Hi there,
I would be interested in peoples views on a rather morbid topic.
For the past nine years I have had lunch once a week with a friend who has a progressive and debilitating illness. Very erudite person, great range of interests, excellent lunch companion - we can talk knowledgeably about most things. Over that time he has gone from being fully independent to being confined to a wheelchair. Both of us have had to deal with elderly parents in their nineties - dementia, loss of bodily dignity, high dependency care etc., etc. Both of us have consoled each other that at least we will not put our children through that as neither of us are likely to make our seventies, let alone our nineties.
That has raised for me, at least, what responsibility I have for the future. I am involved in a number of organisations that are going through the process of looking ten years ahead and wanting to appoint senior people. I am happy to give the benefit of my knowledge and skills to this area but draw the line at trying to push a particular perspective as I am unlikely to be around to have to deal with the consequences of my actions. Am I just running a cop-out, should I be more proactive or should I take a back seat?
As I said a morbid topic.
Cheers
Sailor
