When asked to imagine how they want the end of their life to play out, 90% of Americans say they want to die at home– yet in reality 76% die in hospitals. In the first case they imagine being in a familiar setting with family and friends supporting them in their transition from this life to what comes next. In the second case, the setting is unfamiliar, possibly frightening, noisy and stark.

What drives this dichotomy for many is that we never embrace the change from making quantity of life our first priority to having quality of life as our priority. Now I cannot dispute with any young person that quantity of life is an appropriate goal. But as a person reaches the latter stages of a full life, many find that there is a dignity and a serenity to changing that focus. Prioritizing quality of life in old age can mean the difference between a protracted and painful to struggle to keep an aging loved one alive at the expense of their comfort and dignity, or a peaceful and comfortable end of life surrounded by their most important people.

My mission at Stay Home Elder Care is to enable families to choose to keep their aging loved ones close to them with a maximum of comfort and serenity for the elderly and their family alike.