Twila Reynolds: Straight Talk About Our End of Life

The Kubik Report

Twila Reynolds and I talk about the inevitable moment coming to all of us: the day of our death.

Twila Reynold is retired. She spent most of her professional years in the commercial insurance industry. But, later, she changed fields and worked in the administrative medical field, which has always interested her. When she began working at the VA Medical Center, she started as an Invasive Procedure Coordinator in the CT area. She later moved to Human Resources, where she handled all the worker compensation claims for that facility.

Twila directed me to the book Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. A PBS documentary by the same name is available on YouTube at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQhI3Jb7vMg

Atul Gawande is a surgeon who explores the inevitable process of aging and ultimately death, and takes a critical look at how the medical profession does not yet have a firm grip on how to handle these processes well. He explores the birth of nursing homes, independent and assisted living facilities, and the various roles modern hospice programs can play to support those nearing the end of their lives. Gawande shares several stories of those who were adeptly aided through the process of growing frail as well as those were not so lucky. Finally, Gawande shares what he has learned about how each of us should approach our mortality as well as that of those we love.