WAGECCPerson‐CenteredCareToolkit
TheLastDecision
MayaAngelou,1983
OBJECTIVES
1. Todescribetwoactivitiesthattheolderpersoncannolongerdo.
2. Toidentifytwoqualitiesofthewoman’spsychologicalstate.
TARGETAUDIENCE
Healthcareprofessionalsandhealthprofessionsstudents
EXERCISE
Anelderlypersonwhoismostlikelyawomannarratesthispoem,TheLastDecision,byMayaAngelou.
Thepoemisusefulfordiscussionsondeath,dying,humanworth,qualityoflifeandgrief.
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Beginbyreadingthepoemaloud.Onepersoncanreadittothegrouporthegroupcanreadit
together,ortaketurnsreadingoneofthestanzas.
Discussthedisabilitiesandinconveniencesthattheolderwomanhasandhowitimpactsher
qualityoflife:–i.e.“printthathasbecometoosmall,”“thefoodthatistoorich.”
Noticehowthepoemisstructuredwithalossineachstanzaandaconcludingrefrainwhichisthesame;
shewillgiveupreading,theneating,thenlistening—andthenlife.
Inherlastlineshesays:“today,I’llgiveupliving.”
Asahealthcareproviderhowwouldyouinteractwithanolderpersonwhofeltthisway?Discuss
strategiesthatyoumightusetorecognizewhattheolderpersonisfeeling.Discusshopelessnessand
helplessnessandhowitimpactscare.
ADAPTATIONS
UsedintheUseofStorytoEnhancePerson‐CenteredCareworkshoptohelphealthcareprofessionals
reflectontheindividualstoriesandnarrativesthateacholderadultsmayexperienceastheylose
functionandexperiencefrustrationwiththelosses.