When seriously ill people are asked when they first became aware of their finitude, they do not report hospital stays or medication intake. Instead, they describe the moments when they realized they could no longer keep up at work at their previous level; they recount situations in which they had to give up their own hobbies and interests for health reasons, and above all: experiences in which they were socially excluded or discriminated against for the first time. This process of social dying can determine entire decades of people's lives due to medical advancements. Carolin Tillmann has spoken with people in exactly these situations and uncovered the main hurdles in their daily lives and work. She asks: What can these individuals do to maintain their quality of life, and what opportunities for participation are available to them?.