Coping With Old Age: Voices and Portraits: Old and on Their Own

As we approach the millennium, we envision increasing numbers of elderly people, as well as growing numbers of people with dementia. The number of aged Americans is expected to double by the year 2030. Currently, there are about 4 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease; in 2050 the number is expected to reach 14 million. Contemplating the aging of the population, we must concern ourselves with both the needs of the aged whose physical powers are diminishing, and the special needs of those whose intellectual functions are declining. OLD AND ON THEIR OWN Text by Robert Coles, photographs by Alex Harris and Thomas Roma New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 1997, 184pp., $27.50 (hardcover). Child psychiatrist Robert Coles, best known for his work with children and young people, turns his attention to aging Americans and their coping abilities in dealing with the here and now, the nitty-gritty of being old. Coles uses his formidable interviewing skills to enable his readers to hear the voices of individuals who have made it to old age. Over a period of two years the writer has compiled information from the stories of elderly folk in both urban and rural settings in Massachusetts, New York, and North Carolina, rich and poor, Black and White. Coles wanted to learn how it really is for old people, day in and day out, to be stripped of the resiliency of their youth, and yet get along, somehow, on their own. His remarkable powers of insight are put to task so that readers can share with these survivors the trials and tribulations, the joy and sorrow, and the pride and pain of being old. Those whose voices we hear are from individuals 75 to almost 100 years old. Because Coles is a remarkably astute reporter, he nevertheless is able to introduce the reader, in a very intimate way, to some extraordinary, ordinary elderly individuals. Both nonprofessionals and professionals alike can develop insight into helping the elderly to deal with their everyday lives from these personal portraits. The accompanying photographs by Alex Harris and Thomas Roma, although not necessary for enjoyment of the text, are splendid and bring a visual dimension to the reader's experience. Here's a sample of what we witness. George, at one time a jack-of-all-trades (carpenter, electrician, plumber, etc.), is almost a century old. He's had little formal schooling, but is self-educated. He has an excellent vocabulary and a wonderful sense of history. Coles is constantly distracted by George's colorful stories, and it is with effort that he manages to keep George focused on how his life really is. George claims there is no mystery to his longevity. He sits in a wheelchair, doesn't see well, doesn't hear well and is in pain much of the time. It takes great effort, even with grab bars, for him to stand up, say, to boil some water. He's alone mostly. He misses reading and doesn't enjoy TV particularly. The best part of each day is provided by his helpers, the nurse who checks his blood pressure and urine and brings his medications, the homemaker who cleans and cooks for him, and best of all, the two college students who read to him weekly and bring cookies, cheer, and offers of assistance. George is sorry now about his past. "I feel bad about my own young life, that I never even thought of the elderly and what I could do to help an old man like me." George gets blue on rainy days. 'This is the kind of a day for me to die. Just right for that... then the sun will come out... and I want to clap and say: you keep going, so I guess the rest of us can keep going, too! …