Elder Suicide: How We Can Try To Prevent It

To me all suicide is on of the saddest tragedies in our society.  It just seems like maybe someone, somewhere could have done something to help and change the ending.  Maybe not, maybe these things are part of our world.

With today's improved access to better and more information and stronger communication, you would think we could solve these kinds of issues.  All it takes is one person seeing another in need and reaching out.

There are so many services available to those who need help.  It is our responsibility as a society to aid those less fortunate - in all ways.  This is the way to happy way of life for us all.

Anyone looking for information on facilities, support groups, or other care issues for Alzheimer's might look at our web resources areas for both the disease and the caregiver.

All the best, SMM

I can understand the reasons why people think there isn't anything worth living for. I have been taking care of my parents for about eight years now. Both of them have incurable conditions that worsen significantly over time only to eventually result in death. One of them has an illness that is slow in progression but has gotten to a very miserable stage in which happiness is hard to find. The other has a disease which is sure to result in a painful death that it is a little more difficult to predict the timing of. Both have had exhausting and painful surgeries and procedures. As their caregiver, I find my own life has suffered as well, I find it difficult to look forward to the future. I can imagine that it is even more depressing for them. When someone suffers over such a long time, death becomes a fantasy of peace, it becomes the thought that you have when you want to escape the sadness and pain of the moment. And after awhile, you think how much worse could it be than this?  It doesn't matter how many caregivers you have or what resources you have, that can only help to a point. At some point, you are left with your very human body that can only be healed to the extent of current medical knowledge. And you have fear, pain, sadness, and disappointment to keep you company. Who are we to judge if someone wants to die? If you think about the course of human existance over thousands of years and you think about how many people live and die, and the fact that everyone of us must die eventually -- then you finally realize, it doesn't really matter when and where it happens, why can't it be our decision?? Its only religion that teaches us that its wrong. How do we know that it isn't perfectly fine with the almighty if we want to come "home" to him sooner rather than later? How do you know? Maybe he welcomes anyone and everyone who comes to heaven with the same peace, love, and happiness. Why do we think that God's love has to be conditional - why would he think that we are more lovable and worthy of him if we allow the profit-based medical community to pump us full of unnatural drugs and perform various torturous acts upon us to keep us alive?  Everything is relative to what we are taught, good, bad and everything in between its all an illusion.

Just think about it.