Senior Health

In recent months,
famed satirist and Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Art Buchwald has been
facing down the last deadline of them all.  In this video interview, Buchwald speaks to AARP Broadcast News from a hospice in Washington, DC,
where he continues to make us laugh as he discusses the very serious subject of
preparing to die.

Here, Buchwald shares his insight into the importance of
selecting a surrogate and end- of-life planning issues. “I’m honest,  I’m
not fooling myself, and I have the imagination that goes with dying.”

Watch Art Buchwald  (1:40 minutes)
(You will need Windows Media Player
to view this file)

AARP’s Elinor Ginzler (Co-Author, “Caring For Your Parents:
The Complete AARP Guide”) adds more: “A surrogate is going to make decisions on
how your going to be cared for….That’s why its so important to create a living
will, a health care power of attorney and write down exactly how you wish to be
cared of at the end of you life so that surrogate knows how it is you want the
end of your life to go.”

Since taping, we’re happy to report that Art Buchwald is still here, enjoying family and friends, and in recent weeks has continued to write and give interviews,
including this recent gem (Washington Post website).

Heaven Can Wait: “I’m not going to Heaven immediately. My
doctor said I could stop over in Martha’s Vineyard on the way.”

Your Thoughts: Are you one of Art’s readers? Share your
memories and messages in our online discussion boards.

More Resources: End of Life area on AARP.org: Links to AARP books, articles
and web site areas about planning for the end of life and for dying, including
wills, estate planning, family discussions and more.

If you’re a family member facing life’s toughest time, you may want to check out AARP The Magazine’s Caregivers’ Online Toolbox