Almost everyone wants to “age in place,” or in their own homes. They also typically say that they don’t want to be a burden on their children, and yet they insist that they not be moved to one of their homes or to an assisted living facility.
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When my father passed away from aspirational pneumonia at age 97, we were able to let him go peacefully, without hospitalization or any medication other than for comfort care. This is because we had a POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) agreement, previously signed by him, me, and his physician specifying that those were his wishes. Dad had endured hospitalization for aspirational pneumonia and the rehab that followed it seven times. His doctor knew that it would reoccur and most likely be his cause of death. Dad had no desire to go through all of that again.
I’ve been fortunate recently to do some writing for a very cool project known as MyHometown. It’s a program that targets aging and under-loved neighborhoods with the objective of breathing new life into them so families will want to move in, stay and contribute to a thriving community.
“You are what you eat” is often said or written as a reminder that if we aren’t careful about what we eat at least part of us will become something we don’t want to be, e.g. fat, skinny, unhealthy, or a danger to the planet. As I look at the many books in my house that I’ve read and loved over my lifetime, I often say to myself and sometimes to others, “You are what you read.” Those books feel like they are an important part of who I am, so much so that to give them away would be like losing part of myself.
Let me be honest, I don’t like exercising. Yeah, yeah, I know it’s good for me. But really, it’s not exercise that I dislike, it’s more the word that I’m not fond of. When someone says that word, I envision people on treadmills or standing in front of mirrors while grunting and doing arm curls. Friends of mine are, but I am not one of those people who enjoys working out.