This program originally aired on Wednesday, October 30th, 2024 at 12:30pm Eastern.
Julie Salamon (New York Times best-selling author) sat down with her sister, Dr. Suzanne Salamon, Clinical Chief of Geriatric Programs at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, to discuss the care of older adults as they approach the end of life. November is national family caregiver’s month, in honor of those who provide support and care for their loved ones and to create awareness around caregiving issues. Dr. Salamon not only does this work professionally as a geriatrician whose patients are older adults, but over the past few years together with her husband Alan was also the main caregiver for her and Julie’s mother, Lilly. Lilly Salamon (née Rapaport/ Salcman) was an Auschwitz survivor who raised her family in Appalachia, where her husband Alexander was the town doctor. Suzanne discussed how their father’s work inspired and influenced her choice to become a doctor, and the impact of growing up as the child of holocaust survivors. Suzanne shares how despite years of working with patients in end of life care, the experience of taking care of her own mother has shifted the way she thinks about working with patients.
Suzanne discusses ways that families and communities can work together to prepare for the care of loved ones as they age and require more medical attention. She addresses the concerning lack of geriatricians that are graduating and entering the medical field given the aging population of the United States. She offers advice for how to get assistances from social service providers who can provide a patient advocate to accompany individuals to doctors appointments.
Julie’s latest children’s book, One More Story Tata, written in homage to Lilly and Suzanne, includes themes around intergenerational families and Jewish families.
Topics covered in this program: National caregivers month, geriatric care, geriatrician, end of life care, family support, survivor medical care, parent child relationships.
