[A Sip of a Book] Fifty, the Age When Studying Is Needed

Some sentences encapsulate the entire content of the book itself, while others instantly reach the reader's heart, creating a connection with the book. We introduce such meaningful sentences excerpted from the book. - Editor's note

The author is a geriatric specialist who closely observes the process leading to death and the changes it brings. Physical changes that come with aging happen equally to everyone, but the psychological differences they cause clearly exist depending on how one prepares. For some, it is a fearful future, but for others, it can be the final rest of a long journey. The author finds this difference in 'conversation.' The biggest reason aging feels overwhelming is the avoidance of necessary conversations, mixed with resistance to aging and fear of death. Therefore, the author encourages starting such conversations right now and conveys a thoughtful message to prepare well not only for oneself but also for the last moments of loved ones through dialogue.

p. 20-21

The elderly are simply what we have grown into. Over the past 100 years, as life expectancy has rapidly increased, we have gained an unprecedented opportunity. The chance to spend more time on this special planet, staying healthier and maintaining independence. But sometimes it feels like things are changing too fast. It can be unsettling that our lives have changed this way. We have yet to figure out what we want from this newly extended life or how to create a close-knit, optimistic, and fair society where all generations can be happy and provide as many people as possible with opportunities to experience fulfillment.

p. 45

The very person we need to talk to is the one we have not even started a conversation with. We need to change this situation. We can do better. We must stop thinking, 'I can't have that conversation because I love them.' Instead, we should think, 'I will have that conversation because I love them.'

p. 88

"Grandmother Kathleen, may I ask you something? What worries you the most right now?"

The grandmother's gaze went beyond my shoulder, and I turned my head to look at the small table beside the hospital bed. In the black-and-white photo in a silver frame, a man in a small boat has one hand on the tiller and the other holding the railing. The man in the photo, smoking a pipe, had wavy hair, and his eyes shone with excitement and joy.

Grandmother Kathleen whispered,

"I just want to go home."

p. 162

Many of my patients seriously worry about the medications they take, yet every morning they pick out pills with their folded hands, swallow them hurriedly with tea, and shake their heads wondering why they take these medicines. If someone cannot make decisions for themselves, their family and nursing home staff place a bunch of pills on a saucer or a small plastic cup. Then the husband, daughter-in-law, or caregiver soothes and persuades them, worrying about what will happen if the medicine is not taken, and whether the medicine will help in any way or cause harm.

Age Study Starting from Fifty | Written by Lucy Pollock | Translated by Sosulgi | Willbook | 428 pages | 19,800 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.