The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat
By David Dosa, M.D.
At first glance, Oscar seems likeatypical cat—a handsome butaloof black-and-white tabby with a penchant for naps in the sun. For almost five years he has lived among patients withadvanced dementia at the Steere House Nursing Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island. But Oscar made international headlines when Dr. David Dosa published an article in the New England Journal of Medicinethatrevealedthe cat’s unusual talent: Oscar can predictwhen patients are going to die. In MAKING ROUNDS WITH OSCAR: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat (Hyperion; February 2, 2010; Hardcover; $23.99), Dr. Dosailluminates Oscar’s amazinggift.
A few hours before a resident passesaway, Oscar climbs onto his or her bed. He purrs and refuses to leave until the patient dies. His predictions are always right—he never lingers unless the person is within a few hours of death. His unusual talent provides an early warning system, giving caregivers precious time to alert family members that their loved one is near the end of life. Steere House residents and their families are grateful to Oscar for the comfort and companionship he provides during this difficult time.
When he first heard about Oscar’s uncanny ability, Steere House doctor David Dosa, an assistant professor of medicine at Brown University and one of just 7,000 geriatricians in the country, was skeptical. After all, how can an animal accurately predictwhen a patient would diewhen trained doctors can’t? But Oscar’s perfect record of eleventh-hour bedside vigils, coupled with Dosa’s conversations with staffers and families of patients, convinced the doctor that there is something very special about the third floor’s smallest resident. Oscarhas a calling as a caregiver.
MAKING ROUNDS is the story not only of this mysterious cat, but also of Steere House itself, its staff, residents, and families. Dosa interviewed colleagues and family members whose loved ones passed away with Oscar by their side. Their stories all carry a common, uplifting element: Oscar. While Dr. Dosa portrays dementia and all of its difficulties, he provides hope and advice for caregivers who are coping with a loved one’s decline. The book will inspire readers to discuss the critical but taboo issue of end-of-life care.
Today, Oscar continues to keep up his careful bedside manner at Steere House. In all, he has tended to more than fifty residents during their final hours.
Dr. Dosa is available for interviews and can discuss:
-The scientific—and not so scientific—explanations for Oscar’s surprising behavior
-What the future holds for the more than five million Americans currently living with dementia
-What will happen if current legislation passes Congress and pullscrucial funding from nursing homes and hospitals
-Advice for coping when a family member is diagnosed with dementia
-How families can and should discuss end-of-life care options and preferences with each other and with their doctors
-The impending “silver tsunami” and the ramifications of our aging population
Family members of several Steere House residents who passed away with Oscar at their bedside are also available for interviews and photos, and b-roll footage of Oscar, Dr. Dosa, and Steere House can be provided.
About the author: Dr. David Dosa is one of just 7,000 geriatricians in the United States. Beyond working at Steere House, he is also an assistant professor of medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Dosa lives with his family in Barrington, Rhode Island. For more information see look for Oscarthecat on Facebook.
About Steere House Nursing Rehabilitation Center: For 135 years, Steere House has provided high-quality and compassionate healthcare to older adults in the Rhode Island area.