Customer Reviews

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat

5 star:		(129)
4 star:		(41)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Oscar is one of several cats who live at Steere House nursing home. All of these cats provide companionship and love for the residents, but only Oscar has the special talent of being able to sense when people are nearing the end of their lives. The nurses were the first ones to figure it out as they noticed how frequently he showed up just at the right time.

No one knows how he does it, but when he detects that someone is near dying, he takes up residence on their bed and usually stays until the funeral director comes to collect the body. During this time, he also offers comfort to the family who are there to be with their loved one during this transition. When there's no one to sit with the patient, Oscar maintains a solitary vigil. No one dies alone on Oscar's watch.

People who love their pets probably won't question Oscar's abilities, but one of the doctors who works there was a bit of a skeptic. This book is the result of his interviews with family members and staff who shared their experiences with him. Over and over they told Dr. Doza how much the gift of Oscar's presence had meant to them during a very difficult time. Most people who have cats know the comfort they can bring when they curl up next to you in bed and share their warmth. It's as if Oscar's being there normalizes the events and removes some of the fears.

All of the patients on Oscar's floor are in the final stages of dementia, usually due to Alzheimer's. Experience and research have shown that two things are often able to break through the haze that envelops them - music and animals. In the process of telling Oscar's story, Dr. Doza also gives us insight into this very scary disease. If raising a child is about watching them learn skills, living with an Alzheimer's patient is the opposite - they are slowly unlearning them. Each loss is a form of good-bye. While this book doesn't make the disease any less scary, it does offer comfort and hope for those affected by it.

We may never know just how it works - how Oscars knows just the right time to show up. Maybe all we really need to know is just that he does.

OK so here is this book with this cool cat on the cover, and you think there is something neat about the whole concept. Maybe you have already heard there is this cat that knows when people are going to die. Well, it's way more than that. This book, written by a doctor who is not actually a cat person, is more of a tribute to those creatures, human as well as feline, who allow advanced dementia patients to die with dignity.

I imagine that Steere House will not be lacking for residents after this moving depiction. Needless to say, it is heart-wrenching for any family member to place his/her loved one in a nursing home, probably more so when the loved one has dementia. What a gift to know that Steere House exists, where the staff is compassionate, even loving, and treats their residents like family. Where a cat moved in while the building was still under construction, and the management took it as a sign that animals were meant to live there along with the patients. Personally, I find dementia to be a pretty scary topic and generally try not to think about it. The author is a geriatrician who makes it real, even if still mysterious. He interviews family members who speak courageously and honestly about losing their loved ones, and how it helped to have Oscar there at the end.

I learned that hospice is not just for the very end of life, and it is about much more than medical care.

I learned that people who refuse to eat at the natural end of their lives are not starving themselves.

I learned that there is a lot we don't know about dementia, but we are learning more all the time.

Dr. Sosa writes in a very easy, straightforward style. His patients and their families are very lucky people.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. It made me laugh and, yes, cry, but mostly it just made me feel better in general. Losing a loved one to dementia is about the most horrible experience one can contemplate, but afer reading this book I feel like I could cope. And Oscar is a pretty amazing cat too.

I loved geriatrician David Dosa's 2007 essay in the New England Journal of Medicine -- about Oscar the cat, who by then had seemingly predicted, within hours, the impending deaths of dozens of residents on the dementia unit of a Rhode Island nursing home. He'd been dubbed the "grim reap-purr" and I was thrilled to see MAKING THE ROUNDS WITH OSCAR: THE EXTRAORDINARY GIFT OF AN ORDINARY CAT and, from that title, eager to read what promised to be an expansion of the essay. So first, to be clear: this book is not much about the cat.

In fact, there might be a mere cumulative total of 20 pages about Oscar. Rather, the book is one part memoir of the doctor and his geriatric practice; one part profile of the dementia unit's charge nurse; and eight parts profiles of the residents and their families, with a dollop about the end-of-life comfort provided to them by Oscar. Nor does Dosa explore (beyond a couple sentences) the source of Oscar's instinct -- the theories and research about the physiology of dying and animals' amazing sense abilities.

That said, I'm going to take a sharp turn and say that I liked the book it actually *is*, and that it's an important book for the elderly and (especially) their caregivers to read. Dosa is frank about the fear, denial, frustration and guilt inherent in caregiving generally, and specifically in losing a loved one in "the long goodbye" of dementia. He touches on the inadequacies of doctors and the healthcare system and the importance of realistic end-of-life directives. And there are takeaways: that simple diversion is more effective than trying to reign someone in from their altered reality; that it's important to interact according to who the person is now (in dementia) rather than who they were; and that it's most important to simply "be there" rather than necessarily interacting at all. Recommended.

The cover of this book has a beautiful photo of Oscar, who is a resident kitty at Steere House nursing home. Oscar has the same gifts as most animals: an understanding of two different dimensions and life unfolding in each one of them. There is no death. But he serves to guide the spirit to the other side with dignity and compassion.

Now, if you think this book is really about Oscar and his abilities, you'd be wrong. It's really a way for the author to make us aware of the chronic diseases called Alzheimer's, Dementia and Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). Even more so, it's an understanding that people do not recover from these diseases and should be able to pass into spirit with grace. The behavior of the caretakers; children, spouses, siblings, etc., has been brought under a microscope throughout the book. We see their helplessness, fear and unacceptance to let go. They're wrong to argue for more tests and treatments. They're lost in a sea of chaotic emotion.

I'm a big believer in end-of-life choices and releasing souls with honor. Anyone who is in or will soon be in a position of caretaker, will absorb great wisdom from this author's words and advice. I praise him for bringing this crucial issue to the forefront and for running this motif throughout the book.

If it weren't for Oscar, this book would not have been written. We owe our gratitude to the enlightened one.

Making the Rounds with Oscar is a thoughtful memoir-type book about what the end of the road is like for patients with dementia in a nursing home. The author makes a point of stating his book is NOT an actual memoir, that names are changed and certain families are composites. Dr Dosa's first person perspective is not uniformly adhered to. The timeline is a little muddled.

None of these small matters detract from the apparent storyline - Making the Rounds with Oscar certainly reads like a memoir, and a decent one too. The reader slowly falls in love with the extended family at Steere House; a family that includes patients, staff, the patients' stricken (and desperately deluded) family members - and, of course - the resident cats of the end-stage dementia third floor of Steere House.

Oscar, the cat who is nominally the star of the book, makes his rare, mysterious, but well timed appearances at the very end of a patient's life.

I wanted more cat story. More about Oscar and Maya and even the first floor cats. The book sells itself as a story about an ordinary cat with an extraordinary gift for zeroing in on the moment of human death.

Was this to market the 223-page book towards animal lovers, cat fanciers and paranormal-junkies?

In reality the book is more about the final stages for Alzheimer's patients: how doctors, nurses and families make choices in handling this incurable disease when the last possible surgical options offer no real hope. Dr Dosa deals daily with heartbroken husbands and irrationally rationalizing children.

The doctor and his nurses grapple with the philosophical implications of caring for a patient whose body stills hangs on, long after the personality flew far, far away.

This is deep and interesting stuff, and well worth reading for families finding themselves faced with dementia in a loved one. Some pearls of wisdom in learning to cope are scattered in peoples' stories (learning to playact, surrounding the loved one with sensory input that just reaches past the failed memory barrier, celebrating the small victories without getting carried away about a cure that will never come). I will absolutely buy a copy of this book for any friend with a parent diagnosed with dementia.

Which leads me to my four stars, instead of a possible five. I was expecting a book mostly about this cat and his antics in a nursing home. Nowhere in the publicity for the book, or in the blub, is the single-minded focus on Alzheimer's even mentioned.

The official book marketing buzz centers squarely on the enigmatic cat who slithers in from the sidelines to claim a vigil over his ailing, failing patients. Oscar is one of those cats who won't seek attention from strangers, choosing to stay curled up against the dying. Though a series of family interviews performed by Dr Dosa, we see this tabby is uncannily accurate about who is actually dying on the third floor. Oscar treats his charges in the best way he knows - never allowing someone to die alone. His rounds are considered more accurate than the prognostications of both nurses and doctors in Steere House.

Dr Dosa does his best Scully as he interviews the bereaved about Oscar's vigils over the dying. In the end, he wants to believe. That the book spends 85% of the pages on dementia and 15% on Oscar is perhaps to be expected. Dr Dosa could not exactly interview the cat.

What we are left with is a book about dealing with dementia, in a unique framework of a nursing home with a special feline who provides comfort to those passing on. Kudos for the book, in what help and understanding it can bring to grieving families, and for showcasing the kindness and compassion of one very alert cat.

On July 27, 2007 Oscar the amazing cat who seemed to be able to predict the imminent death of patients at Steere House Nursing and Rehab Center in Providence, Rhode Island made the AP news . Oscar was a stray cat that began to wander the construction site of the current facility, and one day, shortly after the dedication ceremony, he decided to take a tour of the completed facility....."At first the staff tried to shoo the animal away, to no avail, each day the cat returned undaunted, through the lobby's sliding glass doors. His attitude was one of entitlement." He was finally allowed to stay and named Oscar after the building's benefactor.

Oscar was not the only animal that resided at the nursing home. Steere House was unlike other nursing homes in the area. At Steere House, several cats, rabbits and birds resided there, and the residents seemed to enjoy having them there as well. Oscar had not been a very sociable cat during his first year at the nursing and rehab center. He was not one to cuddle up to staff residents or family members. However, one day they found him laying on the bed, purring next to Mrs. Davis, a dementia patient. Dr.Dosa, who was not fond of cats, went to pet Oscar and he hit his hand with his paw refusing to budge from the bed. The doctor examined Mrs Davis, and then left the facility, and about one hour latter the nurse called Dr. Dosa to let him know that Mrs. Davis had passed away. The doctor could not believe what he was hearing; he just left his patent.

Mary, the charge nurse, told Dr. Dosa that this behavior and pattern of Oscars, was not new. In fact it had happened 5-6 times before. The patients were examined, no staff members sensed anything was wrong, and then Oscar would enter the room and sit vigil on the bed of the resident. After a few hours all of these patients peacefully passed away. Suddenly doctors and staff took notice, as to who Oscar choose to visit, and it wasn't long before Oscar had created quite a stir. This ordinary cat instinctively seemed to know when the end of life was near.

MY THOUGHTS - I LOVED this book, and not just because I love cats -- it's full of beautiful quotes about cats, and the story just made me feel good all over. Dr. Dosa has written a book that compassionately addresses end of life issues. The stories he shares about residents and their families who must deal with such painful issues such as Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia, and terminal illness, are tender and heartfelt. The book cites amazing examples of unexpected deaths, as well as miracles in other residents who had been expected to die. There is valuable information about hospice, and the book even touches on that expression "the sweet smell of death", and how perhaps Oscar, may have been able to smell elevated level of chemical compounds which are believed to be released as cells die off." If you like to read tender stories about amazing animals, or need a touching, compassionate read about life, death and dying, this book will not disappoint you. Dewey the Small - Town Library Cat may have touched the world in 2008, but more over Dewey, Oscar is the cat everyone will be talking about in 2010. READ THIS BOOK it's AWESOME! (5/5 stars)

I won't repeat the summaries or insights given by previous good reviewers. I just want to add what this book did for me. This book helped me to better understand, appreciate, and have patience with those aspects of my elderly mother's character and behavior that have been most persistently frustrating to me.

About 3 years ago, my husband and I brought my 87 year old frail mother into our family to live with us for the rest of her life, and she fell and broke her neck, necessitating major surgery, shortly after she came to us. The recovery and life together since has been more rewarding but also more frustrating and taxing than we ever could have imagined. Although she does not have any form of senility, and in fact remains one of the smartest people I've ever known, she is often very frustratingly reckless and uncooperative in her health and wellness care, and that takes a huge toll on those who love her, especially me and my siblings. At times I have found myself more consumed with worry and frustration than love and enjoyment. At times I've felt like the mother who lives with me is not the mother who raised me -- especially when she says or does things that she always taught us not to do.

Making Rounds with Oscar has taught me to enjoy the mother I have today without forsaking the mother I thought I had yesterday. It has taught me to respect her for who she is, even when she endangers or neglects herself despite my husband's and my "due diligence." It has taught me to experience "the moment" for what it is without regret for the past or fear for the future.

In fact, I think any adult child who has any worthwhile relationship with his/her parent should memorize the list of considerations at the end of the book. I'm thankful Dr. Dosa reminded me that part of "honoring" my mother is to honor her today as well as yesterday.

One of the most practical insights this book gave me was the reassurance that care giving for the elderly takes an enormous toll on the care giver, and that is not selfish but even beneficial for me to seek relief help even as my mother insists she does not need it and cannot afford it. I need it and therefore she needs it. Thankfully, her depression-era estimation of being unable to afford it and the realities of the support my father left her are not the same.

Whether your elderly loved one has dementia or not, whether you care about pets or not, whether you believe Oscar can sense impending death and acts in compassion or not, anyone who loves someone nearing the end of his/her life can benefit from this book.

I received this book in the mail on Friday, and by Sunday evening had finished it with tears in my eyes. Not only am I an animal lover, but I have worked with dementia patients in the past. I had the opportunity to see firsthand how going through something like this affects not only the patients, but the families as well. I certainly would hope that a loving presence like Oscar will be there for my loved ones or myself if that were to happen to anyone of us. I would highly recommend this book.

What an adorable book! Dr. Dosa does a marvelous job in taking us through the world of dementia, how it affects the patients, as well as the family. But the cat, Oscar, is the star of the show. How he instinctively knows when a patient is going to pass away is almost uncanny. I have had cats that know when you're sick and will come and sit with you until you're better, but I can't say I've ever known one that knew when someone was about to die. It is a comforting tale of a very special cat, one that brings comfort to all he meets. The nursing home described in the book, Steere House, in Rhode Island, sounds like a wonderful place for folks to spend out their last few years. They have cats, rabbits and birds throughout the home, which provides comfort for the residents.

One the things I particularly appreciated about the book was the detailed look at the effects of Alzheimer's from a physcian's point-of-view, as well as early-onset arthritis. When you are in the situation, you don't always get this "in-depth" explanation from your physician, which is exactly what you need. It's also very refreshing to hear the medical viewpoint on end-of-life decisions - whether a family member should be on full code, or just left alone to pass away quietly. Just wish I would have had this book a few years ago for a family member. It seems as if we know so little about dementia until we're actually thrust there through experience. I'm very glad to have read this book - it will definitely delight you and make you cry at the same time. Great, great book, I enjoyed it very much. Highly recommend!

This book is about so much more than the extraordinary powers of Oscar the cat. It is about the compassionate Dr. Dosa and his caring staff at Steere House. It also gives a strong voice to Dementia and the damage and confusion it causes the elderly and their loved ones. I liked Dr. Dosa's approach in interviewing family members of deceased patients in an attempt to get a better understanding of Oscar's work. Dr. Dosa has to be one of the most down to earth and selfless doctors in this country. Although he can find no medical explanation for Oscar's abilities, he still recognizes that this beautiful creature provides a very necessary service to the Steere House patients and their families. To die alone has to be one of the harshest realities. To watch a loved one die is absolute agony. I just hope Oscar's fame encourages more geriatric medical facilities to add animals to their wards in some capacity. I can only hope that an animal as sensitive and caring as Oscar is around when it is my time to go.

Oscar is truly an amazing cat. This wonderful creature makes sure no one dies alone or grieves alone on his watch. In return, he earns the eternal gratitude of the families...not to mention some well earned affection. Some of the patients' family members were alone when their loved ones were dying and having Oscar there gave them great comfort. Some patients had no family left and would have died alone if not for Oscar's presence.

This book will make you laugh and it will make you cry. If you have ever lost a loved one to Alzheimers or Dementia, this book will give you insight on their suffering. If you have ever felt the unconditional love of a pet, you will come to love Oscar. If you feel that all doctors lack compassion, Dr. Dosa will prove you wrong. Please read this book, it may restore your faith in miracles.