Preface As I write this, the television news is nearly exclusively focused on the two presidential candidates. Both men are “old.” Interviewers and experts are discussing this, trying to sort out what effect and impact, if any, aging has on performance. Many spokespeople express concern. Some express alarm. People are worried about the consequences of an aging President and whether he will be able to handle global problems and catastrophes effectively and in a timely manner. There are two front runners: Joe Biden and Donald Trump. President Biden is 81 years old, and Donald Trump is 78 years old. In their first debate, they both exhibited signs of aging. Not long ago, there was worry about Senator Diane Feinstein continuing to serve prior to her death. When Nikki Haley was running, she called for younger leadership in America, likening the US Senate to a privileged nursing home. This is not a political book. I am not going to discuss the candidates. Consider this more of a primer on aging. According to the National Council on Aging, in 2020 there were about 58 million people over the age of 65, 38% higher than in 2010. The number of people over 100 tripled in 2020 over the number in 1980. The U.S. Census report commissioned by the National Institute on Aging predicted that Americans over 65 will double in size by 2030 reaching 72 million. The group 85 and older is the fastest growing group in American society. So, let’s cut to the quick: what happens to a person as they age? And, once we understand that, how do we use that knowledge to not only make choices about tasks like voting but, more importantly, how to make life choices for ourselves. Because those people lucky enough to keep celebrating birthdays will age. Changes will occur. Everyone should come to reconcile that their futures may look different than their pasts. Once you understand that aging has, and will continue to, change your needs, it will encourage you to strongly consider your future choices rather than repeat what was comfortable or practical in the past. And some inevitable decisions will have no precedents. Because only one thing is certain: everyone will die. And whether one makes choices about the final phase of their life, eventualities occur. Many years ago, I was asked to speak to the Association of American University Women in Boca Raton, Florida, about decisions for the end of life. After I spoke, an audience member approached me and said, “When I heard what you were going to talk about, I said, ‘Who would want to listen to that?’ She then thanked me for all that she learned and was grateful for the knowledge. What I conveyed then and what I hope to accomplish here is to raise awareness about critical decision-making in complex medical situations so that when we make important choices for ourselves or people we love, we can feel comfortable and confident that our decisions informed, valid and beneficial. This book is written for the following people: Everyone who is old and all of those who hope to be. Everyone who is lucky enough to have aging parents, partners or other loved ones. Everyone who may be called upon to make complex medical choices for themselves or others.
Preface
As I write this, the television news is nearly exclusively focused on the two presidential candidates. Both men are “old.” Interviewers and experts are discussing this, trying to sort out what effect and impact, if any, aging has on performance. Many spokespeople express concern. Some express alarm. People are worried about the consequences of an aging President and whether he will be able to handle global problems and catastrophes effectively and in a timely manner. There are two front runners: Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
President Biden is 81 years old, and Donald Trump is 78 years old. In their first debate, they both exhibited signs of aging. Not long ago, there was worry about Senator Diane Feinstein continuing to serve prior to her death. When Nikki Haley was running, she called for younger leadership in America, likening the US Senate to a privileged nursing home.
This is not a political book. I am not going to discuss the candidates. Consider this more of a primer on aging.
According to the National Council on Aging, in 2020 there were about 58 million people over the age of 65, 38% higher than in 2010. The number of people over 100 tripled in 2020 over the number in 1980.
The U.S. Census report commissioned by the National Institute on Aging predicted that Americans over 65 will double in size by 2030 reaching 72 million. The group 85 and older is the fastest growing group in American society.
So, let’s cut to the quick: what happens to a person as they age?
And, once we understand that, how do we use that knowledge to not only make choices about tasks like voting but, more importantly, how to make life choices for ourselves.
Because those people lucky enough to keep celebrating birthdays will age. Changes will occur. Everyone should come to reconcile that their futures may look different than their pasts.
Once you understand that aging has, and will continue to, change your needs, it will encourage you to strongly consider your future choices rather than repeat what was comfortable or practical in the past. And some inevitable decisions will have no precedents.
Because only one thing is certain: everyone will die. And whether one makes choices about the final phase of their life, eventualities occur.
Many years ago, I was asked to speak to the Association of American University Women in Boca Raton, Florida, about decisions for the end of life. After I spoke, an audience member approached me and said, “When I heard what you were going to talk about, I said, ‘Who would want to listen to that?’ She then thanked me for all that she learned and was grateful for the knowledge.
What I conveyed then and what I hope to accomplish here is to raise awareness about critical decision-making in complex medical situations so that when we make important choices for ourselves or people we love, we can feel comfortable and confident that our decisions informed, valid and beneficial.
This book is written for the following people:
Everyone who is old and all of those who hope to be.
Everyone who is lucky enough to have aging parents, partners or other loved ones.
Everyone who may be called upon to make complex medical choices for themselves or others.
