Klondike just saw Paul Newman on a short interview with his daughter. He stated that he gave up acting to devote himself more to the running of the food they grow since acting requires a sharper memory and he laughed a bit when he said his was not what it used to be. Glad for him.

I know things are all messed up with China now,,,,,but doesn't the Eastern way of thinking about older people show more respect than we do?  Thanks for posting this good news.

It seems that certain cultures respect the "elders" in their society a lot more than others.  I think you find that in countries where families are close, that they look out for the elderly family members more often. 

My Mom told me that back in the 40's, many families would live with other family members and that it was more common.  She said that in some cases, there would be 3 generations living in the same house. 

It's funny, even as a small child, I always thought Grandparents were "neat".  They had all this knowledge, and were the family historians.  And of course, they were extra nice to their grandchildren (not financially).  I remember my grandmother drawing stick people with me, or probably teaching me to draw stick people. 

Thanks!  It is a real bear to find positive new with a random search.  I added that to my favorites in the 'Health' folder. 

A sweet and incredible story about a "hospice cat" keeping patients company on their deathbeds:


Oscar the cat predicts patients' deaths
By RAY HENRY, Associated Press Writer

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Oscar the cat seems to have an uncanny knack for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, by curling up next to them during their final hours. His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means they have less than four hours to live.

"He doesn't make too many mistakes. He seems to understand when patients are about to die," said Dr. David Dosa in an interview. He describes the phenomenon in a poignant essay in Thursday's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

"Many family members take some solace from it. They appreciate the companionship that the cat provides for their dying loved one," said Dosa, a geriatrician and assistant professor of medicine at Brown University.

The 2-year-old feline was adopted as a kitten and grew up in a third-floor dementia unit at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The facility treats people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other illnesses.

After about six months, the staff noticed Oscar would make his own rounds, just like the doctors and nurses. He'd sniff and observe patients, then sit beside people who would wind up dying in a few hours.

Dosa said Oscar seems to take his work seriously and is generally aloof. "This is not a cat that's friendly to people," he said.

Oscar is better at predicting death than the people who work there, said Dr. Joan Teno of Brown University, who treats patients at the nursing home and is an expert on care for the terminally ill

She was convinced of Oscar's talent when he made his 13th correct call. While observing one patient, Teno said she noticed the woman wasn't eating, was breathing with difficulty and that her legs had a bluish tinge, signs that often mean death is near.

Oscar wouldn't stay inside the room though, so Teno thought his streak was broken. Instead, it turned out the doctor's prediction was roughly 10 hours too early. Sure enough, during the patient's final two hours, nurses told Teno that Oscar joined the woman at her bedside.

Doctors say most of the people who get a visit from the sweet-faced, gray-and-white cat are so ill they probably don't know he's there, so patients aren't aware he's a harbinger of death. Most families are grateful for the advanced warning, although one wanted Oscar out of the room while a family member died. When Oscar is put outside, he paces and meows his displeasure.

No one's certain if Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant or points to a cause. Teno wonders if the cat notices telltale scents or reads something into the behavior of the nurses who raised him.

Nicholas Dodman, who directs an animal behavioral clinic at the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and has read Dosa's article, said the only way to know is to carefully document how Oscar divides his time between the living and dying.

If Oscar really is a furry grim reaper, it's also possible his behavior could be driven by self-centered pleasures like a heated blanket placed on a dying person, Dodman said.

Nursing home staffers aren't concerned with explaining Oscar, so long as he gives families a better chance at saying goodbye to the dying.

Oscar recently received a wall plaque publicly commending his "compassionate hospice care."

I wish I could watch that video clip, bet it's hilarious!  My schipperke would lose immediately--he moves like a crazed electron when he's off leash.

Ha!  I bet a big pack of loose chihuahua's would REALLY be funny!