Book #5 - Never Say Die

It's title may sound like a James Bond movie but, Never Say Die by Susan Jacoby, is actually a terrifying, non-fiction book about aging.  The full title, Never Say Die:  The Myth and Marketing of the New Old Age, is a bit clearer.

There are many scary chapters packed with facts. There is one on Alzheimer's disease, 50% of people have it over the age of 85%.  Another on lonely old women - 66% of those who live past 85 are women, and another on how it is almost impossible to save enough for retirement.  It doesn't matter how well off you are, you can't do it.  She debunks, in her opinion, that the elderly are wise, leans towards assisted suicide, and laments the quality of the health care system in our country (not just for the old, but for everyone).

Jacoby is a lady with a heavy dose of anger. She says so herself, "I intend to be an angry old woman, a discontented work in progress, as long as my mind continues to function." (289) The book is something of angry rant.  She is also an atheist and doesn't seem to know who she wants to be mad at for the injustice of growing old, and the injustices the elderly face.  Obama, congress, the baby boomers (who she puts into 2 categories, older and younger), our greedy selves, scientists, even herself - no one but God, because he doesn't exist.  There is no point to it in her opinion, and no solutions, and unless many things change, no hope for those old folks who will lose everything before they die, especially their minds to Alzheimer's.

While the book was very informative and alarming, I mostly felt sad for the author.  I am still processing the information,  but so far it has prompted me to talk with John about medical directives and savings plans.  It is good to be reminded of one's mortality and to have one's conscience nudged to remember the elderly in my community, whether living at home or in institutions.