General Discussion

Zalatix

(8,994 posts)

18. Yeah, that is sad. Abandoned by your own kids is doubly tragic.

Tue May 29, 2012, 09:07 AM

May 2012

I feel sad for elderly people who are all alone in their final years. My commentary was out of despair at the fact that a lot of FUTURE elderly will be suffering like this because an increasing number of people will have no descendents to look after them at all; whether their children abandon them will be irrelevant, because there won't be any children. This is going to be a tragic additional problem for the elderly - whether people want to accept it or not, it's going to be a contributor to the problem.

People can get mad at me for saying that but I hope at the same time we start discussing solutions... like a BIG expansion of "Adopt an Elderly" programs. Oh and I'll be throwing this idea at my kids for extracurricular charity activities.

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More Baby Boomers Facing Old Age Alone [View all] jtuck004 May 2012 OP

Behold the benefits of zero population growth. Zalatix May 2012 #1

I worked in a nursing 20 years ago HockeyMom May 2012 #13

Yeah, that is sad. Abandoned by your own kids is doubly tragic. Zalatix May 2012 #18

wait..what? You're pushng zero population growth, yet you have kids? madmom May 2012 #26

Woah, I'm NOT pushing zero population growth. I'm pointing out one of its nasty side-effects. Zalatix May 2012 #28

Zero population growth means averaging 2 children per couple. It does not mean having no children Cal33 May 2012 #31

Because everyone knows the earth can support an infinite number of people. ret5hd May 2012 #14

I'd say it's more the benefits of cheap energy The2ndWheel May 2012 #21

Or so they think. I would trade all the wealth in the world for the real life community I have. Zalatix May 2012 #22

I'm not sure people have that level of control over the situation The2ndWheel May 2012 #24

Yet we have a lot of unemployed people My Good Babushka May 2012 #29

That job is a calling. A lot of people simply aren't suited for that kind of work. Zalatix May 2012 #30

But some people are My Good Babushka May 2012 #32

All of that, 150% true. Zalatix May 2012 #34

I like your intentional community idea. silverweb May 2012 #2

That is what I hope for RobertEarl May 2012 #10

It starts with the intention. silverweb May 2012 #36

Thank you for the ideas... n/t jtuck004 May 2012 #38

there are a lot worse things than being alone Skittles May 2012 #3

I have thought about this. JNelson6563 May 2012 #4

55, Divorced, No Kids - I Am The Statistic Referenced In The Article - The Last Years Will Be Rough cantbeserious May 2012 #6

Similar sitch here.... ProfessionalLeftist May 2012 #15

Same here... Javaman May 2012 #16

That's a fine idea, but lacking in reality, IMO. Hippies were young, strong and able. CTyankee May 2012 #23

Yeah, I know what you mean... Javaman May 2012 #27

I think the problem with that plan is that a community composed entirely of old people may HiPointDem May 2012 #7

Yes, a very good point. JNelson6563 May 2012 #19

You'd have to have a "pay-it-forward" committment Auggie May 2012 #39

My dad always wished I would get married so I would have someone to take care of me in my old age... DesertDiamond May 2012 #5

I was going to say, two can live cheaper than one, and you don't have to be married JDPriestly May 2012 #8

My next door neighbors, when I was growing up Mariana May 2012 #12

56, no kids, no job, no future... chervilant May 2012 #9

My GF and I have a plan... Javaman May 2012 #17

You're misinterpreting the statistics from the article: surrealAmerican May 2012 #11

You're right, I wrote that wrong. Thank you. n/t jtuck004 May 2012 #35

The Green House Project looks promising. klook May 2012 #20

Very interesting sorefeet May 2012 #25

A counter-argument - "The Myth of Isolation" bhikkhu May 2012 #33

that last part sounds good. i'm in. eom ellenfl May 2012 #37

Nest empty, divorced 12 years, last four serious girlfriends turned out to be hopelessly damaged. slackmaster May 2012 #40

I am 73 years old, alone, and I like that way. RebelOne May 2012 #41

I can see me moving in with my daughter arikara May 2012 #42