The 4 Costs We Pay
I have an awesome mentor who visited Singapore this past weekend. She turned 81 this year and she supports the organ donor programme in Hong Kong. She has pledged her organs and she takes good care of herself to ensure that the organs are useful. She still enjoys a good quality of life, travelling frequently at this age to share her passion.
So, what are the costs for not having good health?
Financial Costs
Some people say that death is a good release so they don’t have to suffer any more. However, what if death doesn’t happen immediately, and life drags on? Imagine how much it would cost to keep someone in a vegetative state alive. As I have been accompanying my parents for their medical appointments, I have noticed that there are more elderly patients. We are fortunate that in Singapore, these elderly patients receive significant healthcare subsidy. You may say that it is more costly to stay alive when one has a *chronic disease.
*What is a chronic disease?
A disease that lasts 3 months or more, by the definition of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. Chronic diseases generally cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by medication, nor do they just disappear.
You may want to view the video I did on The 3 Simple Things to Achieve a Healthy Life.
Time Costs
When one is healthy, one will think that health is one’s business. However, this belief is challenged when one is hit with a chronic disease. Those with elderly parents will understand the impact of dealing with long term illnesses. The number of medical follow-up appointments vary for each case. It increases significantly when the elderly has to be hospitalised and the resulting outpatient appointments that follow, it takes a toil not just on the patient. Many people enjoy independence and do not wish to be a burden. Sometimes, this is beyond one’s control.
Emotional Costs
Similar to the point above, when a family member is ill, it affects everyone emotionally. My friend’s brother fell into a coma several months ago. Even though this brother has his own family, his siblings had to step in to help his family organise their lives following the tragedy. Can you imagine the emotional impact on everybody, the immediate family, as well as each siblings’ family?
Relationship Costs
Using my friend’s brother’s case, it’s not hard to imagine how the wife would feel having to deal with the resulting outcomes while coming terms to the reality of the situation. Especially since her husband had been the sole breadwinner for the family. On top of all that had happened, the siblings engaged a full-time caregiver to look after their brother. This is not the only case I have heard. So many families have to deal with similar situations and more often than not, relationships suffer. Some siblings may even stop communicating with the family. Things can get ugly.
So, if you think that one’s health is one’s business, I would like to urge you to think again.
The only way to ensure that our health remains our business is to ensure that we are in tip-top health to the best of our ability. In this way, we can continue to enjoy a good quality of life in our golden years.
I would like to have a chat with you if you think: “Yes, it’s my health so it’s my business.”
Do share your experience or leave a comment to add on other points that I may have missed.
Really love to hear from you. Reach out here.
Break the Rules and Shine! Adeline Heng empowers women over 40 who look good outside, yet feel empty inside, to find herself and live her best life.