Quarterly Essay 57: Dear Life: On Caring for the Elderly by Karen Hitchcock
Balanced yet profound
The issues of geriatric and end-of-life care are very
different, topics which many people tend to avoid, either through not
contemplating the lives of those who have done much but are becoming a burden,
or by confiding that if ever they themselves were in such a position, early
despatch would be desirable. These views usually change, even reverse, when
older age has come, when the small discomforts aren’t as bad as the
alternative. Sometimes. Other times, life is less wonderful and a blanket
approach to end-of-life options is discordant with reality The rationalisation
of public health that leads to pigeonholing both policy and people in aged care
facilities is just as abrasive as the platitude that extended life expectancy
is a societal boon. There are gaping disconnects, aching ironies and, sadly, a
lack of debate beyond the realm of the bean-counters on this central and
growing issue.
Hitchcock tackles problems, options and outcomes at a personal level, through the lives and experiences of patients and health care professionals. She traverses the terrain between love, empathy and pragmatism deftly but without an ounce of dismissal. A friend said that everyone must read this essay, alas I fear many will not because of the unease the topic generates. They will be the poorer. Hitchcock’s essay is a brief (70 pages, contrary to the blurb), balanced and profoundly caring treatment of this topic and I am indebted to her for her insights.
Hitchcock tackles problems, options and outcomes at a personal level, through the lives and experiences of patients and health care professionals. She traverses the terrain between love, empathy and pragmatism deftly but without an ounce of dismissal. A friend said that everyone must read this essay, alas I fear many will not because of the unease the topic generates. They will be the poorer. Hitchcock’s essay is a brief (70 pages, contrary to the blurb), balanced and profoundly caring treatment of this topic and I am indebted to her for her insights.