Letting Go: What should medicine do when it can’t save your life?

To often in our country, political histrionics make is impossible to have a rational discussion about any subject. This was highlighted last summer during the debate over national health care legislation. Part of that dialogue focused on end of life issues. We were warned of rationing and of bureaucratic “death panels” which would make decisions over who received end of life treatment. I read an article last week in the New Yorker titled “Letting Go” by Dr. Atul Gawande which is an incredibly thoughtful piece regarding end of life issues. Dr. Gawande is an endocrine surgeon in Boston.

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Reverse Mortgages: Are they for you?

Many retired Americans find themselves in quite the quandary–while they are rich in home equity, they struggle to make ends meet every month. Although there is always the option to put their homes on the market, many retirees are reluctant to give up a house with so many life long memories. More and more retirees are considering a reverse mortgage as an ideal solution to convert home equity into cash. Potentially, you could use your home to stay at home.

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