The art of dying well: a practical guide to a good end of life

The lost art of dying

RESILIENCE: The wake-up call

Building reserves

Finding allies in preventive medicine

Weighing medical risks

Getting to know the neighbors

Knowing your medical rights

Caring for the soul

SLOWING DOWN: When less is more

Simplifying daily life

Finding allies in slow medicine, geriatrics, and a good HMO

Reviewing medications

Reducing screenings

Making peace with loss

ADAPTATION: A moment of truth

Mapping the future and making plans

Finding allies in occupational and physical therapy

Disaster-proofing daily life

Making a move

Practicing interdependence

Being an example

AWARENESS OF MORTALITY: The art of honest hope

Talking to your doctor

Understanding the trajectory of your illness

Preparing the family

Finding allies in palliative care

Reflecting on what gives your life meaning

Staying in charge

Thinking creatively

Redefining hope

HOUSE OF CARDS: If only someone had warned us

Recognizing frailty

Avoiding the hospital

Finding allies in House call programs

Upgrading advance directives

Coping with dementia

Shifting to comfort care

Enjoying your red velvet cake

PREPARING FOR A GOOD DEATH: Making good use of the time you have left

Finding allies in hospice

Next steps

Settling your affairs

Choosing the time of death

Loving, thanking, and forgiving - Getting help from your tribe

ACTIVE DYING: The tree needs to come down

This is what dying looks like

Preparing for a home death

Preparing in a nursing home

Giving care - The final hours

Humanizing a hospital death

Improvising rites of passage

Welcoming mystery

Saying goodbye

Toward a new art of dying.