Never Say Die

Can you beat the problems of old age?

Esther Tuttle turns 100 in July 2001. Does she have a secret or is her story a matter of biology and luck?

In an attempt to understand why some people live a vigorous lifestyle well into old age while others don’t, AARP’s Inside E Street interviewed Susan Jacoby, author of Never Say Die: The Myth and marketing of the New Old Age (see excerpt). Jacoby said the Esther Tuttle story is not normal and that disease follows old age. Dr. Muriel Gillick talks about why some people live to a vigorous old age while many others do not.

So what can be done to make life more comfortable and fulfilling for frail seniors in poor health? That question led to a discussion of end-of-life strategies and the use of technologies for home healthcare.