At peace : choosing a good death after a long life
(Book)

Book Cover
Average Rating
Published
New York : Grand Central Life & Style, ©2018.
Status
Central - Adult Nonfiction
616.029 HARRI
1 available

Copies

LocationCall NumberStatus
Central - Adult Nonfiction616.029 HARRIAvailable

Description

The authoritative, informative, and reassuring guide on end-of-life care for our aging population. Most people say they would like to die quietly at home. But overly aggressive medical advice, coupled with an unrealistic sense of invincibility or overconfidence in our health-care system, results in the majority of elderly patients misguidedly dying in institutions. Many undergo painful procedures instead of having the better and more peaceful death they deserve.At Peace outlines specific active and passive steps that older patients and their health-care proxies can take to ensure loved ones live their last days comfortably at home and/or in hospice when further aggressive care is inappropriate. Through Dr. Samuel Harrington's own experience with the aging and deaths of his parents and of working with patients, he describes the terminal patterns of the six most common chronic diseases; how to recognize a terminal diagnosis even when the doctor is not clear about it; how to have the hard conversation about end-of-life wishes; how to minimize painful treatments; when to seek hospice care; and how to deal with dementia and other special issues. Informed by more than thirty years of clinical practice, Dr. Harrington came to understand that the American health-care system wasn't designed to treat the aging population with care and compassion. His work as a hospice trustee and later as a hospital trustee drove his passion for helping patients make appropriate end-of-life decisions.

More Details

Format
Book
Edition
First edition.
Physical Desc
xix, 282 pages ; 22 cm
Language
English
ISBN
9781478917410, 1478917415

Notes

Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Description
"The authoritative, informative, and practical follow up to BEING MORTAL, on end-of-life care for patients over the age of 65. Most people say they would like to die quietly at home. But overly aggressive medical advice, coupled with an unrealistic sense of invincibility, results in the majority of elderly patients misguidedly dying in institutions while undergoing painful procedures, instead of having the better and more peaceful death they desired. At Peace outlines specific active and passive steps that older patients and their health care proxies can take to insure loved ones pass their last days comfortably at home and/or in hospice, when further aggressive care is inappropriate. Through Dr. Harrington's own experience with his parents and patients, he describes the terminal patterns of the six most common chronic diseases; how to recognize a terminal diagnosis even when the doctor is not clear about it; how to have the hard conversation about end-of-life wishes; how to minimize painful treatments; when to seek hospice care; and how to deal with dementia and other special issues. Informed by more than thirty years of clinical practice, Dr. Harrington came to understand that the American health care system wasn't designed to treat the aging population with care and compassion. His work as a hospice trustee and later as a hospital trustee informed his passion for helping patients make appropriate end-of-life decisions"-- Provided by publisher.

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Published Reviews

Library Journal Review

Death comes to all people, whether they are happy or not, kind or mean, and whether they practice yoga or watch TV all day. So why does one pick up a book about how to die? The answers come from those who have participated in the deaths of others, by listening, affirming, and then helping those who remain. In At Peace, physician Harrington, who serves on the board of a nonprofit hospice in Washington, DC, describes the terminal patterns of the six most common diseases, then guides readers in end-of-life conversations and instructs them in how to minimize painful treatments. He speaks with experience and compassion as he discusses the biological and emotional factors of aging and outlines the practical aspects of planning for death. Chapters on dementia and advance directives conclude his work. In With the End in Mind, physician -Mannix, through her expertise in palliative care and cognitive behavior therapy, shares stories from a lifetime of caring for the dying. Using case histories, Mannix provides poignant insight into the way people live when they know they are dying, and what those around them may be thinking and wishing to say. The book ends with a template for writing a last letter to loved ones. VERDICT Where At Peace provides a framework for dying, With the End in Mind puts meat on the bones, with some overlapping of personal accounts and medical processes in each. Both are highly recommended. © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Library Journal Reviews

Death comes to all people, whether they are happy or not, kind or mean, and whether they practice yoga or watch TV all day. So why does one pick up a book about how to die? The answers come from those who have participated in the deaths of others, by listening, affirming, and then helping those who remain.In At Peace, physician Harrington, who serves on the board of a nonprofit hospice in Washington, DC, describes the terminal patterns of the six most common diseases, then guides readers in end-of-life conversations and instructs them in how to minimize painful treatments. He speaks with experience and compassion as he discusses the biological and emotional factors of aging and outlines the practical aspects of planning for death. Chapters on dementia and advance directives conclude his work.In With the End in Mind, physician Mannix, through her expertise in palliative care and cognitive behavior therapy, shares stories from a lifetime of caring for the dying. Using case histories, Mannix provides poignant insight into the way people live when they know they are dying, and what those around them may be thinking and wishing to say. The book ends with a template for writing a last letter to loved ones. VERDICT Where At Peace provides a framework for dying, With the End in Mind puts meat on the bones, with some overlapping of personal accounts and medical processes in each. Both are highly recommended.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal.
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Citations

APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)

Harrington, S. (. (2018). At peace: choosing a good death after a long life (First edition.). Grand Central Life & Style.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Harrington, Samuel (Physician). 2018. At Peace: Choosing a Good Death After a Long Life. New York: Grand Central Life & Style.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Harrington, Samuel (Physician). At Peace: Choosing a Good Death After a Long Life New York: Grand Central Life & Style, 2018.

Harvard Citation (style guide)

Harrington, S. (. (2018). At peace: choosing a good death after a long life. First edn. New York: Grand Central Life & Style.

MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)

Harrington, Samuel (Physician). At Peace: Choosing a Good Death After a Long Life First edition., Grand Central Life & Style, 2018.

Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.

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