S5E33: Dying In Good Health through “Compression of Morbidity”


Is it a requirement to get sick as we get old? Can we reduce the risk and delay the onset of age-related diseases? While aging is inevitable, can we have healthy aging process with a compressed dying so that we have a sudden death in our old age. One day, we’re going to die. What should that mean for how we live today?

Can making good choices extend our healthy life and shorten the dying process at the end? We talk about compression of morbidity and how to live our best life.

In this Episode:

Transcript

  • 01:46 – Ready for the Holidays?
  • 06:47 – Lore Segal, Émigré Life Novelist, Dies at 96 
  • 12:25 – Recipe of the Week: Texas Twinkies
  • 14:00 – Compression of Morbidity: Making the Most of Life in Old Age
  • 24:19 – Outro

Anti-Aging, or Aging Well?

We have been talking in the past few episodes about the lifestyle choices that can help us live longer, healthier lives. As people live longer, we see more age-related diseases such as cancer and dementia. But can we adopt strategies to delay the onset of such diseases so we have a longer period of good health, then die rather suddenly?

Compression of Morbidity

Many researchers are asking that very question. Compression of Morbidity is a concept that describes a scenario where people live long, healthy lives, and then experience a rapid decline in physical and cognitive health at the end of their lives. The goal is to “squeeze” the time of disability and decline into a shorter period. 

Andrew Weil, M.D. Talks about the Compression of Morbidity

Listen to our podcast to learn more about what the research says, and what you can do to improve your odds of a long, healthy life with short decline.

Related Episodes:

A motorcycle rider taking a leisurely ride through a scenic fall landscape. We talk about taking the "slow road" to death by making healthy life choices. https://every1dies.org
In S5E23: Slow Ride…Taking the Longer Road to Death, we learn about the personal, social, economic, and environmental factors that influence your health, and steps you can take now to increase your longevity and quality of life.


References:

Resources:

Notable Obituaries

We shared two obituaries, one of Lore Segal, a novelist who lived to the ripe age of 96. Another was a “wayward mother” – a very cheeky obit you can see below.

Recipe of the Week: Texas Twinkies

These twinkies aren’t what you’d expect, but they also have a filling out of this world with cream cheese, smoked brisket, garlic and scallions, wrapped in bacon and brushed with barbecue sauce as they are broiled. Sound like something you need for your holiday appetizer row? Head to Southern Living for the recipe.

Grilled bacon-wrapped Jalapeños on a tray
Head to Southern Living for this spicy Texan treat | Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox (Southern Living)

We are also selected as one of the Top 50 Grief Blogs on the Web!
https://blog.feedspot.com/palliative_care_podcasts/

Everyone Dies: and yes, it is normal!

Everyone Dies (and yes, it is normal) is a story about a young boy named Jax who finds something special on the beach where he and his grandpa Pops are enjoying a wonderful day. Pops helps Jax understand that death is a normal part of life. This book provides an age appropriate, non-scary, comfortable way to introduce the important topic of mortality to a preschool child. Its simple explanation will last a lifetime. Autographed copies for sale at: www.everyonediesthebook.com. Also available at Amazon

Mourning Jewelry
mourning jewelry earings

We offer a way to memorialize your loved one or treasured pet with a piece of handmade jewelry.  When people comment on it and the wearer can say for example “I received this when my mother died” which opens the conversation about this loss. All our jewelry is made with semi-precious stones and beads, vintage beads, and pearls. You can choose between earrings or bracelets and the color family. Learn More

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation Here:

Subscribe & Hit That Bell So You Don’t Miss a Podcast!

Join the discussion

More from this show

Follow Us