Do you think anybody over the age of 80, should be living on their own.
Is there any law in jamaica concerning this?
Does Ministry of Social Security business with things like this. So many thinks happening now.

I am guessing at what is behind this question. My guess is you have an elderly friend or relative who is living on their own and wants to continue to do this but you are worried that they may not be safe because of their advanced age. There is no law telling people they cannot live alone at a certain age. Some people do quite well living alone over the age of 90, and others cannot live decently on their own when they are 30. If I am right about your situation, I would suggest you find someone who is physically close to this elderly person to check on them frequently and let you know if they think they are in danger.

I definately do not think someone over the age of 80 should be living alone. It's dangerous at that age to be cooking, cleaning, shopping, and even taking a shower. The ones who can afford to hire some help should definately do so, and those who cannot afford such help, it would be nice if relative could assist them.

I think this kind of question can only be decided on an individual basis. My aunt lived on her own and took very good care of herself until she was in her early 90s. My grandmother until she was in her late 90s.

Each person is different. I would have a long talk with your relative and with his or her doctor to assess the situation. We can't make judgments about what should be true for all people over the age of 80, and no one on this forum can guess whether or not your relative should be living alone when we don't know that person.

I can hear your concern and appreciate your worry about your loved one and desire to help. You and your family will have to find the answer that works best for you. (I would strongly recommend that you figure it out with your older relative and not decide for him or her. That will help avoid any bad feelings. Everyone wants their independence to be respected rather than having life decisions made for them.)

Really good advice Stacie, my aunt lived on her own untill she was 92 and up untill a week before her death was compleitly able to do almost anything-quite a remarkable lady! God rest her kind soul :-)

Stacie is 100% correct. The elderly person needs to be part of the decision process unless they are not of sound mind (which is different from being elderly). I would go nuts having someone else making those kinds of decisions for me when I get older.

I THINK IF SOME OF US DO SOME RESEARCH AND SEE WHAT HAPPEN'S AS THE BODY AGES, THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND WHY THIS QUESTION WAS ASKED.

When people reach these age i think they are tired and should have some help. its not about sickness, they have been doing everything all these years, they will tell you they dont need any help, but they need it, let them have it. They are tired.

I agree with Stacie that this is very much decided on an individual basis. My father (85) and my mother (80) have been out riding on their scooter every day for the last week while visiting family and friends in New England. When home my mother does an hour of water aerobics in the community pool every day and my father joins her if he is not working on his job of driving a shuttle service to and from the airport. I guess transportation runs in our blood.

If I told my parents they needed to move in with me and they should relax now, they would laugh me out of the room. I feel very fortunate that they both enjoy relatively good health for their ages and pray every day that it will continue. Once it does not we will discuss options for them at that time.

Cronological age has nothing to do with anything. If you are physically or mentally challenged that is one thing, but if you are not then just go on with your life and thank God for your good fortune. Jerry

As we aged our bones become weak and brittle, a simple fall and our hip or back can break.

Age has everything to do with it, because as we aged there are definately physical challenges. Yes there are elderly person who are living alone, but is it safe.

there is no reason to guess what's behind my question. Do you listen to the new on radio or television, some dead by gun ,rape, even a cup of tea could save them sometime. Have you ever stopped to thing about your golden age, its coming baby if you dont die young.

anyone living on their own over 85yrs, should neither
have children nor gran-children. I could never do that. And i would never make such a statement like that about my people living on their own at that age.

true daughter2.

yes , living in Jamaica and America is two different things, over there you have so much alarm and security system, if you even call the police station here they take hours if they do come,can you press a buzzer here and the ambulance come nooo. so what are you trying to me come on!

NO PERSON IN THEIR LATE 90s SHOULD BE LIVING ALONE. MY ADVISE TO PEOPLE, LIVE GOOD, LOVE PEOPLE, SHARE WHEN YOU CAN WITH PEOPLE AND SOCIALISE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET OLD YOU WILL CERTAINLY NEED SOMEONE AROUND, AND IF NO ONE IS THERE DOG WILL EAT YOUR SUPPER.

TOO MANY OF OUR ELDERLY ARE LIVING ALONE, THEIR CHALLENGES ARE OBVIOUS, THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN SHOULD BE ASHAME OF THEMSELVES.

No one should have to live alone,period. It behoves everyone to be kind to each other right through our lives,so that at least when we get old someone will want to be around us.

I'm confused by the direction this thread has taken. When I read the first question, it seemed to be a question about whether or not people thought elderly adults were able to live well on their own, to take care of themselves. My comments about my aunt and grandmother living well on their own were based on that understanding of the question. Neither of them grew old alone, however. Both had family and friends around them.

Living on one's own doesn't have to mean being utterly alone. Being able to take care of oneself doesn't mean you don't have family or friends. I live alone now, and have done for several years. And it isn't because no one wants to be around me (at least I'm not aware of that being the reason!), it's because I like living on my own. I have plenty of friends nearby with whom I can spend time when I want to. I have family a short-ish train ride away and can visit with them whenever I want to see them. It's my hope that when I'm older I'll still be able to keep my own house. Yes, I also hope that my family will be close and my friends, too.

I'm not sure where this conversation changed over from concern for an elderly relative to the indignation I hear in some of the comments. I'm truly sorry if my comments made people angry. That was never my intent.