old man commits suicide

pina · Post by **pina** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:22 am

I had some shocking news over the weekend, an elderly man that I know quite well has died.

He has emphasema(sp) and has been ill for quite a long time. A couple of months ago his wife died unexpectedly which was a shock to him and everyone else, (he has missed her so much,) and at the weekend he got some step ladders managed to climb up and jumped from his third floor balcony.

It isnÃ‚´t the fact that he has died that upset me, but the thought that a man of his age should feel the need to do this, and why coulnÃ‚´t he have taken sleeping tablets or some other easier way. :-1

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:26 am

that is terribly sad of course, and you're right...he risked being alive and paralyzed instead of dead, clearly not thinking or in his right mind.

pina · Post by **pina** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:30 am

lady cop wrote: that is terribly sad of course, and you're right...he risked being alive and paralyzed instead of dead, clearly not thinking or in his right mind.

I was told that he must have lay on the grass below all night, so it is possible that he didn`t die right off.

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 11:05 am

suicide in the elderly is not as uncommon as people may think...it's not always the 'golden years'. old age may bring poverty and declining health as well as death of a spouse. depression rates are very high in the elderly unfortunately. here in florida, with a large elderly population, we see a lot of murder-suicides in old folks.

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 11:21 am

How very, very sad.

He must have loved & missed his wife so much, i'm sorry for your loss Pina x :-4

pina · Post by **pina** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 11:37 am

It is the way he did it rather than why, I know he was ill and quite frail but surely he could have thought of another way to end his life. I really feel for his family after losing their mother and now their dad so soon after. One of the sons lives in the US and only went back five weeks ago after his mothers death, he is flying here again tonight.

Rapunzel · Post by **Rapunzel** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 12:04 pm

This is so sad Pina, but you have to hang onto the thought that although it is sad for his family and friends, he is where he wants to be, away from his own pain and loss and with his beloved wife again. Of course its very sad for his family, and the way he chose to die was not pleasant, but he must have had his reasons for his choice, even if he wasn't thinking clearly. At least his family sound as though they have grown and flown and don't need their parents at home any longer. And they will come to see that their dad is happy now and at peace and they still have each other. In a way I think it is better to choose to die, if you wish it, rather than suffer with continual pain. He had a good life and chose his own path in the end, far better than having his life snatched away too soon. My thoughts are with you and his family at this sad time.

minks · Post by **minks** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:17 pm

Awww how sad to imagine the efforts he put forth just to die. I am sorry to hear of your loss no matter how he went. I hope he finds his peace in the end.