When Iʼm 84: What Should Life Look Like in Old Age?

[MPN-MATE Admin]

Hey guys...

The Title of this topic I am finding one worthy of a stimulating discussion that I hope a few of you might join in in offer up your own ideas and wisdom on the subject...

The Title is of an Essay recently completed by a party in the USA:

"When Iʼm 84: What Should Life Look Like in Old Age?"
by Lewis A. Lipsitz MD ( Geriatrician)

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/ful ... /jgs.16408

However, as we are all slowly moving inexorably towards such milestones, (unless we indeed choose now is the time to "...shake of this mortal coil...")

I wondered what some of those ideas might be... that the rest of you have, and generally what they might consist of & why...?

Personally, I for one, would like to maintain my physical ability to remain more than just mobile. I hope to keep cycling well into my 80s. I also feel a desire to be contributing usefully to my community, and broader society, and to maintain the ability to have and occasionally hold a healthy debate or 2, 3 etc... Nothing like an interesting, stimulating topic of discourse, in my view...

To be able to enjoy the interaction of family, and the broader community... To remain as active as I can for as long as I can in some type of capacity, while maintaining some type of interest or hobby, or desire etc...

I personally believe that in times like CV-19, one of the worst things that all of us might be suffering from is 'Social Isolation'

Recently, I arranged a ZOOM Cafe CatchUp, and aside from the fact, (that my Tech. let me down & I was locked-out of the meeting), others who did attend reported that they really enjoyed it a great deal... That fact alone made it all worthwhile, in my view...

Hence, I shall shortly be arranging another... Because we are indeed social creatures, and we require interaction between others, & over many layers and levels, in my view...

These discussions will of course always be conducted in a respectful fashion, and always allow everyone to share their own views or perspectives, because all of us might have a very different 'Lens' through which we view our existence, and hearing about them is a welcome learning experience...

In any event, I will be most interested in your replies and responses etc...

Stay safe & well guys...

Steve

[Laurenelle5]

I Hope that I can also remain active. My independence is also important. I would like to be very creative .enjoy being with my beautiful family

Best wishes

Le5

[KatieB]

Not too far away for me but if I feel as happy and contented with life as I do now, what else can I ask for? We have to keep working at it when we have an MPN and life interferes sometimes; ie Covid.

For some people of course they may have financial problems, are lonely or be in a great deal of pain.

My question is: Why think so far ahead? Enjoy the ‘here and now.’ Life is too short to think about the years ahead and imagine how you will feel. Have faith that the life force will guide you in the right direction.

Enjoy your day!

Best wishes,
Katie

[Merry]

Morning all,

I also do not often think this far into the future. I am very focussed on getting through what’s happening now and in the next few months.

However, my ideal on retirement I guess would be to be near family, try my hand at some creativity like you Le5 , maybe some writing and pottery, and get a cat.

Merry x

[MPN-MATE Admin]

Hey there Le5...

Please allow me to firstly give you a nice warm welcome to MATES MPN Forum here in Oz... Great to have you onboard...

Yes, I personally came across the Essay on this Topic, and it was mainly because my dear mother is currently 84, and she is not fairing as well as she might otherwise have been...

I say that w/ all due respect of course... However, my mother's fitness regime was really a non-existent event... Having said that however, she has always been as busy as a beaver, always trying to do something in the garden, to the pool or just generally around the house etc...

These days, in her 85th year, she can barely walk, and not at all w/out the aid of her 'walker'. Makes me wonder and strive myself stay as fit and nimble as I possibly can for as long as I possibly can... Hence, by looking after myself through diet, and exercise today, I am caring for all my tomorrows to come, in my view...

Once again Linda, a very warm welcome to MATES...

Best wishes and stay safe & well...

Steve

[Kinsale]

Well, my focus has been more on the now and trying to navigate treatment options as well as maximising my health and well being. I admit at 62, I can’t ‘see’ how I will be in my 80’s and even my 70’s I’m not sure. So like the others is living in the moment and enjoying friendships and relationships and trying to ‘pay things forward’ when I can. Mark

[MPN-MATE Admin]

Hey Mark...

Hope all is as well as can be expected in this 'New World' of CV-19 that we are now all learning to come to terms with...

The 'Now' is of course very important to me also... However, I am presently my mother's default 'Full-time' carer, (84yo ), and she is not having much fun at all these days...

To be brutally frank Mark, I do not ever want to be as troubled by those experiences like she is having to deal w/ today... I might have to sometime of course, however... and in the interim, the diet/exercise regime has become my central focus...

Hopefully, it will continue to keep me in good stead...

Best wishes buddy...

Steve

[KatieB]

Hey Mark and Steve,
As you both know, I am 80 next Birthday so not far to go!
I feel better now than I have for years as I am no longer on the toxic capsules. Peg seems to work for me and I am just starting to inject fortnightly instead of weekly. It may not work but at least I feel almost myself again.
I don’t believe in pushing myself too hard or making too strict s regime each day. However, neither do I wish to be a couch potato!

Sorry to hear your Mum is struggling so much Steve and I think you are sensible living from day to day , Mark.

Take heart from an ‘oldie’. Not being stressed is one of the most important aspects of coping with an MPN but as you say, ‘easier said than done’ when you have outside responsibilities.

Sending you both positive thoughts,
Katie

[MPN-MATE Admin]

Evening Katie...

Yes, she is struggling a tad... But I am just trying my best to keep her happy, even though she really is not etc...

Interestingly, I may have stumbled upon on new 'MPN aid' via way of another natural product... (?)

So far, it is having extremely impressive results on lowering my blood pressure (BP) when undergoing extreme exercise etc...

Come Monday, and after my next Bloods, I will have more to say... However, it is most encouraging thus far...

Stay safe & well you guys...

Steve

[MPN-MATE Admin]

Hey Liza...

Great to be hearing from you, and again... Welcome to MATES, Australia's First MPN Patient's Forum...

Yes, I can only agree... Happiness is really important to me too... As is having a better Quality of Life (QoL).

I have found my dietary & exercise regime have improved my own QoL enormously...

I will have another New Post tomorrow after my blood tests... that some of you might find really interesting...

Stay safe & well Liza...

Best wishes

Steve

[MPN-MATE Admin]

Hey Liza...

Welcome to MATES MPN Patient's Forum... Lovely to see you here Posting too...

This is a slightly older Post (thread), but just an interesting topic for me personally because of my mother's current condition / dilemma etc...

Please also feel Free to Post a general 'Introductory Hello' too if you like... as the other MATES members might miss you tucked away in this older thread etc...

Anyways, I hope you and yours are all doing well, wherever you are located... CV-19 certainly has changed the face of the globe like nothing else we'll probably ever witness in our own lifetimes...

I do hope that its affects are not impacting upon you too adversely at this time, as there are many other ramifications outside of actually becoming infected of course...

Stay safe & well...

Steve