euthanasia solves aging and dying alone?

Vesta spent her entire adult life living at home taking care of parents who were both in their 40s when they had her, and now that they have passed on she is very afraid of what lies ahead.

“I loved my parents dearly and I wouldn’t change my life so far even I could,” says Vesta, “but knowing how much my parents relied on me, especially in their final years, I am very afraid of growing old alone and having nobody to take care of me in my final years.”

“Facing death alone is an abominable prospect.”

“I think everyone is wired intuitively to be afraid of death,” says Vesta, “and while  advocating euthanasia may not sound very life affirming it is, in a funny ironical way, exactly that.”

“If you have the option to escape dying a long and agonizing death, all alone, without anyone caring, you’d take it wouldn’t you?”

“My health is pretty good now,” says Vesta, “but I worry about getting ill and not being able to work any more.  I guess everyone worries about things like that, married or single, but seeing how close my parents were and how much they comforted each other through illness and other troubles makes me feel very lonely about going through old age on my own.”

“I have good neighbors and a few old friends I grew up with, but I really don’t know anyone (who’s alive now) who I can trust.”

“As we get older our confidence and joy in living independently can be shattered by an illness or accident and we won’t be able to afford the extra services needed,” says Vesta, “and because the aged care industry is geared for 80+ seniors we become vulnerable, easy prey for the Grim Reaper.”

           

“Because I took care of my parents at home I really don’t know anything about the aged care industry either,” says Vesta. “I really don’t like the idea of going into an aged care facility but I am more or less resigned to the fact that when you don’t have a family to take care of you, you’re going to have to rely on strangers at some point down the line.”

“I suppose I should start planning for my aged care now, while I can,” sighs Vesta. “I am not so silly as to think I am bullet proof and will stay in good health forever.”