When Bill Thomas became medical director of a nursing home he decided to attack what he termed the Three Plagues of nursing home existence -- boredom, loneliness and helplessness -- by bringing in some life. Cats, dogs, birds and green plants in every room, and visiting children after school, triggered unexpected transformations. Some medication doses were lowered, residents were invigorated in body and spirit, and a few patients were even able to return to independent homes. This excerpt from "Being Mortal", Atul Gawande's powerful new book on end-of-life care shares the extraordinary story of Bill Thomas' work.
