Endnotes: An Intimate Look at the End of Life
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In the summer of 1996, Ruth Ray, a gerontologist in her forties, befriended an eighty-two-year-old man suffering from Parkinson's. The two remained close until the end of his life, sharing stories and memories while building a deep relationship. Part memoir, part biography, Endnotes explores how people construct meaning through their interactions with others. With grace and wit, Ray situates her friend's past experiences and present relationships within the theories and literature of gerontology, providing a deeper understanding of autonomy at the end of life. She also delves into the complexities of sexuality and intimacy in old age, communication across disabilities and age groups, the disabling nature of nursing homes, and the trials of death and dying. Writing as both a woman and a gerontologist, Ray finds that the "quality of care" we provide for others requires not only an understanding of the relationships that have given a person's life meaning but also a willingness to accept and share deeply in the emotional process of physical and mental decline.
1 Passionate Scholarship 12 Home 143 Making Ourselves Understood 344 New Year's Eve 565 A Lamentable Situation 726 Those Little Ordinary Things 847 Passion's Progress 1028 Activities 1139 Diaper Is a Dirty Word 12210 Care Conference 13011 Empty Rooms 13812 Ethics of Care 154Epilogue 171Acknowledgments 175Notes 177
