Waiting to die

A man in his late eighties, full of life and fun, loved getting out and about and enjoying life. He was becoming forgetful, who isn't at that age I wonder. So off he went for the tests and low and behold, Alzheimer's! Now that man doesn't look like he's having much fun any more, although surely he's the same man? He walks sadly and both him and his wife now seem to think he has taken on something huge, a new identity, he isn't who he was any more, he is Alzheimer's. If only that man hadn't gone for the tests. Overnight he changed. No more going to the bookies and the pub at the weekend, no more saying yes to the invite from the young ones for a lively evening, no more happiness. Why couldn't they just have left him alone? He's old, he's just forgetful but he is safe, he's no danger, him and his wife were both cheerful until diagnosis. Now they're just waiting for his disease to become worse. And while they wait.....Is this living? Would it not be better to just be allowed to get on with life instead of giving up and waiting to die? Imagine his fear! I believe that this man would most likely have been able to continue living a nice life; he's nearly 90. He just forgets stuff. What's so bad about forgetting stuff?