This
guy touches a sensitive spot when writing about our generation, his parent’s
generation; sometimes our parent’s generation
It can
be a depressing book! This is “stuff” we
don’t want to talk about. But there’s
nothing here that my family didn’t go through with our Mother, even Dickie, our
father. No new news; but a different
perspective, maybe a slightly more positive one.
He
holds out a bit of hope for those of us who are: smart, committed to healthy
living; and willing to follow Doctor’s orders – to the end. He acknowledges that the real fear is of an
ugly, painful death, not death itself.
After 80, death is a foregone conclusion. The question is: “Can it be a peaceful passing”
at home with hospice friends and family?
Or will it be a stressful event, in a hospital or “rest home”, with
strangers administering drugs and injections, hoping to receive a gold star for
keeping your body alive for another 24-hours?
The
author gives his recommendations for end of life scenarios. He cites many case histories, selected to
exemplify his points. But there is no
denying that “care homes” are not the solution.
Hospitals are not the solution.
Even the “old school” grand-kids taking care of their elders, are no
longer the solution. The world has moved
on beyond that solution, pleasing as it was for the elders.
I’m
only half thru – it’s a short “message” book; an easy read; it’s worth a few days’
time.
I’ll
add more comments when I finish.
No comments:
Post a Comment