long wait lists.
Obviously the other thing you need to enjoy yourself is health. My mother never had a lot of money to travel and such, but she has enjoyed good health and is now 85. She was fortunate to live in a city with a thriving seniors' centre and many, many programs to join. She made most of her friends after age 65. She's in several groups for card games, and also has done painting, community theatre, church groups and walking groups. She now lives in an independent living residence so has her meals provided and 24-hour on call medical button, and other things. Also lots of friends in the facility. She doesn't have a huge pension but luckily the place she's in is very reasonable and she doesn't have to dip into her savings from selling her apartment to live there.
Maybe this is the exception, but because I know so many people in this boat it seems common to me. I think the age group 55+ are statistically the richest. Of course that only makes it harder if you're in that group and not well off. Canada does have an excellent system of supplements and tax breaks for seniors who are low income, but it can only do so much. My mother knows a lady who receives all the supplements and still lives on very little because she pays $1200/month rent. And that is very low rent for our city. I think she's trying to get into seniors' housing so her rent will be much lower if she does that. There are several kinds of housing other than rental but they tend to have long wait lists.
Obviously the other thing you need to enjoy yourself is health. My mother never had a lot of money to travel and such, but she has enjoyed good health and is now 85. She was fortunate to live in a city with a thriving seniors' centre and many, many programs to join. She made most of her friends after age 65. She's in several groups for card games, and also has done painting, community theatre, church groups and walking groups. She now lives in an independent living residence so has her meals provided and 24-hour on call medical button, and other things. Also lots of friends in the facility. She doesn't have a huge pension but luckily the place she's in is very reasonable and she doesn't have to dip into her savings from selling her apartment to live there.
Not too far back some years ago in the U.S. when most middle income working people retired, just what they had put aside from that covered not only their basic life and daily expenses but some also had enough to do some things they enjoyed as well and live a comfortable decent life. Remember, the basics costs of life were affordable. And most work related retirement structure has changed for anyone not in the high tiers of whatever company they are employed by and medical costs and insurance rates for everything and other costs have increased.
I know can't afford to live into my 80's, I'm not sure I'll make it through my 70's being able to survive what may not be available any longer. And I'm just one person depending and taking care of me.
I know can't afford to live into my 80's, I'm not sure I'll make it through my 70's being able to survive what may not be available any longer. And I'm just one person depending and taking care of me.
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