My Mother, Your MotherFor those of us caring for aging parents, there is information, support, and shared experiences to be found in the world of books.  The New York Times just published a review of a new book called 'My Mother, Your Mother: Embracing Slow Medicine, the Compassionate Approach to Caring for Your Aging Loved Ones'.  Written by Dr. Dennis McCullough, a practicing geriatrician at Dartmouth Medical School, it champions taking a different approach when treating older patients.  Gone is the focus on high technology and strong medicine, with 'slow medicine', the focus is on family-centered care, less invasive testing and procedures, and exploration of all options (i.e. depression would not automatically be treated with strong drugs, but first one might see if having a pet or hiring a companion could relieve the depression). 

While this approach may not work for everyone, and may not be preferred in all situations, the book is worth a read for those with aging parents.  It's not all about medicine- as the review points out, some of it is simple advice like "it is always the right time to say ‘thank you’ and ‘I love you’ ", and a reminder to really listen to your aging loved ones- their voice can often tell you more about their health or state of mind than their words or actions.

To read the review on The New York Times website, click here.
To view the book on Amazon, click here.