Tough Conversations

Solutions Through Compassionate Communication.

Family debate: Autonomy vs. Safety?

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Carolyn Parr, http://toughconversations.net/, discusses communications between elder parents and their children. “The goal is not a good death. The goal is having a life worth living all the way to the end.” Dr. Atul Gawande being interviewed on NPR’s “Science Friday” about his book, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End.

Dr. Gawande writes for other physicians, but his words apply to families during difficult times of decision-making, as well. He’s not talking just about physical safety or even comfort; he’s talking about meaning. [Read more…]

Entering “Elder-dom” – Part 2: The Legacy Question

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Sig Cohen, http://toughconversations.net, discusses legacy. In a previous article, we explored some challenges that often surface when engaging in a tough conversation with an older adult. Those challenges include: autonomy, independence, and even dignity. Here we examine yet another challenge: an older adult’s legacy. Not financially, but how others remember them after they have passed. [Read more…]