Too late!
Pete Townshend of The Who wrote the song My Generation that contains the line “I hope I die before I get old” on a train and was inspired by the Queen Mother, who is alleged to have had Townshend’s 1935 Packard hearse towed off a street in Belgravia because she was offended by the sight of it during her daily drive through the neighbourhood.
Anyway, Dr Lucy Pollock’s inspiring text book on growing old The Book About Getting Older (for people who don’t want to talk about it) has a number of references to useful sources on information. So, to make it easier for you, here are those references.
Chapter 4. ‘Good News!’
Professor Tinetti’s 1994 paper on research into the risk of having a fall and how it can be reduced by sensible actions, such as stopping certain medications and doing exercises to improve strength. PDF available.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199409293311301
Chapter 5. Four Good Things About Falls
Professor Close’s trial to investigate how the risk could be reduced of falling again after a fall. PDF available.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10023893/
The National Hip Fracture Database and its leaflet, My Hip Fracture Care: Twelve Questions to Ask. PDF available.
https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/national-hip-fracture-database-nhfd
A review of many studies examining the effects of exercise on falls. PDF available.
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/24/1750
Smile with this lady doing chair-based exercises.
Chapter 6. Not Doomed
Age UK page explaining continence problems.
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/conditions-illnesses/incontinence
Chapter 7. Goldilocks Medicine
Find more information about drugs and the likelihood of there helping here.
https://managemeds.scot.nhs.uk
A study linking anticholinergic drugs with dementia. PDF available.
https://www.bmj.com/content/361/bmj.k1315
Representative study of the medication-related harm in frailty. PDF available.
https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/48/Supplement_1/i27/5308747
UK data about the incidence of multiple chronic conditions with age. PDF available.
Note: Different to the link given in the book which does not work.
Watch Dr Dee Mangin talking about the TAPER prescribing project.
https://taper.fammedmcmaster.ca
Her team’s paper about patient and carer views. PDF available.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6452573/
Paper Mangin wrote about preventive medicines in old age. PDF available.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1941858/
Chapter 9. ‘We Didn’t Like To Say It’
The best website for information about all kinds of dementia.
Chapter 10. Responding to Dementia
Dutch study about prognosis. PDF available.
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/10/e008897
Chicago study about prognosis. PDF available.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24598707/
Canadian educational resource about behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
https://www.psychdb.com/geri/dementia/1-bpsd
Chapter 11. Driving
Driving Mobility is a charity supported by the Department for Transport and offers assessments for experienced older drivers who may have concerns about their standard of driving.
https://www.drivingmobility.org.uk
Good advice on driving with dementia.
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/staying-independent/driving-dementia
Chapter 12. Decisions
Website recommended by the NHS for explaining and making advance decisions (with template).
http://compassionindying.org.uk/choose-a-way-to-make-an-advance-decision-living-will/
GMC guidance about care at the end of life. PDF available.
Chapter 13. Advance Care Plans
Study by Professor Clark and his team showing the likelihood of dying among hospital patients. PDF available.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0269216314526443
ReSPECT documentation is described here. It is not used all over the UK but the website explains the principles.
https://www.resus.org.uk/respect
Chapter 14. A Delicate Question
CPR and resuscitation decisions.
https://www.resus.org.uk/home/faqs/faqs-decision-making-cpr
Chapter 15. ‘I Know You’ve Got to Do it’
GMC guidance for doctors about capacity and consent. PDF available.
https://www.gmc-uk.org/ethical-guidance/ethical-guidance-for-doctors/decision-making-and-consent
See also – GMC guidance about care at the end of life. PDF available.
Chapter 16. Capacity
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 sets out the basic legislation and is supported by a lengthy Code of Practice. PDF available.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-capacity-act-code-of-practice
Chapter 17. Attorney
Appointing a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). PDFs available on the website.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/make-a-lasting-power-of-attorney
Appointing a solicitor to help with an LPA.
Any solicitor you consult should be registered with the Law Society.
https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk
Chapter 18. Not Lost
Dr Mannix talking about the process of death. Link in book is incorrect.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06nnqlj
Donating your body (in advance of death) to a medical school via the Human Tissue Authority.
https://www.hta.gov.uk/medical-schools
Organ donor team.
https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-to-donate/
Chapter 19. Lap of Honour
Ben Collins’ report on Unconventional Health and Care.
https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/unconventional-health-care#seeing-things-differently