My grandmother is 97 (or something). Im super lucky to have a grandmother still alive when Im 40+. Im super lucky to have such good age genes: my other grandmother died only a couple of years ago. Im doing my best with alcohol and junk food to counteract the genes because otherwise I’m here for the long haul. And who would want that? 

Never mind the world’s going to shit: two world leaders arguing about the size of their buttons and Brexit costing us £60 billion and half the country answering with “Good”. The world’s gone mad. Im out. 

Never mind the generations are getting poorer. I went to university for free. My kids will be charged £9000 a year for the privilege. Some of my generation still have final salary pension schemes but my kids will have 1p a month to live on. My parents are buying me a house when I wanted to leave my husband. My kids will be lucky if I can offer them a spare room. 

The future is not at all bright. 

I dont want to get old. 

Right now I can work and I can get around and I make reasonably sensible decisions. 

What happens when those change? 

Nowadays, you’re expected to work till you physically can’t. 

For some that isn’t at 80, its at 60 or 50 or even 18. Some people physically can not work. The system doesnt care. You are now a burden and it hates you. If you are a child (ie under 18) and disabled then you are considered worthy of extra support, extra funding, extra interest, extra compassion. But as soon as you turn 18 (or 21 in some circumstances) you’re old and unworthy. The system reluctantly supports you until you die. 

It doesn’t matter if you’ve worked or supported the system or been a loved family member. No one cares. Youre a drain. 

Both my grandmothers had vascular dementia (I know: its a great future I have). One screamed in pain while the doctors told her and my family: “its dreadful she’s in pain but that’s old age”, now my other grandmother is wondering why it’s taking so long to die, yet no one cares. If I, aged 40 something thought death better than this life (which I often do), the system would insist I take antidepressants because suicidial thoughts arent natural. But when someone “old” (and it doesn’t actually matter the physiological age, they did the same to my father in law who was only 60+) says it, then the medical world looks to palliative care not reparation. 

Im currently contributing to society so I think the system thinks me worthy of saving. I sincerely hope I die before Im societally useless.