Past, Present and Future

Mind

If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you choose?

As a 62 year-old I’m sort of in the middle of this little conundrum.

When I am in work moving big boxes around the stockroom and climbing ladders all day, I often wish for a body that is 30 years younger. At least once a day I am heard to mutter, “I’m too old for this crap.”

So, it would be nice to skip around work and not go home with old body aches.

But then I thought about the history of dementia in my family and how terrible that nasty disease can be on individuals and their love ones.
My dad had vascular dementia and it was so upsetting to see him slowly decline. There were times early in the day when he would be my normal dad, but later in the afternoon he wasn’t my dad.

Between 4pm and 5pm nursing staff expect dementia patients to be at their most confused. I think some nurses call it the sunset madness hour.

There are plenty of times when you must have a strong sense of humour to look after a person suffering from dementia. And other times when you find a quiet corner and have a good cry.

I wouldn’t want my family to have to look after me if I had dementia. It would be just as hard on them as it would be on me.

So, I’ll take the mind of a 30 year-old please.