Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

I asked when my procedure was developed and was told "Around 1997, before that it was treated with drugs, and not very well"  (atrial flutter).  It had reduced me into "old man" status, I had trouble climbing stairs, and suddenly, was cured.  I know "medicine"  takes abuse for various reasons but a lot of it is life extending and life quality enhancing.

And then there is this odd conundrum:

Neither of my paternal grandparents suffered from any "old-age" type ailments.  They simply didn't live long enough.  Both died in their early 60's. 

My dad died at 80 after a 10+ year struggle with Alzheimer's.  That was brutal to go through but, OTOH, without modern medicine we wouldn't have had to go through it because he'd have died 15-20 years sooner and simply not lived long enough to get it. 

Cigars right?

Cigars right?

Yes. Not a good alternative to cigarettes, I've come to learn.

I get asked at times about retirement and where to retire, what surprised me, what I do with my time, etc.

My first comment is "Go where things encourage you to walk."  If you like golf or tennis, whatever, do it, move where it's easier to do.  I pretty much gave up golf many years ago.  I just saw my clubs yesterday in the storage room covered in dust and thought about going to the range.

I can still run and lift a bit, which is great, but if all I could manage was walking I'd feel lucky.  I'm not 80 (yet).

And then there is this odd conundrum:

Neither of my paternal grandparents suffered from any "old-age" type ailments.  They simply didn't live long enough.  Both died in their early 60's. 

My dad died at 80 after a 10+ year struggle with Alzheimer's.  That was brutal to go through but, OTOH, without modern medicine we wouldn't have had to go through it because he'd have died 15-20 years sooner and simply not lived long enough to get it. 

This is a paradox within modern medicine. We are capable of prolonging life, but the life that is prolonged is often "brutal." The problem is identifying when to call it quits, i.e., when to turn off the faucet that is medical care. That is a very, very difficult decision, and one that most people haven't really put the necessary thought into. And that leads to providing the care at all costs, keeping it all going.
And it is one of the reasons our medical care is so expensive. The amount of money we spend to prolong life in the last year of life is immense (and largely on the medicare dime). But how to control that? "Death panels," anyone?  
Our family is currently in the throes of this. Very hard situation.

This is a paradox within modern medicine. We are capable of prolonging life, but the life that is prolonged is often "brutal." The problem is identifying when to call it quits, i.e., when to turn off the faucet that is medical care. That is a very, very difficult decision, and one that most people haven't really put the necessary thought into. And that leads to providing the care at all costs, keeping it all going.
And it is one of the reasons our medical care is so expensive. The amount of money we spend to prolong life in the last year of life is immense (and largely on the medicare dime). But how to control that? "Death panels," anyone?
Our family is currently in the throes of this. Very hard situation.

Having been there with my dad and heading there with my mom, good luck. Like you said, very hard situation. 

Hospice care is a type of palliative care that focuses on providing comfort, dignity, and quality of life for people who are terminally ill or approaching the end of their life.

Is that a good definition?

Yes. And additionally, typically in hospice you've given up on trying to "treat" the conditions that's killing someone, and stop any attempts at curative care. 

You're just trying to make them as comfortable as you can until they go.