There are Things Worse Than Death
An Old Lady’s Deep Thoughts #5
Recently, I had a conversation with a few friends on Facebook. We’re all in our 70s and experiencing similar things during this phase of our lives.
The topic of conversation was dementia.
They were discussing how they wanted people to treat them if they were ever diagnosed with dementia. One person found a meme online that included a list of wishes they would like to share with their kids. For example, when I’m living in an imaginary world, don’t try to correct me. Just allow me to stay there and play along. Some of the things on the list made sense.
I was skeptical, however.
No matter how clear-cut your directives may be, once you’ve reached an advanced state of dementia, chances are you’ll be lucky if any of your requests are honored. Let’s face it, people lose their right to control their own lives once they become dependent on someone else.
As is often the case, I was the odd person out with a nontraditional point of view about the topic. I wrote the following …
If I were diagnosed with the beginning phase of dementia, I’d want to go to Switzerland to be euthanized in a virtual reality pod.
This comment triggered a few shocked emojis and comments. They seemed appalled that I’d rather die than live with dementia. So, I shared my thoughts on the matter by responding with …
Sometimes I ask people this question. Do you feel more like a body with a brain or a brain with a body? I spend more time engaging with my mind than my body. I eventually realized that many people are more in tune with their bodies.
For me, however, To live without my mind-world would be akin to having already died.
Plus, I wouldn’t want to be a burden to others or consume more than my share of natural resources. Humans have managed to extend life but at a price. Yes, the average lifespan doubled when I was born, but the quality of life didn’t improve. We have many drugs that will help us manage a condition, but few that cure us as of yet.
For those who feel the same, I recommend attending to end-of-life directives. It won’t guarantee that your wishes will be followed, because socially it’s still a sensitive topic, but it’s certainly better than doing nothing.
My response served as a catalyst for a livelier conversation.
I did add that individual tolerance levels vary as well. For example, I could adjust to living out my life if I was deaf, in a wheelchair, and even with a level of constant pain. As long as I can escape into the world of my mind, I will manage.
I’ve always been comfortable talking about death.
Many of my friends in the past were unappreciative of my willingness to address the elephant in the room. However, my senior peers are growing more comfortable with the topic. I’m not saying the idea of death is near and dear to their hearts, but perhaps a level of acceptance has been reached. Maybe we’re a tad curious, too.
What do you think?
Teresa is an author and professional myth buster. You can find her books on Amazon.
