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Being Mortal


An eye-opening and riveting look at how how medicine can not only improve life ...
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As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

Created: 09/01/17

Replies: 20

Posted Sep. 01, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

A key concept that emerges from Dr. Gawande's interviews is "home." Much more than just the place where you go to bed at night, home evokes a set of values and freedoms for many as they face old age. As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?


Posted Sep. 12, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
renem

Join Date: 12/01/16

Posts: 292

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

A place where I can still make day-to-day decisions for myself, have my own personal things, and don't have to be a set schedule.


Posted Sep. 12, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mildas

Join Date: 05/11/16

Posts: 40

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

In old age "home" means being independent and being able to live without schedules, making my own decisions and choices, and having my own space to read, write and pursue my interests. A place where I can have friends over anytime I please.


Posted Sep. 12, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Marcia S

Join Date: 02/08/16

Posts: 505

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

Home would be a secure environment which contains items I love and the freedom to run my own life. I realize that as I age and my abilities decrease, it will take the efforts of others to assist me in retaining that ideal.


Posted Sep. 12, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
alycet

Join Date: 04/23/12

Posts: 182

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

Home means my comfort zone, my little space around me with prized possessions and beloved people.


Posted Sep. 13, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
josephinej

Join Date: 05/11/15

Posts: 95

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

I agree with everything said above! I would add, as an introvert, somewhere where I could be left in peace when I need to recharge, but entertaining when I'm ready to emerge.


Posted Sep. 15, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Gloria

Join Date: 03/11/15

Posts: 120

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

This question reminds me of a favorite quote:

"Never make your home a place. Make a home for yourself inside your own head. You'll find what you need to furnish it -- memory, friends you can trust, love of learning and other such things. That way it will go with you wherever you travel." -- Tad Williams


Posted Sep. 15, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dorothyh

Join Date: 01/23/15

Posts: 225

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

Home is where I am currently with my husband


Posted Sep. 15, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 889

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

Love the quote, Gloria! I'll have to write that down somewhere.


Posted Sep. 16, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
carolee

Join Date: 09/16/17

Posts: 2

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

Great quote, Gloria. I copied it. But I also need some tangible, touchable things to make it home: Favorite books and music, photographs of family and friends, unusual and beautiful items I have acquired in my travels.


Posted Sep. 18, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Mary J

Join Date: 04/26/15

Posts: 37

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

As Robert Frost said, "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." For me, that has evolved over the years. It is more a state of mind. As I have aged, it consists of cherished family, friends, memories, and being able to be independent.


Posted Sep. 18, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Carey Ann

Join Date: 08/22/17

Posts: 3

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

As one of 9 children, we often agreed that the gift our now deceased parents gave us was each other. Both my parents died at home, as requested, in their own bed. The challenge of caring for them as they died was shared by us all. This week I am rereading this insightful book while caring for my 98y/o aunt as her son (primary caregiver) gets some time away from his full time responsibilities of mom, in his home. I have now been involved in the end of life of half a dozen family members who died at home. Being able to remain at home ( with family ) is what I'm hoping for with my 6 children. It may not be easy. But all the wisdom I received as I was shown how to die with dignity will make my journey easier as my children hold my hand. We need to witness death as a part of life, not to be feared. I define home as with loving caring family.


Posted Sep. 18, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
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valeriec

Join Date: 10/20/10

Posts: 33

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

Home is a place of comfort, surrounded by my pets, my books, the foods I enjoy eating.


Posted Sep. 19, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
swchis39

Join Date: 09/26/12

Posts: 172

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

Hopefully home will be my current residence. If not hen an environment I can control with familiy and friends around.


Posted Sep. 23, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
louisee

Join Date: 06/29/15

Posts: 143

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

Carey Ann, I also define home as being with your caring loving family and a friend or family members hand to hold. Beautiful!


Posted Sep. 23, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
darylb

Join Date: 06/23/13

Posts: 142

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

It would be nice to be living in my own home independently, but the most important thing to me would be to have my family close. I can't think of anything that means more to me than that.


Posted Sep. 26, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
janp

Join Date: 05/11/15

Posts: 31

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

I agree with Alycet: "Home means my comfort zone, my little space around me with prized possessions and beloved people".


Posted Oct. 10, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Jan Mays

Join Date: 07/16/11

Posts: 13

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

Home means MY bed, MY chair, MY bathroom, etc. Home means comfort and being surrounded by favorite possessions. It involves a sense of ownership and control of my surroundings, and most of all - privacy. I think the lack of privacy would be the worst part of living in a nursing home.


Posted Oct. 11, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
juliep

Join Date: 04/07/12

Posts: 250

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

My mother-in-law is facing the end of life very soon, and the last conversation I had with her before her stroke was about her wanting to go home. This was a frequent request of hers. I asked her which home she meant, her childhood home or the house she spent her married life in. She seemed to indicate the house where she spent her married life, where she raised her children, although she frequently asked for her parents. I asked her what she missed about "home," and she just replied, "everything." So I guess home takes us back to a time and place where we were taken care of, and we were with people we loved, and we were in familiar and loved surroundings.


Posted Oct. 11, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Sooz

Join Date: 07/29/14

Posts: 62

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

Home to me is anyplace where I would feel comfortable; being able to freely enjoy my favorite things and experiencing the joy of friendships both old and new. I would hope to live independently for as long as possible but if circumstances required me to live in an assisted living or nursing home, I would hope to be surrounded by a loving, caring staff, access to getting outdoors and with frequent visits from my children and friends.


Posted Oct. 11, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
karenj

Join Date: 08/17/11

Posts: 3

RE: As you consider the life you want lead in old age, what does home mean to you?

Home is a place that is familiar -- a place which brings me comfort. I will very likely have to move in the not too far off future. And, very likely will be doing it alone (Husband not well and much older). It will be hard - leaving my present home and all my friends. Yet it will be necessary as I should be nearer my children. I have given this much thought and what I hope to do is take some items, furniture, etc. that have warm memories attached and furnish my new home with them. It won't be the same, but hopefully I will feel comfort in their familiarity and the memories I have shared with my husband and children as they were growing up. Ideally, one would like not to move, particularly at my stage of life, but I hope this will be the next best thing.


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