To the editor:

I have now become a very old man who thinks he still has the ability to think. One of the things I often think about is how many of we oldsters now are in the population and the negative effect it is having. We have succeeded in living longer but at what kind of cost? Doctors offices and nursing homes are filled with aging people who are spending the last of their lifelong savings for questionable care. Still, each month usually brings a gradual increase in our ailments.

To these comments of mine, a friend said, “Well what kind of solution is there? Should we hire more Dr. Kevorkians? Should people who live beyond a certain age face a firing squad? Or maybe the medical profession or insurance companies should refuse treatment for old people with a fatal diagnosis.”

Of course we can’t do such inhumane things. We are a civilized people and we are related to most of these elderly people. But there are possible ways to shorten or alleviate the last deterioration stages. They are suggestions that we must do for ourselves rather than depend on others:

1. Eat less. Sit less. Walk more.

2. Forget about early retirement. People who work longer live longer.

3. Spend what energy you can in helping friends and family.

4. Continue to learn new things every single day if you can.

5. Be suspicious of those who are getting rich selling magic cures.

6. Think healthy, talk healthy and avoid chronic complainers.

7. Try to live in such a way that when you die, there will be crowds of saddened people at your funeral.

Art Lamb,
Lawrence