what are your plans for long-term care?

[smalllife]

...
Among other options, yes.  I would welcome more hospice care, or situations designed to help those on their way out to live the rest of their life comfortably rather than extend the heartbeat as long as possible.  Longer quality life, not necessarily longest life.  I'd rather have two good months with friends and family than 6 spending my time in and out of hospitals always stressed and on heavy medication that makes life miserable.  I think a medical directive is the best course of action, which would spell out when the DNR order would take effect.

It's not that easy. My mother, me, my brother all agreed on no heroic measures for her, no tubes, no DNR's yet she still lived in a nursing home with Alzheimer's for 6 years.

You seldom have a real choice. The moment she qualified for hospice care we put here in it, but she lived beyond the "six month" rule of hospice.

I never said that it would be easy, only that I hoped the understanding of end-of-life care would evolve by the time I get there. 

The benefit of not having kids is that the initial caretaking (when thing start declining) would be with a medical professional - one who could help chart a course that I approve of with the means and medical knowledge to get there.

[iris lily]

Iris lily, the hospice 6 month rule has changed. I've had patients on it for 2 years. Essentially, their health has to be declining or show no improvement. Having said that, hospice has changed a lot. Years ago a friend's mom was on hospice and  they were there with her 24/7 at the end. When my mom went on hospice they can came once a week. They did pay for all of her meds and inhalers and oxygen so that helped a lot.

Interesting idea about divorce. I told my husband and he asked me when he should file. Ha ha

haha, yep!

[Spartana]

Not too long ago I was trying to find out about states or countries that allow euthanasia for terminally ill people. Seems Oregon is the only one in the US and you have to be a resident there. But I think many European countries are open to that as a final option. Not for dementia patients of course, but for cognitive people who can make their own decisions and have a terminal illness.  Probanbly would be a route I would consider if in that situation.

[geekette]

My FIL was under hospice care for over 18 months.  COPD progresses differently for everyone, and as he continued to decline, they continued to certify him every 6 months.

He had weekly visits for a good while, plus all medical bills paid.  Toward the end they came more often, plus added someone to come in and clean/chat/heat up soup for him a couple times a week.

Once he needed full time care (about a month before he died), they had a list of vetted companies, but did not cover that. 

I'm hoping for a massive MI or stroke, but I do worry about my DH with his more favorable genes.