The Journey’s End: An Investigation of Death and Dying In Modern America

In the tradition of Atul Gawande?s Being Mortal, this compassionate work helps individuals develop a more accepting view of dying while teaching them what to expect and how to navigate the healthcare system at the end of life.
In elderhood, the health care system has a narrow view of how to provide?care. It focuses on extending a patient’s?life at all costs, with an over-reliance on machines and procedures, instead of caring holistically for the person. Accordingly, many of us will likely spend our final weeks?in long-term care facilities or an ICU.?
Dying at home, peacefully, and surrounded by family is almost impossible in our world–and our fear of death is a major contributor to this impossibility.?Fittingly, the central idea of this book is that in old age, or when facing a terminal diagnosis, it is more important to?understand your life rather than to?extend it. While this may seem simple, its implications are profound.
A natural death means accepting that, at some point, we are old enough or sick en