ailmentsbesides—anelderlywomanatriskoflosingthe
life she enjoys—andwe hardly knowwhat to do and
often only make matters worse.
Several years ago, researchers at the University of
Minnesotaidentified 568 menandwomenovertheageof
seventywhowerelivingindependentlybutwereathigh
risk of becoming disabled because of chronic health
problems,recentillness,orcognitivechanges.Withtheir
permission, the researchers randomly assigned half of
them to see a team ofgeriatric nursesand doctors—a
team dedicatedto theartandscience ofmanaging old
age.Theotherswereaskedtoseetheirusualphysician,
who was notified of their high-risk status. Within
eighteenmonths, 10 percentofthepatientsinbothgroups
haddied.Butthepatientswhohadseenageriatricsteam
wereaquarterlesslikelytobecomedisabledandhalfas
likelytodevelopdepression.Theywere 40 percentless
likely to require home health services.
Thesewerestunningresults.Ifscientistscameupwitha
device—call it an automatic defrailer—that wouldn’t
extendyourlifebutwouldslashthelikelihoodyou’dend
upinanursinghomeormiserablewithdepression,we’d
beclamoringforit.Wewouldn’tcareifdoctorshadto
openup yourchestandplug thethingintoyourheart.
We’dhavepink-ribboncampaignsto getone forevery
person over seventy-five. Congress would be holding
hearings demanding to know why forty-year-olds
couldn’tgettheminstalled.Medical students wouldbe
jockeyingtobecomedefrailulationspecialists,andWall
Street would be bidding up company stock prices.