Senile1 Is Concerned About Senility

[senile1]

Thank goodness for bass fishing.  While I haven’t been able to get out as much as I would like, fishing has been good for most of the year and it really keeps me centered.  I have had very little time to participate in the forum, but I always find interesting material when I do check it out.  Thanks to Glenn, the staff, and all of you for making this forum the best of its kind. 

 

Senile1 is worried about senility.  At the beginning of the year, we placed my Dad in a nursing home due to Alzheimer’s disease.  At the end of May, he fell and broke his hip and his health has declined rather quickly since then.  In early October my Mom joined my Dad in the nursing home as she has Alzheimer’s as well.  My parents live 6 to 7 hours from me so I have spent a lot of time traveling to their location to get their things in order when I wasn’t working.  This, in addition to a busy work schedule, has led to my poor participation in the Bass Resource forum. 

 

Considering that both of my parents have Alzheimer’s I am faced with a greater likelihood of contracting the disease myself.  Now at age 57, I am 20 and 22 years younger than my Mom and Dad, respectively, and I am faced with a big decision.  If I only have 20 years of sanity left, I probably should retire now and start enjoying myself fishing as often as I can.  If I have longer, maybe I should work until 60 as I had planned and then retire.  Either way, we appear to have enough saved to retire comfortably, unless my wife or I were to contract some disease that is going to cost us multi-millions of dollars. 

 

I’m not seeking any advice as I have all the information I need to make a decision.  And I know there are many who have worse circumstances so I am not seeking a pity party.  I guess I just wanted to talk about this with the forum members so you know why I am rarely on here.  Thanks for reading, and thanks for your understanding. 

 

Fish on!

Ed

[roadwarrior]

Health insurance is a big issue. When I retired I still had complete coverage under my  

wife's company plan. At 65 Medicare came into play. Very few older people can afford

not to have coverage, or at a minimum, major health insurance.

[senile1]

Kent, you hit the nail on the head as to why this is such a difficult decision.  I can afford to pay for my own health insurance currently, but considering that retiring now would give me 8 years of paying for my own insurance is a concern.  I am quite healthy but I don't know what could happen to my health during those intervening years, and I suspect healthcare will continue its current trend upward in costs.  This is definitely something where I have to determine approximate costs under different scenarios and play it safe.  

[Choporoz]

Thanks, Ed.  I was having a similar conversation with myself the last few days.  I don't have the 'parent risk factors', but I do have a sense that I'm on track for some sort of early reduction in mental capacity.  I'm only a couple years younger than you, but the plan was always to work until 63.  Lately, I'm not so confident that's the right plan....lots of self-evaluation over here, also. 

[J Francho]

I'll probably never retire.  I lost my grandmother to dementia, so it's on my mind, too. 

[lo n slo]

if you get the insurance figured out, retire. 

[Choporoz]

I hesitate to ask, because I don't want to derail the OP, but anyone replying who already has long-term-care insurance, I'm curious as to what age you started buying?  Web info/calculators are all over the map.

[Crappiebasser]

I am in the same boat as you. Both grandmothers, my mother and now my dad showing signs. I figure I'll be able to hide my own Easter eggs pretty soon. I am semi retired and working just for the insurance. 

If you can get the insurance I say give up work and enjoy yourself.

[roadwarrior]

On ‎12‎/‎20‎/‎2017 at 3:20 PM, Choporoz said:

I hesitate to ask, because I don't want to derail the OP, but anyone replying who already has long-term-care insurance, I'm curious as to what age you started buying?  Web info/calculators are all over the map.

I  have  LTC for both me and my wife. I purchase the policies when I was 47 after watching my in-laws

go through nearly all of their lifetime savings. Our cost is approximately $250/ month for the both of us

and pays up to $225 per day for 5 years, adjusted upward annually based on the CPI. 

 

[Oregon Native]

My dad went that route also and was so sad.  I've had some issue's myself too but not with the dementia  yet...after he retired he was not very active which I believe plays a huge part in that disease.  Watching a lot of TV and other related items does not have a lot of good medical benefit's I don't believe.  

Today is a gift...tomorrow an adventure not to be taken for granted for sure.

All the best to you all.

[A-Jay]

The back half of this ride usually gets a little bumpy.  

Just have to ride it out.

I had & have some of what you're experiencing in my life as well.

We can only do what we can, but you're a Good Man and you'll take the best path for you.

Believe that.

Thinking of you my friend  . . . . . 

 

A-Jay

[Jig Man]

When I turned 50 the place that I worked figured out that they could save a bunch of money by offering early retirement to some of us.  I was offered 1/2 year salary and 75% of retirement.  I took it.  I tried a few other jobs and couldn't find any that would keep my interest so in a couple of years I quit looking and went to fishing.  I haven't looked back.  I'd do it again in a heart beat.  Now my biggest decision is will tomorrow be too windy or too cold to go fishing.

 

I'd recommend retirement to anyone who can swing it.

[Fishing Rhino]

Yesterday is history.  
Tomorrow a mystery.

Today is a gift. 

That's why we call it the present.

[Columbia Craw]

I feel for you buddy.  My mother is 86 and still pretty sharp but her age is showing it's impact rapidly now.  I spent the last two days with her ( three hours away ) and she asked me to complete her Advanced Directive paperwork, which I did. Mom is very practical with a great sense of humor. She is finally agreeing to the concept of selling her home and moving close to us. I see this happening this up coming year.  

 

As far as retirement ?  If you like what you do and can do it at the level you feel is acceptable, keep working. I retired at this past June.  Walking away from my career after 25 years was not easy at all.  I look back at my decision often and know in my heart, I made the right choice because I knew I could not perform at the standards I set for myself many years ago. I have to laugh at times when my son in law says he is going to be off on a certain day.  I tell him, me too.

 

I'll be thinking of you. Sharing the stress is good for you. Knowing others care is important.

[thinkingredneck]

I am about your age and feel your pain.  My Dad retired, immediately got sick, and stayed sick for 3 years until he died.  There is a lot of data that many men literally die once they retire. I don't plan on fully retiring, but you never know what life will bring.  Good luck.  Pray for ***.

[TOXIC]

Personally, I can't wait for retirement.  I think it's the mindset you go into retirement with.  What are you going to do with yourself after you retire?  What do you get from your job now?  If your job is your life and it sustains you, then retirement would be a disaster.  I work in a very high stress job but I have great pay and benefits.  I have seen many that have retired from my field and have flourished.  I have no doubt that will be me.  Keep your mind and body active and live life to the fullest.  That's all you can do.  

[tander]

I retired at 62 which was my plan. Worked 41 years at the same company. Yes, many die when they retired but I think the key is to stay active. I have a part time job, 2 1/2 days a week, play golf, walk, and of course fish. I don't know how much all this helps but it certainly can't hurt. I will be retired 5 year shortly and highly recommend it to anyone.

[Sam]

Ed, with all of the research going on I would think we would find something to help combat Alzheimer's in the near future.

 

I asked my doctor about my short term memory and he said to use a pen and paper to write down things so you won't forget when you go to the grocery store or shopping or going out, etc.  He added to use a calendar to memorialize future events.

 

Keep the faith and I bet you won't have to worry about getting the disease.

 

Happy New Year!

[TnRiver46]

On 12/20/2017 at 4:24 PM, Crappiebasser said:

I am in the same boat as you. Both grandmothers, my mother and now my dad showing signs. I figure I'll be able to hide my own Easter eggs pretty soon. I am semi retired and working just for the insurance. 

If you can get the insurance I say give up work and enjoy yourself.

+1 on that last sentence! When we should all be worried about family well being we have to worry about cost. It's total bull so I agree with crappiebasser, live it up

[RPreeb]

I found that the key to early retirement was to marry a woman with a good job who's 11 years younger than me.  Just kidding as she didn't have that job when we married, but got a lucrative offer to close her own office and go back to work for her former boss shortly after, one of those opportunities that turned out much better than she ever dreamed it could.  She gave me early retirement at 60 for a birthday present 11 years ago.  She retired fully 4 years ago at age 56. 

 

I get full retirement medical from my company, and until she qualifies for Medicare, she is on my medical benefit package.  Good thing as she is going under the knife Monday for a knee replacement. 

 

Hopefully I have have the good genes that my family has shown... no real cases of dementia on either side.  Mom passed from a stroke just one week short of her 89th birthday.  My grandparents all lived longer than average for their generations.  My wife's father is still going strong, living on the farm on his own at nearly 95.  Her mother passed several years ago, but from smoking related problems, not natural causes. 

 

I figure that with a little luck we still have more years to look forward to enjoying our seniority.

[N Florida Mike]

My mom died at 96 years old and had dementia but it came on very slowly starting in her 80s. Dad was almost 90 when he passed due to a stroke. Before the stroke his mind was probably 95% intact.

I am 57 now, and at times it seems I'm going to take after my mom. I can tell you some stories already ( if I could only remember them )?

With my financial situation, I'll probably never retire, unless forced to. My dad retired, and lived 29 years after that.

My biggest concern is ever being a burden to my family. Hopefully the Lord will come for me before that !☺