I found the section about death to be the most interesting. how each culture approaches the end of their lives is all different but with the same end result. shows how we can all be similar and different at the same time.

I take away that Elders are being accepted into community as functioning humans who still have much to contribute even if they cannot do so physically

Hawai'ian elders are revered for their skills in making leis. In the US and many western societies, elders hold high ranking positions in government due to their vast knowledge. Some cultures believe them to have special powers such as transformation but that doesn't really seem to be legit