Aging in America ought to mean aging with dignity.

[Uncle Joe]

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[malaise]

1. I remember when people everywhere could bury their dead with dignity

When did it change to the point that people need Go-Fund-Me donations to pay for a simple funeral?

So Uncle Joe it's not just the ridiculous cost of health care - it's also the cost of a funeral

[Uncle Joe]

3. I hear you malaise

[Irish_Dem]

7. I know families who are just skipping the funeral.

Getting the body cremated, which is often the least expensive option, and then scattering the ashes.

[malaise]

9. It's all that makes sense

these days

[Irish_Dem]

11. It is actually not a bad option. Families like it.

Very low key type memorial. Not a lot of fuss, bother, or expense.

Take the ashes to a place the deceased loved and scatter the ashes there.
Then have a pot luck lunch and tell good stories about the deceased and catch up on family happenings.

We did this with my uncle on a piece of land the family owns and where he lived for many years.
It felt very personal and is exactly what my uncle wanted.

A good friend of mine is taking her brother's ashes to scatter off Cape Cod, a place her brother loved.
Apparently it is legal to do this in Mass.

[malaise]

13. Yes - my good friend's mum wanted her ashes scattered at Blue Mountain Peak

and another friend opted for the Caribbean Sea.

[Irish_Dem]

14. The idea of it feels better than being stuck in a dark box in the ground.

Of course it may or may not really matter what happens to our bodies after we die.

But it gives a lot of comfort to people ahead of time and to the families.

I have no idea where I would like to be scattered.

[mrsv]

4. Then old people...

Should stop voting republican!!

[Uncle Joe]

5. I believe

that dynamic is changing.

[Irish_Dem]

15. If the Dems can come through on the medicare improvements, it might be a game changer.

Old folks will flip to Dem?

[LakeArenal]

6. Between limited funds, colonoscopes, filling out food stamp applications

There is little dignity past 65.

Now many are losing their homes and can’t afford rent.

Bad teeth, bad eyes....

It was very different for my parents.

[Act_of_Reparation]

10. Boy my parents' generation did a number on the country.

First, I gotta go deep into debt to pay for a degree. Then, I gotta go deep into debt to pay for a house. Then, I gotta go deep into debt to pay for kids. Then, I gotta go deep into debt to pay for their college. Then I gotta go deep into debt to put my parents in a nursing home because, fuck, I can't take care of them when I gotta work to pay off all this debt. Then, I gotta go deep into debt to put them in the goddamned ground.

And if I spend one second complaining about any of it, I'm entitled.

[XanaDUer2]

16. A certain senator from WV

doesn't want to foster an entitlement mentality, dontchaknow

[leftyladyfrommo]

18. I'm not sure it's possible to age with dignity.

Even money doesn't help much. Not that I have any money. Aging is definitely not for sissies.