Basically we have to look after ourselves

Today I visited my 72 year old cousin who broke his leg and some rib bones as a result of an accidient. Everyone worry that being single and having no children he would face the problem of not having a support system when he leaves the hospital. Fortunately he is not poor. So checking into a good well run nursing home until he can be independent would be an practical option.

This reminds me of the time when I broke my kneecap some 8 years ago. Looking back I basically helped myself, although I could not walk at all for 6 months and only managed to move around with crutches the next 6 months. I remember when I went out (normally to the hospital for follow-ups or to the hypermarket to buy provisions), I had to wheel myself to the car, stood on 1 leg and folded the wheelchair to put into the car. When I reached my destination I would get out of the car on 1 leg, take out the wheel chair and then wheel myself to my destination. At home I cleaned the house on my wheelchair and cooked standing on 1 leg. Sometimes it was scarry when I imagined that I may never walk again and I had bouts of depression and cried alot. Fortunately with God's grace, I came out of the mess.

Basically we have to look after ourselves. We have to prepare ourselves as much as possible—at least, as much as it is up to us. We have to exercise to keep healthy as long as is possible, keep the mind active and happy and put aside a reasonable amount of savings for nursing care when the eventuality arrives.