Dr. Dennis McCullough is a medical doctor who specializes in geriatric care – that is, caring for the elderly. In My Mother Your Mother: Embracing “Slow Medicine,” The Compassionate Approach to Caring for your Aging Loved Ones [HarperCollins, 2008, ISBN: 978-0-06-124302-8]. Dr. McCullough accomplishes two essential things for the reader.
- He reveals insider information about excellent geriatric care and how to get it, versus the one-size-fits-all care that the United States health system thrusts upon elderly parents.
- Dr. McCullough uncovers the significance of the latter part of the lifespan. His open-hearted approach can help the sandwich generation and baby boomers turn parents' late life stage into an enriching time for elderly parents, adult children, and grandchildren.
Geriatric Care and Slow Medicine
- Dr. McCullough explains to baby boomers exactly how to secure for their parents the kind of health care that is best for the elderly. He refers to this type of care as "slow medicine."
- According to Dr. McCullough, doctor does not always know best when it comes to geriatric care.
- Automatically pressuring a parent to do what the doctor tells him is often misguided, and can result in more difficulty for the elderly parents and the sandwich generation.
Elderly Parents, Geriatric Care and Chronic Illness
- Today’s technology focuses on lengthening life but these interventions often vastly diminish quality of life for the elderly parent.
- According to Dr. McCullough, health care practices have turned acute, fatal illnesses that used to be brief into a prolonged, poor quality, death experience. He explains how to avoid this.
Relationships with Elder Parents in Late Life
- Dr. McCullough reveals information about the not-so-obvious changes that occur to elderly people, and offers advice to baby boomers about better ways to deal with elderly parents.
- He explains these changes and stages in detail and describes to sandwich generation children exactly what they can expect at each stage.
Start Reading My Mother Your Mother While Elderly Parents are Still Healthy
Dr. McCullough’s suggestions about oral history and ethical will projects can provide an enriching experience to all, including children and grandchildren.
Dr. McCullough’s writing reflects a wisdom about the stage of late life that only comes with experience. Not surprisingly, much of his writing is informed by his experiences with his own mother during the last stages of her life.
My Mother Your Mother Can Be Used as a Reference Book
If the book falls short at all it is because there is so much information in it, it seems impossible to absorb it all in one reading. The information in it is so valuable because it will help sandwich generation, babyboomers and elder parents themselves become educated and empowered consumers in the health care system. But this book really needs to be kept in a prominent place on the shelf and referred to over an over, as elder parents enter each new stage of life and health described in it. Reading it cover-to-cover would probably be helpful, but it seems a bit overwhelming.
Results of Slow Medicine in Geriatric Care
Many of today’s senior living communities have embraced “slow medicine,” making it highly credible. In doing so, they keep costs down and keep seniors more independent longer, prevent people from being isolated and sedentary, delay nursing home care, avoid hospitalizations, and find a higher quality of life and satisfaction for the elderly patient. With results like these, clearly, Dr. McCullough's words should be heeded.
Lisa C. DeLuca - Lisa C. DeLuca is a psychotherapist/social worker who works with families and teens. She also treats panic and anxiety disorders.
Join the Conversation