Getting older/ No kids

eminenz2

eminenz2

Cathlete
My husband and I are childless by choice. I wonder sometimes what will we do when we get too old to take care of myself.

We have no one to count on.

What are you planning on doing when you get older and have no children (not that children are a guarantee of anything)?

Thanks for your opinions!

Susan L.G.
 
I'm 46, no kids. I have 3 sisters but only 1 of us is married and they have no kids. My BIL has 2 brothers but they only have 1 kid in their family. We often joke that we will all move in together when we can no longer take care of ourselves. Like the Golden Girls!

This is one of the reasons why I take care of myself and workout. I plan to be strong and independent until the end and if I can't then I'm out of here. I don't relish spending my last days in a health care facility. I'm hoping I'll be 100, still pumping iron, working out like a crazy old woman and will go in my sleep after a wonderful workout.

There is long-term care insurance that you can buy that will pay for nursing home costs, etc. if you can't take care of yourself.
 
Thanks, Jane! Can I come live with you when I get old and grey? I can spot you when you're doing your 250 lb. bench presses and fingertip push-ups! :p Heehee!
 
Same as you & Jane. Exercising, independent, surrounded by dogs. :)

I priced long term care insurance (my grandmother died in a state nursing home, it was a terrible end to a beautiful life & I swore it wouldn't happen to me). $350 a month! :eek: Who in god's name can afford that? What would happen to all my cosmetic procedures? I mean, I might die in a nursing home with all my jewelry & clothes stolen & just the shirt on my back, perhaps a little physical & emotional abuse on occasion, but at least I'll be looking good! }(

In all seriousness, I think about it quite a bit & do worry about it. The state is now offering long term care insurance at a discount--thanks for reminding me to check on it.
 
I'm 52 and childless and I'm very, very nice to my niece and nephews :p

Actually, my mom lived on her own up into her mid 80's, and there's a history of healthy longevity on DH's side of the family. I'm hoping to be able to care for myself until the end. Should my plans go awry, I'll be keeping a lookout for a really great nursing home;)
 
Ladies, count me in for the golden girls club. No kids here and not looking like it's going to happen. But I am definitely of the mindset to take care of yourself and hopefully be self-sufficient for a long time.
 
DH and are the same. Childless by choice. Not sure what we will do, but DH does have a large extended family. I want to be able to take care of myself, but in the alternative there is extended family and of course like one other poster said, long term care insurance.
 
I have a daughter but I would never assume she would take care of me in my old age. I would never burden her with that.

I welcome an assisted living facility so I can remain independent!
 
>I have a daughter but I would never assume she would take
>care of me in my old age. I would never burden her with that.
>
>
>I welcome an assisted living facility so I can remain
>independent!

Ditto. I have two kids, but I would not want to burden them either.
 
>I have a daughter but I would never assume she would take
>care of me in my old age. I would never burden her with that.
>
>
>I welcome an assisted living facility so I can remain
>independent!

However, there are times that support is needed. My husband is helping his Mom right now because his Father is in ICU. He does not see it as a burden, after all, our parents spent years caring for us, sacrificing for us, why should we not take care of them?
 
Long Term Care insurance is super reasonable when you think about what it protects you against!

You should start looking into it at age 50 to get the best rates bc its based on age and health - too many people wait way too long.

Even if its $350 per month, $4200 per year and you pay on that for the next 20 years - you will have spent $84,000 on long term care insurance which may seem like a ton but think about the ONE YEAR cost of a nursing home???!!! By the time you may need it - it could run you $75,000 or more per year! You would drain your entire savings in just a few years of long term care in a nursing facility...


Look around for long term care insurance policies - there are big differences amongst them.....
 
Dorothy,

Let me put it another way. DH and I are taking care of ourselves and investing our money, hoping that these things will work for us when we are in our golden years.

We are also very independent and prefer to care for ourselves for as long as we can and when we can't we plan on living in an assisted living facility. DD and her family will know we are being well cared for and can visit us at their leisure.

I agree, there will be times when support from loved ones is required but as far as living arrangements, this is what we want.
 
As someone who is going through this with an ailing mother I can tell you it's a burden, in the sense that it is extremely stressful and painful to go through watching your parent fail. I can't describe to you how awful it was to see my mom in the ER going through stroke symptoms. That being said, I am honored to return the love and kindness my mom gave me growing up. However, if it comes down to more intensive care I know I couldn't do it for a variety reasons--and that's why it's a good idea to have a plan in place so that you don't "burden" your children. Each family has their own circumstances and has to make their own choices.

As for those of us who plan to take care of ourselves that's great, in fact wonderful, but even better to have a plan B. The longer we live, the more likely the warranty will run out on our body parts. I think of someone I know, a 95 years old man, still very healthy for his age, but now needs to be on dialysis. It stinks but he has had 95 very good years. So folks, braces yourselves. There are no easy answers.
 
"That being said, I am honored to return the love and kindness my mom gave me growing up. However, if it comes down to more intensive care I know I couldn't do it for a variety reasons--and that's why it's a good idea to have a plan in place so that you don't "burden" your children. Each family has their own circumstances and has to make their own choices.'


Well stated!! Everyone's situation is different. And there certainly are times when help is needed whether it's assisted living or whatever. Somethings are just to complicated to take care of yourselfs!


[font color= purple size=+3]Catherine[/font]

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I know this deviates the path of the thread....

My DW and I are 49, we have a 19yo non-independent autistic son. Not only is it who can take care of DW or me, who's gonna take care of him when we're "in the box"? Some problems end when you die.
 
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