Being Mortal

Dr. Atul Gawande 2014
Read: 2015

I am 55 years old now and I feel very fortunate that both of my parents are still alive and very much a part of my life. But I am at the point in my life where I am thinking about how it will be as they get older, and as I get older. Dr. Gawande writes about that process. It’s a fascinating read.

He talks about the advent of nursing homes which changed how families take care of the elderly. He talked about the dangers of nursing homes and how hospices have addressed many of the short-comings of nursing homes. He talked about communities and families who are figuring out different ways that are more organic and more based on each community’s particular needs. This is an important topic and I appreciated all of the insight and personal experiences of Dr. Gawande.