Ellen Rand writes us: "What’s the reality of caring for loved ones in decline? We’re not likely to see the rawness, the intimacy, the messiness, the profundity of it in the movies or on TV – except for a few rare pathfinders. David B. Oliver was one of them.
David and his wife, Debra Parker Oliver, possessed a deep knowledge gained over their professional lives researching and teaching about aging and end-of-life issues. That he responded to his own deadly illness in a meaningful way is tied both to his character and to his life’s work."
Ellen's beautifully written introduction to the Oliver's moving and instructive videos will interest many of you. We are grateful to her for having sent us her essay (which you can access here: Download Reality TV
You can find the Oliver's presentations at: David Oliver's Cancer VideoBlog -- Episode 1: David Reveals Diagnosis
Ellen Rand has been a journalist for more than 40 years, including five years as a housing columnist for The New York Times. She is a hospice volunteer with Holy Name Medical Center in Bergen County, New Jersey, a member of the Hospice Volunteer Association and the Association of Health Care Journalists. Her essays have appeared in several medical humanities publications, including Pulse—Voices from the Heart of Medicine; KevinMD; and Life Matters Media. She blogs at http://lastcomforts.com. Ellen is the author of the recently published: Last Comforts: Notes from the Forefront of Late Life Care which has been called "a must read for caregivers, individuals with serious illnesses, their loved ones who care about their care and elected officials. A must read for caregivers, individuals with serious illnesses, their loved ones who care about their care and elected officials. "
