Aging: The Good, the Bad, and the Tolerable
Q is for Quality of Life
Quality of life (QOL) is the degree to which a person is healthy, comfortable, and able to participate in or enjoy special occasions and life activities. It is critical for health care professionals to take quality of life into account when establishing each patient’s goals of care and to use it as a guide for all care decisions.
Quality of life means something different to each person. To Marv Roelofs, it meant not getting treatment for an aggressive lung cancer that would kill him in a matter of weeks. He didn’t want to spend time receiving therapy, which might not extend his life and could cause debilitating side effects when he could spend time traveling to see relatives and friends to say his final good-byes. His wife, Lois, supported his decision. Marv did not die in weeks after his diagnosis. He died six months later. He had traveled to say good-bye and was getting around well until the last week before his death.
The book, Marv Taking Charge: A Story of Bold Love and Courage tells their story.
Lois and I have been friends for almost 50 years. When Marv asked her to write about their cancer journey, I was so glad that she agreed. As a nurse who had cared for dying patients and worked in hospice, I knew that this book was needed. Older persons are more likely to follow advice of the medical professionals rather that ask themselves how they want to spend what time they have left. Refusing treatment is an option.
Marv Taking Charge and Being Mortal by Atul Gawande are good resources to help us take control of our lives in a patriarchal society that is set up to dictate how we are treated in the health care community. If you or any family member or friend is facing desions about how to proceed after hearing that you have a terminal diagnosis, read these books for help in navigating our complex health care system.
Lois is also writing from A to Z challenge. Check out her posts here.
Getting Older: Charting the Uncharted 
Very true! Thanks.
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