End of Old Age

In his last book, How We Age, Dr. Marc Agronin wrote passionately about how we need to place greater value on our elders and hope for a better old age, even in the throes of illness and dementia. But he doesn't want us to simply gaze at the holiness of old age, nor does he want us searching for some magical Fountain of Youth that doesn't exist now and won't exist in the foreseeable future. Nearly every other book on the market takes these approaches, and the messages are predictable, tiresome, and largely untrue.

At the Miami Jewish Health System (MJHS), Agronin sees both the sickest and the healthiest of seniors, what works and what doesn't. Many authors can talk about aging from their particular vantage points, but Agronin is on the front lines as he counsels and treats elderly individuals and their families and friends on a daily basis. All of the latest scientific research combined with Agronin's first-hand experience can be distilled into a simple and yet unheard of formula: age is the solution and not the problem for many late-life changes and challenges. This approach stops looking at aging as an implacable enemy, as most other books on aging do, but casts it instead as a potential developmental force for enhancing well-being, meaning, and longevity.

Agronin presents readers with a model of aging that can help them understand all of these changes. It is based on two novel concepts: age points, which describe the key life transitions that come with age and teach us how to age better; and age culture, the product of a rich and diversified aging life. These concepts are sustained by the cognitive and spiritual reserve we build up with age, the resilience that guides us through stress and tragedy, and the ability to renew and re-inventourselves in a changing world.

At the same time, we cannot forget the so-called "9th stage" of life as first defined by Erik and Joan Erikson, encompassing those aged individuals beset by severe physical and cognitive loss or disease who are typically left out of most models of aging. Even in the throes of seemingly overwhelming circumstances, it is possible to make life meaningful, purposeful, and, if all else fails, comfortable.

Many of the strengths of aging come automatically, while the takeaways must be actively pursued. Either way, a reckoning of these factors can yield the end of old age as we typically conceive of it, where aging trumps old and we experience genuine and enriched lives with struggles and triumphs, losses and gifts, but with renewed opportunities for us and our loved ones. The End of Old Age provides an action plan for readers to begin recognizing and harnessing the power of their own age points to create the most meaningful and joyful age cultures possible.

“"This book should be on the desk of every geriatric specialist, senior living facility staff member, and senior citizen caretaker. Most senior citizens will also benefit from its wisdom, compassion, and sensible guidelines for successful living at an advanced age...Dr. Agronin's book is nothing less than a manual for moving beyond the negative connotations of aging." -- Florida Weekly”

"The End of Old Age isn't a sugar-coated depiction of growing old. In fact, several of Agronin's patients described in the book suffered debilitating illnesses. Yet many improved once they found a sense of purpose, discarded ingrained beliefs that their days of growth and learning were over or opened their minds to trying new treatments or approaches to life...In The End of Old Age, Agronin offers an action plan to examine our own resilience and wisdom to guide an aging person out of the 'stagnant quo' or age better, even in a challenging situation."
--A Place for Mom
"[A] groundbreaking volume...It's definitely unusual to come across an author who wishes that the adjective 'old' could be viewed as a badge of honor or distinction...This inspiring book is nothing less than a blueprint designed to help all of us age better by accepting and celebrating the aging process."--Creators Syndicate
"A guide to growing old with as much grace and vigor as possible...An interesting book that will help older people and those who love them."--Seven Ponds blog
"Dr. Agronin is not only a gifted writer and clinician, but also a keen observer of human behavior, whose empathy for his patients goes a long way to break down the ageism that separates the generations."--Gary Small, MD, UCLA Professor of Psychiatry and Aging, and bestselling author of The Memory Bible

"Inspired and inspiring...Decades of caring for the aged have taught [Dr. Agronin] that it is possible to maintain purpose and meaning in life even in the face of significant disease and disability, impaired mental and physical functioning and limited participation in activities."--Jane Brody, New York Times
"Most people are quite familiar with the ravages of aging. This book presents a different message, embracing a positive, integrated perspective that considers the myriad gains in strengths and experiences that aging provides."--Choice Magazine
"Offers a hopeful view of aging that will resonate with those in the field...It's also a good book for those who might be feeling burned out working with this population. Agronin's compassion and appreciation for elders will leave readers with renewed enthusiasm for their profession."--McKnight's
"The book offers practical advice, interesting narratives, and a sound perspective on how to change one's viewpoint from drudgery to exploring older adult's wealth of knowledge and experience in a positive manner."--Portland Book Review
"This book should be on the desk of every geriatric specialist, senior living facility staff member, and senior citizen caretaker. Most senior citizens will also benefit from its wisdom, compassion, and sensible guidelines for successful living at an advanced age...Dr. Agronin's book is nothing less than a manual for moving beyond the negative connotations of aging."
--Florida Weekly

Marc E. Agronin, MD, a summa cum laude graduate of Harvard University and the Yale School of Medicine, is a board-certified adult and geriatric psychiatrist and the author of the acclaimed book How We Age. Since 1999 he has served as the director of mental health services, clinical research, and the outpatient memory center at Miami Jewish Health Systems (MJHS), Florida's largest not-for-profit long-term care provider. He has published essays in the New York Times and Scientific American Mind and writes regularly on aging and retirement issues for the Wall Street Journal as part of the Experts panel.

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