National Palliative Care Week coincided with the death of American author Phillip Roth from congestive heart failure at the age of 85.

Known for his unique take on the Jewish experience in America, Roth published 27 novels before retiring in 2012. 

In an interview with The New York Times in January, Roth reflected on growing older and the inevitability of death.

“Right now it is astonishing to find myself still here at the end of each day,” he said.

“Getting to bed at night, I smile and think to myself ‘I lived another day’.”

Not only has this frank description of mortality been re-tweeted more than 600 times, but it has aligned with the 2018 National Palliative Care Week theme of ‘What Matters Most?’.

The sudden nature of death means not everyone is able to have a say on what their last days are going to consist of. 

Roth’s words indicate a man who is comfortable with where he is at and knows what is coming. 

Unfortunately, death is not a comfortable topic of conversation. 

Loss affects people in different ways, which is perhaps why the scope of palliative care is so varied. 

The Wellness Information Day mini expo at Invermay on Tuesday showed that sometimes the conversation doesn’t need to be a conversation at all.

It can be playing music to take someone’s mind off an unpleasant truth, or bringing them their favourite meal.

Not all elderly people are able to articulate themselves in the way of Roth, but it does not make what they have to say about their future any less important.

Sean Slatter is a Fairfax journalist.