Our unrealistic attitudes about death, through a doctor’s eyes
With the separation of ages roughly into cities, suburbs, and retirement homes we have basically separated, removed and minimized our dealings and thoughts about death from daily life. In a world were the desire to be young is becoming almost an obsession there is no time for dealing with those who are old. In other countries and cultures, and perhaps due to financial constraints more than social norms, families take care of the elderly and the elderly do what they can to help the young. In the US the old are to think first about taking care of themselves and not burdening others, whom they cannot pay, with caring for them.
Living a long life is blessing. Feeling the passage of time should come from seeing grandchildren and young people, not from the increasing white hair of your neighbors. Nurses that come to assist with care offer a happy medium between home care and an assisted living center.
Two often the younger insist on treatment for the older, out of the younger’s fear of death, but at what cost? The author of this article suggest that the pain endured to keep someone alive and the quality of living may not be desired by the patient, suggesting that the barrage of end of life car is not wanted, before mentioning that it is very expensive.
It takes courage to face death and confront your mortality and realize the brevity of life. But those things do not block one from having a fulfilling, happy and meaningful existence.
