The Book About Getting Older

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What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

The most important book you'll ever read about the second half of your life now.

Now more than ever, we need to talk about getting older.

Many of us are living to a very great age. But how do we give those we love, and eventually ourselves, long lives that are as happy and healthy as possible?

Dr Lucy's book gives us answers to the questions we can voice - and those that we can't.

A long life should be embraced and celebrated, but it's not all easy. Yet even the most challenging situation can be helped by the right conversation.

How do we start?
How do we ask whether it's worth taking seven different medicines?
Is it normal to find you're falling out of love with someone, as they disappear into dementia?
Should Dad be driving, and if not, who can stop him?
What are the secrets of the best care homes?
When does fierce independence become bad behaviour?
How do you navigate near-impossible discussions around resuscitation and intensity of treatments?
And who decides what happens when we become ill?

Serious, funny, kind and knowledgeable, this readable book helps guide us through essential conversations about getting older that go straight to the heart of what matters most.

© Lucy Pollock 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Critics Review

  • The most important book about the second half of your life you’ll ever read. I wish everyone in the UK could be under Dr Lucy’s care, but this is the next best thing

    Sandi Toksvig

  • This warm and compassionate book gets to the heart of older age. Using stories and accessible explanations, it covers issues of declining health, quality of life and choices about the things that matter most. The BGS is delighted to endorse this universally relevant and approachable exploration of what it means to get older

    The British Geriatrics Society

  • Dr Lucy Pollock offers useful tips about thorny subjects such as choosing medications and identifying dementia

    Independent, 'Books of the Month'

  • Dr Pollock writes with spirit and empathy, making this an engaging and thought-provoking read. Anyone struggling with old age will feel less alone for having Dr Pollock on their team

    Sunday Express

  • Serious, funny, kind and knowledgeable, this book helps guide us through essential conversations about issues of getting older

    Eastern Daily Press

  • Terrific . . . I suggest we all get a copy of Dr Lucy’s book

    Evening Standard

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