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What sort of planning have you done for old age?

Unknown userMember10 June 2015, 10:47 am AEST

What sort of planning have you done for old age?

SANE is in the news at the moment for releasing a report on healthy aging with a mental illness. You can see an article here. It's caused a few heated comments from people who feel as if the challenges of their situation are being misunderstood or under-estimated. The financial difficulties of planning for old age on benefits is one key point here that is a genuine concern.

My reading is that the report is looking more widely at aging. It's focusing on how physical health, housing and support can be shaped by our mental health in old age. Here's one quote:

"We've spoken with older people living with mental illness and while their experiences vary widely, declining physical health, an uncertain housing future and isolation are common concerns".

Of course these are also the concerns of all people facing aging but the issues are likely to be compounded by those who have lived with an MI for a long period.

It's a really tough subject that a lot of us choose to look away from because it can be a little frightening. But I thought it worth asking here:

Have you thought about it? Prepared in anyway? Have any advice for those of us still burying our heads in the sand?

38 replies

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In response to: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

AppleblossomSenior Contributor30 June 2015, 3:40 pm AEST

Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

@Jacques

I am so glad that you mentioned homelessness. It is a reality that we and the wider community need to address while it exists.

My father's experience of schizophrenia and my exhusband's experience of schizophrenia are so different. My father was put in a home at 6 weeks of age, left at 17, fought in the war for his country, went to university and worked as hard as he could.Til stress broke him and he was treated as a malingerer at a hospital and died the next day of pleurisy. He knew homelessness, and my generation also knew homelessness.

My exhusband came from such a different high-achieving professional, over-privileged culture that he felt like a failure. His problem was forgetting to pay the mortgage and losing his house. Not all schizophrenics are the same. hmmmm.

I was saddened to hear about your plans for yourself but have done that so often myself I cannot judge. Ie So many times I have said to myself "after such and such I will do it". Eg after I get beds for the kids etc etc, but kids need a mum as well as beds. I am glad that you do not want to distress your mother with your suicide and I hope you can find more ways to make your life meaningful for you.

In response to: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

AppleblossomSenior Contributor30 June 2015, 3:53 pm AEST

Re: Have you thought about and planned for aging?

@Tight-Control

I like your humour and practical ideas.

I have not had a sense of my future very much. I havent claimed super that I am entitled to because I thought it a waste of bloody time as death seemed more iminent for a very long time. But my suicidality is receding and I have started to apply my motherhood approach of planning activities to me. I cant afford heaps and go for things within my slim budget, but I make plans even now for my entertainment. So that is nice.

I dont listen to the news too much so I dont go on a rollercoaster ride of worries about welfare sector cuts.I call myself a child of the welfare state, as they did pick up when dad could not or he died. I worked in 3 govt departments, and relate to those workers. I feel pretty detached about current politics and what will be will be.

@Former-Member

Thanks for raising the question

In response to: Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

JacquesSenior Contributor30 June 2015, 9:17 pm AEST

Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

Everyone i am sorry about my previous post, i regret sending it, i should have worded it better, if any of you great people and friends were distressed by my previous post, i am sorry.

i will word it better now..........

yes, i am so frightened of becoming homeless, no security, no privacy, no shelter. i know that if i do not end my life i will be homeless, their is no place for me in society and i am sure many feel the same.

yes My Aunt has schizophrenia and she has a house and a full time job, she is functioning (to some degree) but is very erratic and is unable to settle, unfortunately she is unwilling to get medication, she is such a wonderful person when she is better, it is so sad to see her have such ups and downs. my mother is worried for her sisters old age, what she will do, where she will live. (because she gives away all the money she earns because of her illness).

i know what you mean but i have no one, i have lived in a 10m squared room for 14 years, never leaving the house, i hate it, but i am unable to do anything else through fear. i have no friends, no one to interact with except this forum, i have no/little contact with family. I am alone, and possibly always will be....

In response to: Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

JacquesSenior Contributor01 July 2015, 7:20 am AEST

Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

Hi @Appleblossom,

thank you i feel so relieved. It is so normal for me to think these things everyday that sometimes i struggle with the fact others do not think such things.

yes i read, mostly non-fiction, computer text books psycology text books, etc. sometimes i read fiction to break it up. i listen to a lot of music, Triple J has been my omfort and saviour, music is so soothing and takes my mind off daily thoughts of self harm. i used to build scale models, but my hands are too shaky now to do such fine work. i teach myself computer stuff now, how to configure computer servers, email, web, networking and web design, as i am fully qualified in web design management and network management. but i struggle to do most of these things now because i am unable to concentrate or have the energy to do them.

here is a photo of one of the boats i buillt:

Thank you for being interested in me and my daily activities.

In response to: Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

AppleblossomSenior Contributor01 July 2015, 9:39 am AEST

Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

@Jacques

Thanks for pic. I only learned to post one this week. Amazing detail in your model. You must have patience and good finger dexterity. I have a big water side and love boats. I have concentration issues but try and let my water side be gentle with me about that.

Yes it is hard when certain thoughts become a permanent part of one's mental landscape. It was like that for me and siblings. Yet moderators have important role as my sister's death was the first of 6 copycat ones in 2 years. Not stupidly copycat, but unfotunately my contacts at time were not integrated enough to have a nice village council and sort out issues.

I remember Double J being wonderfully radical when i was 16. I got pushed out of radio listening 30 years ago cos kids got to dominate the airwaves for decades. I now only listen to radio in my car but will get it back in my house. I guess it was my choice not to fight for my rights, it was not essential to my life so I let that one go. I did feel upset though when radio announcers were too crude and my kids were really little, but that wasnt Triple J.Isn't it weird how things change?

I read a bit of science, biography, social theory, literature and theology to understand god-bothering phenomenon. For years I had a groovy paid job at $30 pw plus sessional rates managing book clubs. So i read a hell of a lot of fiction then, but my tastes were not mainstream pulp like the average so I was happy to give that job away. I am sick of apologising for who I am. When recommending education I think MH workers need to be more realistic about job prospects and call it like it is. I was really excited to find Richard Feynman videos last year. So you can see I am a bit of a nerd but not a computer nerd. I am nerdy in my approach to Bach. I now deliberately discuss normal curves a lot in an attempt to educate the general public.

cheers

In response to: Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

Unknown userMember01 July 2015, 10:09 am AEST

Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

I think I most love Forums when they mirror real life conversations. So I'd like to thank @Mazarita, @Jacques, @tight-control,@Appleblossom, @Former-Member and others for taking planning for old age from welfare, homelessness and despair through to model boat building and favourite radio stations

Every step of this conversation has value so thank you for taking time to add your views.

While I'm not currently facing challenges to the extent of many members, I still worry about health and financial security in old age. So I guess my approach is to prepare what I can and make sure I enjoy lots of moments along the way. None of us know if we'll be around for a long old age so getting a balance between 'now' and 'later' seems to make sense.

I sometimes wonder if all those people who spend no money, never eat the pork crackling or take any huge risks in life regret this later on? Is having an extremely healthy, well-resourced old age (when that's even possible) worth all the sacrifices now?

Of course this may just be me justifying my lack of discipline 🙂

In response to: Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

JacquesSenior Contributor01 July 2015, 10:40 am AEST

Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

Hi @Former-Member,

Thank you for the great question, i have often thought about it, but never knew others did too, it was great to read how others thought of the same subject.

this forum is a wonderful source of thought and discussion without fear or favour.

keep up the good work guys

Jacques

In response to: Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

JacquesSenior Contributor01 July 2015, 10:55 am AEST

Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

hi @Appleblossom,

yes it takes me about 1 year to build, very expensive hobby, but for the time it takes hour cost is very low. as i said i can't make them now as i shake too much.

i am so sorry to hear that your sister died in such circumstances, i hope things have changed where you live, and their is more support services.

yes i listened to Double J too, i can't stand any other radio station, don't like pop songs. yes music is becomming about commercialism and sexism, it is such a shame to see such things invading society, sometimes i feel ashamed to be human.

Wow you are well read, good for you, i agree sometimes hard MI issues are pushed aside because of stigma and confusion as to what to do about it, how to handle it and how to respond to it.

i am so proud of you for taking such proactive steps for all of us with MI, i hope one day humans can work together to help each other and not harm each other. it is a shame we have to focus on money so much, old age should be about enjoying some quiet time, not worrying about when the next meal is coming from or am i going to have a roof over my head tomorrow.

i saw on the news some people in Sydney died because they could not afford electricity, they used coal burners and suffocated, their is such extremes in living standards through out the world, it is not fair, but it never will be.......it is a shame, humans being so intelligent we should be able to overcome these issues but continue to go around in circles.

sorry i am rambling it is such a provoking topic for me.......so much suffering..................

In response to: Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

MazaritaSenior Contributor01 July 2015, 11:32 am AEST

Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

Hi @Jacques,

That's a fine and impressive array of interests to create meaning in your life. I hope you can find some good feelings about how you are managing your life in seeking out and finding these interesting things to engage you. Does your time with these interests take your mind off the anxious depressed thoughts? I get very intensely into artistic projects when I'm doing them. They are a powerful distraction and relief for my troubled mind and seem to 'redeem' my life in some ways (then I can identify myself as an artist, not only someone struggling with mental health issues). Your predicament has been on my mind quite a lot this week. I'm wishing you well.

In response to: Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

MazaritaSenior Contributor01 July 2015, 11:35 am AEST

Re: What sort of planning have you done for old age?

Thanks @Former-Member,

Since this discussion started, I have been through a bit of an online adventure exploring possibilities for housing in older years. This has included reading the full booklet published by SANE about this issue (something I hadn't done when I first posted here), exploring public housing options, discussing these things with my friend/partner (who never thinks about these things). It's been interesting and emotionally challenging to focus on these things and hasn't really led to any more concrete action than research, but just the act of spending some time considering practical issues makes me feel slightly better prepared than I was.

I do love your idea of preparing in whatever way you can but especially trying to enjoy the moments along the way. Yes! 🙂

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