Art Buchwald and

The Washington Home & Community Hospices

In early 2006 Art Buchwald, Pulitzer Prize winning humorist, columnist, and author was seriously ill.  His kidneys were failing and his doctors advised that only dialysis would prolong his life.  He had already experienced the pain of dialysis, and said “This is not the way to live.

Buchwald chose hospice care and  moved to The Washington Home & Community Hospices’ Inpatient Unit . Doctors predicted Buchwald’s kidneys would fail in about three weeks.  Word spread and soon Washington’s famous news makers and news writers began paying their last respects.  On February 24, Diane Rehm, National Public Radio Talk Show Host interviewed Buchwald in the Inpatient Unit. (listen to interview)  Buchwald said of his hospice experience: “…in the past month, when I decided to make my choice, it’s been the happiest years of all.  I’ve seen friends, caught up with all the people in my life from every different place.  I’ve been talking to people…If I was at home, I would not see these people.”

And Buchwald’s kidneys stopped failing. Soon he was well enough to leave hospice and spend the summer in Nantucket with family and friends, writing his last book,  Too Soon to Say Goodbye. 

In September, Buchwald returned to Washington and was presented with the Legion of Honor by the French Ambassador to the U.S., Jean-David Levitte.
And in November 2006 Buchwald was the honored guest at The Washington Home and Community Hospices’ Annual Gala.