Making rounds with Oscar
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Average rating3.7
A remarkable cat. A special gift. A life-changing journey. They thought he was just a cat. When Oscar arrived at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island he was a cute little guy with attitude. He loved to stretch out in a puddle of sunlight and chase his tail until he was dizzy. Occasionally he consented to a scratch behind the ears, but only when it suited him. In other words, he was a typical cat. Or so it seemed. It wasn't long before Oscar had created something of a stir. Apparently, this ordinary cat possesses an extraordinary he knows instinctively when the end of life is near. Oscar is a welcome distraction for the residents of Steere House, many of whom are living with Alzheimer's. But he never spends much time with them--until they are in their last hours. Then, as if this were his job, Oscar strides purposely into a patient's room, curls up on the bed, and begins his vigil. Oscar provides comfort and companionship when people need him most. And his presence lets caregivers and loved ones know that it's time to say good-bye. Oscar's gift is a tender mercy. He teaches by embracing moments of life that so many of us shy away from. Making Rounds with Oscar is the story of an unusual cat, the patients he serves, their caregivers, and of one doctor who learned how to listen. Heartfelt, inspiring, and full of humor and pathos, this book allows readers to take a walk into a world rarely seen from the outside, a world we often misunderstand.
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I think this one hit me harder on a personal level than many other reviewers from reading the other reviews here. I love cats, and I'm terrified of dementia/Alzheimer's. Forgetting faces, being unable to read books and losing the memories I have are all things I'm afraid of happening to me. Combine these two ideas in one book? I had to have tissues in my car going to and from work.
Oscar is a cat and resident at the Steere House in Providence, Rhode Island, which specializes in dementia cases. Many cats (and other animals) live there as well, but it's Oscar in particular who seems to have a special gift. He always seems to know when a patient's time has come, and is always there to provide comfort at the end. Nobody seems to know how he knows, and the book focuses on Dr. Dosa and his sort-of quest to figure out how Oscar does what he does.
The problem many have with the book is that the book isn't dedicated to figuring out Oscar's talent. Instead, the book tells a series of short stories about residents at Steere House whose time had come, and Oscar's role in helping families come to terms with the passing of their loved one. I loved all of these stories. Every last one of them. Each provides a look into the life and passing of a dementia patient, and it was somewhat comforting to read about their last days with loved ones. Some of them end happier than others, but all of them touched me deeply in different ways.
Another reviewer summarized it best: “As a book about a cat, it was disappointing. As a book about dementia, it was a success.” Temper your expectations accordingly, and you won't be disappointed.
Oscar is a cat, but he is not an ordinary cat. No, as Dosa, a doctor at an old folks home where Oscar lives, soon learns, Oscar has an amazing skill: Oscar somehow senses when a person's time is up and he goes to sit with the dying person during his last days and hours on earth.
