Controversial topic..
In healthcare the majority of our patients are the elderly. Some who are mentally competent, are independent and can take care of themselves.
However, much of the healthcare demand comes from people from nursing homes who are not independent and are generally confused/incapacitated - some of which are permanently bed-bound until they die. They spend their days inside a crowded room, staring at the ceiling and being turned every few hours by nursing home staff. Their quality of life is poor, their outcomes are poor and are only being kept alive with lifelong medication.
A lot of family wish for these people to be kept alive by modern medicine, want CPR or life saving interventions when they're dying, yet have almost a 0% outcome when they do perish. If they do survive initially, they have broken ribs, organ failure and generally die within a few days anyway depending on the cause of the acute illness.
Why is there such a culture of keeping the incapacitated/demented alive? If they were a dog or another family pet, we'd put them down as soon as they have a hint of an illness. I think it is selfish on the family's behalf to keep them alive at all costs - what would this person actually want?
I think it's important to talk about this with elderly family members. Unfortunately, the sudden illness comes at times we least expect it and by that time it may be too late to discuss death with your family member.