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The Book About Getting Older

The essential comforting guide to ageing with wise advice for the highs and lows

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The most important book you'll ever read about the second half of your life now.

Now more than ever, we need to talk about getting older.

Many of us are living to a very great age. But how do we give those we love, and eventually ourselves, long lives that are as happy and healthy as possible?

Dr Lucy's book gives us answers to the questions we can voice - and those that we can't.

A long life should be embraced and celebrated, but it's not all easy. Yet even the most challenging situation can be helped by the right conversation.

How do we start?
How do we ask whether it's worth taking seven different medicines?
Is it normal to find you're falling out of love with someone, as they disappear into dementia?
Should Dad be driving, and if not, who can stop him?
What are the secrets of the best care homes?
When does fierce independence become bad behaviour?
How do you navigate near-impossible discussions around resuscitation and intensity of treatments?
And who decides what happens when we become ill?

Serious, funny, kind and knowledgeable, this readable book helps guide us through essential conversations about getting older that go straight to the heart of what matters most.

© Lucy Pollock 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

 Adulthood & Aging Aging Parent Developmental Psychology Parenting & Families Personal Development Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Dementia Medicine Funny Inspiring Alzheimer's Disease

Critic reviews

The most important book about the second half of your life you'll ever read. I wish everyone in the UK could be under Dr Lucy's care, but this is the next best thing
A lovely, thoughtful, caring and informative book which will help very many people (Ed Balls)
Dr Lucy Pollock offers useful tips about thorny subjects such as choosing medications and identifying dementia
Interesting and engaging . . . Eminently readable prose. The tone throughout is warm and friendly, even as serious and dark subjects are under discussion. It is an important book
Wise, compassionate, well researched and very broad in its coverage. I've learnt a lot that will help me both as a doctor and a patient. Thank you (Dr Phil Hammond)
Dr Pollock writes with spirit and empathy, making this an engaging and thought-provoking read. Anyone struggling with old age will feel less alone for having Dr Pollock on their team
Terrific . . . I suggest we all get a copy of Dr Lucy's book
Serious, funny, kind and knowledgeable, this book helps guide us through essential conversations about issues of getting older
This warm and compassionate book gets to the heart of older age. Using stories and accessible explanations, it covers issues of declining health, quality of life and choices about the things that matter most. The BGS is delighted to endorse this universally relevant and approachable exploration of what it means to get older
Kind, touching and, at times, achingly funny. An enlightening - and important - read whatever your age. Dr Lucy Pollock is just the kind of healthcare professional you want by your side
All stars
Most relevant
An excellent book! I must listen to it again after a while as it is very helpful. It is very well written and documented by a true professional. A sensitive, compassionate book about old age, its delicate problems and how they should be tackled. Thank you, Dr. Lucy Pollock.

An excellent book!

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Loved this book as someone working with older people but equally as someone who is getting older. In a beautifully loving and sensitive way it provides explanations and advice

Moving and helpful

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All of us who care about a loved one who is getting on a bit worry that we are doing the right thing. We are all prehaps old people currently inhabiting a younger body. One way or other we will get old and the poeple we love and care for will do so too. Yet, we know so little about what to do, how to act or react to changing circumstances. FINALLY we have a book that helps us.

This book is packed with information and help. It is sensible and compassionate. I read a print copy and loved it. The print copy is helpful to be able to book mark and refer back to. However, the audio version is SO MUCH BETTER.

Why?

Dr Pollock, the author, comes across in the book as a highly intelligent, experienced and thoughtful doctor. She knows her stuff and orders the information in a way that is helpful and carefully, delicately, takes us through the minefield of getting all of this right for all people involved.

Dr Lucy Pollock, the reader, shows us just how human and caring she is. Her strories and examples are brought to life from this deeply compassionate doctor who realy cares about people. She displays the deep understanding of the human condition with all the frailties that come with age. She is respectful, helpful and pratical.

I know who I want to look after me in my old age but for now I am settling for this extraordianry book

A must buy if you are old or know an old person

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I really enjoyed the honesty and the insight into the dilemmas and emotions faced when dealing with patients and their families.
I would highly recommend it for all ages but especially for over 50’s too!!!

Thought Provoking!

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What an excellent book. I’m not a doctor but I work on a hospital geriatric ward. I was recommended this book by a senior consultant on the ward. One word for it - Excellent! I did not want to finish and was even disappointed when I had because it meant i no longer had it to look forward to. A very important book for anyone involved with care of the elderly.

This should be mandatory reading for all doctors!

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