Assisted Living: What You Need To Know Before You Make A Decision -Will The New Year Actually Be New Asks Frances Fuller, Bestselling Author Of Helping Yourself Grow Old

Best-selling author Frances Fuller offers a unique outlook on aging based on her own experience. Her insights are penetrating and deal with issues that many seniors and their families are concerned about. She offers an insider's view of assisted living.

We all like to think that somehow a new year allows us a fresh start. We reflect, set new goals and plan action steps. But is the new year actually new? Will anything change? What if we live in an assisted care community? Will anything be new? Frances Fuller, award winning author of “Helping Yourself Grow Old” addressed this subject in a recent post on her website. She wrote:

A new year is upon us, while I am still looking back.

Just a few months ago, in the laundry room, I met a new resident of the assisted care community. She was beautiful, her eyes such a friendly blue, her gray hair lying in soft waves, her smile lighting up that drab little room. She had some question about the dryer. And she, in her clothes so neat and classy, admired my jacket and claimed she would like to have it, if ever I didn’t want it anymore.

Here and there I met her. In the hall, the lounge. I liked her. We compared stories about how we inherited our old fashioned names.

One day, in the dining room, she opened the basket on her walker and showed me how she had equipped herself for every emergency. Sanitizer. Lip balm. Tissues. A roll of toilet paper and other items, mostly things we don’t talk about in polite company. We enjoyed a wonderful laugh.

Only a few days later she was untidy, disheveled and disoriented. After that I didn’t see her. I heard she fell. I heard she had been taken to “Memory Care.” And then this week her picture appeared in the “In Memoriam” corner. So soon. Too soon.

None of the things in her basket were about dying.

A year ago when 2022 was approaching, offering us hope that covid would go away and take with it a few of our problems, I didn’t quite realize how quickly people decline sometimes, with no pandemic needed. And this seems somehow relevant to thinking about the coming year.

Today already, trying to be courteous, I wished several people a Happy New Year.

But will the year be new? In any way at all?

Will we resolve any of our differences? Heal any wounds? Avoid any oncoming conflicts? Defeat any diseases? Get any younger? See something wonderful that we never saw before?

Or was the poet-philosopher of Ecclesiastes right when he said, “There is nothing new under the sun”?

Well, one of the things I finally understood this year is that “under the sun” means just that: from an earthly point of view. In the physical realm, that we know too well, the sun rises and sets and rises again without changing anything.

There is nothing new. This is the obvious, worldly and pessimistic view.

And this, according to the wise poet, is the reason one should remember her creator, remember before she is stooped and the lights dim and the songs muffled and she doesn’t even care.

So, the “new” year approaches, and what shall we pray for relevant members of our family or for us, the elderly in assisted living?

That we, all of us, like my beautiful friend with her walker, be prepared for every emergency? The failing of the body, the confusion of the mind?

Why not? We had better. There will be emergencies ahead for all of us. . .

Readers can see then entire piece and subscribe at her website at http://www.francesfullerauthor.com.

Frances Fuller's book is unique among the many books on aging, because it is personal, while most such books are written from an academic point of view. Most are penned by sociologists, doctors, gerontologists, even the CEO of AARP, and one by a Catholic nun, Joan Chittister. Chittister's book, 'The Gift of Years' is beautifully written, focusing on spiritual values and finding meaning in life. Chittister admits in the preface that she was only 70, which is the front edge of aging, and her book is somewhat abstract.

Atul Gawande’s book, 'On Being Mortal', relates medicine and old age, It enjoys high Amazon rankings, in the category of “the sociology of aging.” It contains a great deal of valuable scientific information and shows understanding of the physical and emotional needs of the elderly.

Frances Fuller’s book, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost Ninety', is an up-close and very personal encounter with aging. It is an uncontrived and firsthand look at her own daily experiences: wrestling with physical limitations, grief, loneliness, fears, and the decisions she has made about how to cope with these and keep becoming a better person. She faces regrets and the need to forgive herself and others and is determined to live in a way that blesses her children and grandchildren.

Frances deals with many common, universal but sometimes private issues in an open, conversational tone. Her confessions and decisions invite self-searching and discussion. She tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations. In the process she shares her daily life, enriched with memories from her fascinating experiences. Her stories and her voice — fresh, honest, irresistible — keep the reader eager for more. The end result is a book that helps create a detailed map through the challenging terrain of old age.

The result of this intimate narrative is that readers laugh, cry and identify with her mistakes and problems. Reviewers have called the book, “unique,” “honest,” “witty,” “poignant,” “challenging” and “life-changing.”

For these reasons it is a book unlike any other book on aging you will ever read. The book can serve as a primer on what lies in store for all of us, from someone who is working through many of these issues. While the book is a perfect fit for book clubs, there are many other individuals and groups who could benefit from the information and ideas in the book:

Those approaching retirement
People who are currently retired
Children of aging parents
Those who have lost a spouse
Retirement community discussion groups
Counselors
Educators
Life coaches
Church groups (men and women)

and a host of others. For group discussions, Fuller has made a set of discussion questions available at her website at http://www.FrancesFullerAuthor.com.

Readers have lavished praise on the new book. One Amazon review stated, "I find myself thinking,'I need to read this again and take notes!' It’s full of wisdom, humor, and grace. I also have committed to rereading it annually - it’s that important!" Another said, "There is valuable life experience in this book. Helping Yourself Grow Old is truly is a book for all ages, and one not to be missed." Another stated, "Beautifully written book telling timeless truths, for both the old and the young. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to laugh, cry, and learn wisdom from someone who has lived so much life."

Frances' prior work, 'In Borrowed Houses', has taken three industry awards and has achieved Bestseller status. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.

Critics have also praised ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “ . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “ . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”

Frances has shared stories about her life in an interview with Women Over 70, and a recording is available on their Facebook page.

Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website at http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com.

About Frances Fuller:

Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.

Contact:

Frances Fuller

frances0516@att.net

http://www.francesfullerauthor.com

Leia Mais…

Assisted Living: What You Need To Know Before You Make A Decision - Will I Be Bored In A Home For The Elderly By Frances Fuller, Bestselling Author Of Helping Yourself Grow Old

Best-selling author Frances Fuller offers a unique outlook on aging based on her own experience. Her insights are penetrating and deal with issues that many seniors and their families are concerned about. She offers an insider's view of assisted living.

A common fear of retirement, especially retirement in a home for the elderly, is the fear of boredom. What will we do all day in a place for old people, a place where we never have to mow the lawn or even vacuum the rug? A place where meals are provided and transportation to the doctor, and the hairdresser is just down the hall?

Will we watch television all day? Work endless crossword puzzles? Will the days be all alike? Long and boring?

Bestselling author Frances Fuller, who lives in a home for the aging, addressed this issue in a recent post on her website, describing her day, a day that was anything but boring."

It was a Tuesday, pile-on Tuesday for me here in the retirement home. The day the cleaning woman works on this hall. The day I have PT and my book club meets. Normally I am slow in the mornings, just because I like it that way (I think), but if the cleaning woman is coming, I need to get breakfast out of the way and pick up all the little things that are out of place. Her job description says she can’t touch my “things:” the little treasures, the notes to myself, the open mail. I have to put things away.

It is common knowledge and a male joke how much a woman works to get ready for the maid to arrive. Of course, I wouldn’t know except that I learned this a long time ago from the funny papers. Both Dagwood and I were astonished when Blondie explained that she was so busy “because the maid is coming tomorrow.”

I did my chores before I showered and then dried my hair in a bit of a hurry, and put away the dryer and my cosmetics, so Nina could clean my bathroom, too.

And then, barely here, with me barely dressed, Nina asked if she was supposed to change the bed, and I said,” Yes, I left it so you would know,” and she said, “but you didn’t put out the sheets.”

“They are in the closet,” I told her, “in the bag like they came from the laundry,” and she told me what I was supposed to know—that she couldn’t go into my closet, and the instructions said that I must put the clean sheets at the foot of the bed. So I got out from under this computer and rushed to the closet, noticing on the way that I had not put the brace on my arthritic knee and could hear bone scraping against bone, (because I actually had remembered to put my hearing aids where they belong).

While I went to my Physical Therapy appointment, Nina did a great job of everything and left me with a pristine kitchen and flawless floors and dirty sheets already in the bag that I must put out in the hall on the right evening so they will magically fly off to the laundry and back.

My therapist is wonderful. To be more specific she makes me do things I know I can’t do, and I have to admit that in a mere two weeks she has made my back stronger. However, when we finished our forty-five minute routine, I didn’t think I could walk down the hall to the next thing on my schedule, though from stubbornness I did. In fact, I had to because she walked with me, reminding me to hold my head up because it weighs ten pounds, and on the way she explained to me why my right knee is bending inward. (I didn’t tell her my suspicion that it is actually revenge for participating in the ridicule of that knock-kneed kid in my fourth grade class.)

While resting, I answered my email and revised two book recommendations that I thought I would need at a club meeting in the afternoon. Then I unplugged my laptop so I could take it to the back of my closet where my printer sits on a filing cabinet, and I made copies of the letter and the book reports.

I also wrote down a few leading questions I might ask the chaplain, because I agreed to interview him and write a report about all the programs he offers the residents here. (The editor of the residents’ monthly newspaper has discovered my claim to have been a journalist.)

Like that the hours disappeared and it was suddenly lunch time, and I was hungry, so I made a hasty turkey sandwich and nibbled the remains of a red pepper and a half eaten nut bar.

I wanted to be downstairs when a generous friend of mine arrived, bringing me a box of the sweet little tomatoes that are bursting out all over her vines, and I made it just as she was walking through the front door, and we had five minutes, during which I apologized that I could not invite her up to my apartment, silently wondering how anybody could believe that people in retirement homes don’t have time to be civil. It crossed my mind then that when I was a lot younger, like maybe 87, I imagined that life in the retirement home would be endlessly boring.

Then, because I dreaded to walk all the way back to my room only to return immediately, I took the box of tomatoes with me to Bible study. I actually had demonstrated some ability at forethought by bringing my Bible and notebook. We sat in a big square and read the farewell section at the end of the book of Romans, and the subsequent conversation alternated between the encouragement and instructions to the church in Rome and the news that the FBI had raided Mar-a-Lago, and our country is broken and bewildered and maybe dangerous. The others discussed all this and then prayed, dumping it all on God, while I scribbled notes about how to use all this in the story I had to write.

I had to hurry afterwards, down the long halls, past the room where four people were staring at their Mah Zongg game and the sound of chorus practice in the auditorium and into the elevator and back up to my apartment to leave my Bible and notebook and tomatoes and pick up the book I needed and those two recommendations for the reading group that was meeting in five minutes.

On the way I stopped for a few seconds to read the poster about that program on Alzheimer’s research scheduled for next week.

The book club meeting was a gathering of intellectual people who read to learn, and I just hoped I belonged there. As our leader talked about the kinds of books the group read last year, I wondered about the relationships between the books they had chosen and what the members had possibly done or not done when they were young, because my own proposal for this year is a book that has helped me to understand more completely a period of my own past. That made me realize how really challenging it might be to learn from all these people, MDs and university professors, journalists and soldiers, engineers and administrators. All of them my neighbors.

The entire text of the piece titled, "Will I Be Bored In A Home For The Elderly" is available at her website at http://www.francesfullerauthor.com.

Frances Fuller's book is unique among the many books on aging, because it is personal, while most such books are written from an academic point of view. Most are penned by sociologists, doctors, gerontologists, even the CEO of AARP, and one by a Catholic nun, Joan Chittister. Chittister's book, 'The Gift of Years' is beautifully written, focusing on spiritual values and finding meaning in life. Chittister admits in the preface that she was only 70, which is the front edge of aging, and her book is somewhat abstract.

Atul Gawande’s book, 'On Being Mortal', relates medicine and old age, It enjoys high Amazon rankings, in the category of “the sociology of aging.” It contains a great deal of valuable scientific information and shows understanding of the physical and emotional needs of the elderly.

Frances Fuller’s book, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost Ninety', is an up-close and very personal encounter with aging. It is an uncontrived and firsthand look at her own daily experiences: wrestling with physical limitations, grief, loneliness, fears, and the decisions she has made about how to cope with these and keep becoming a better person. She faces regrets and the need to forgive herself and others and is determined to live in a way that blesses her children and grandchildren.

Frances deals with many common, universal but sometimes private issues in an open, conversational tone. Her confessions and decisions invite self-searching and discussion. She tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations. In the process she shares her daily life, enriched with memories from her fascinating experiences. Her stories and her voice — fresh, honest, irresistible — keep the reader eager for more. The end result is a book that helps create a detailed map through the challenging terrain of old age.

The result of this intimate narrative is that readers laugh, cry and identify with her mistakes and problems. Reviewers have called the book, “unique,” “honest,” “witty,” “poignant,” “challenging” and “life-changing.”

For these reasons it is a book unlike any other book on aging you will ever read. The book can serve as a primer on what lies in store for all of us, from someone who is working through many of these issues. While the book is a perfect fit for book clubs, there are many other individuals and groups who could benefit from the information and ideas in the book:

Those approaching retirement
People who are currently retired
Children of aging parents
Those who have lost a spouse
Retirement community discussion groups
Counselors
Educators
Life coaches
Church groups (men and women)

and a host of others. For group discussions, Fuller has made a set of discussion questions available at her website at http://www.FrancesFullerAuthor.com.

Readers have lavished praise on the new book. One Amazon review stated, "I find myself thinking,'I need to read this again and take notes!' It’s full of wisdom, humor, and grace. I also have committed to rereading it annually - it’s that important!" Another said, "There is valuable life experience in this book. Helping Yourself Grow Old is truly is a book for all ages, and one not to be missed." Another stated, "Beautifully written book telling timeless truths, for both the old and the young. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to laugh, cry, and learn wisdom from someone who has lived so much life."

Frances' prior work, 'In Borrowed Houses', has taken three industry awards and has achieved Bestseller status. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.

Critics have also praised ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “ . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “ . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”

Frances has shared stories about her life in an interview with Women Over 70, and a recording is available on their Facebook page.

Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website at http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com.

About Frances Fuller:

Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.

Contact:

Frances Fuller

frances0516@att.net

http://www.francesfullerauthor.com

Leia Mais…

Assisted Living: What You Need To Know Before You Make A Decision - Will I Get The Healthcare I Need, Part Two, By Frances Fuller, Bestselling Author Of Helping Yourself Grow Old

Best-selling author Frances Fuller offers a unique outlook on aging based on her own experience. Her insights are penetrating and deal with issues that many seniors and their families are concerned about. She offers an insider's view of assisted living.

As we all know, when considering assisted living options, nothing is more important or urgent than the healthcare issue. In Part Two of her recent article titled, "Will I Get The Healthcare I Need?," Frances Fuller, bestselling author of 'Helping Yourself Grow Old', addressed specifically the role of family. Part Two of the article reads, in part:

There are things an elder care community cannot do for its residents. Especially, it cannot take the place of family, not even in the realm of health care.

In an emergency the staff of a care home can call 911 or even provide transportation to a medical facility, but they cannot make decisions affecting the care of the patient. For this reason, every resident in such a home must have an appointed “power of attorney” who can make decisions related to their care. A family relationship in this case is not necessary, though it is common for the responsibility to be in the hands of a son or a daughter, preferably someone who lives nearby and is accessible in a time of need.

The role of family, however, is far more extensive than legal authority.

In routine situations, a family member can be a practical assistant. For instance, when Lucille has an appointment with her doctor, she likes her daughter Beth to take her to the clinic. In fact, the retirement community will provide transportation, but Lucille prefers to have someone with her in the doctor’s office. Beth will hear better and afterwards remember better what the doctor said. She is also a good notetaker. She records things in her phone. Sometimes she reminds Lucille of a question she has forgotten to ask. Of course, both Beth and Lucille know that it is Lucille who needs to relate to the doctor, and the doctor knows to address Lucille, not her daughter. They all agree that Lucille could, if necessary, keep the appointment alone, but Lucille admits that everything is less stressful when she is not alone.

A family member can be a lifter of spirits when no one else knows what to do. Debra knew that her Aunt Betty loved sushi. When the elder home reported that Betty was not eating, Debra delivered sushi. It worked! Betty was suddenly happy, hungry and grateful. She told everybody what a blessing Debra was. She felt remembered, understood, loved.

Sometimes a family member is a useful observer. Sherri noticed little things. Her mother didn’t get any coffee this morning; that’s why she still feels sleepy. Or she didn’t get her face washed; she never feels awake until she has wiped her eyes with a cool, wet cloth. Family knows the little things that matter. Sherri also noticed that ordinary service improved when she was able to show up frequently at the nursing home and mention kindly that her mother’s morning meds were sometimes late.

A family member can be important psychological support to a person who is not well. The sick person may feel that half a dozen strangers have been in her room today; she may get confused about who they are. The presence of a familiar face, the face of someone in whom she has confidence makes everything better.

Sometimes only a family member can deliver comfort to the resident of a memory care ward. No one but his son Juan can do it for Miguel. Juan, who knew what color to paint the walls of his apartment to help his dad feel at home, comes often, bringing a game Miguel likes to play. Without the distraction, Miguel will search all day for his wife, who has been dead for years. They eat together, while Juan jokes about everything as he always did at home with his two parents, and his dad eats well, feeling content. Juan is grateful for the help his dad is getting in the care community, and the nurses there appreciate the way he reinforces what they are doing.

In the same memory care unit is a woman whose only daughter had to move to another state and cannot come often. The director of the unit found a way to keep them connected. The daughter calls at an appointed time, and he receives the call on a tablet which he passes to Margaret so she can both talk with her daughter and see her grandchildren. These contacts save Margaret from bouts of depression and restore the glow on her cheeks.

More of Part Two, and the entire text of Part One of "Will I Get The Healthcare I Need?" is available at her website at http://www.francesfullerauthor.com.

Frances Fuller's book is unique among the many books on aging, because it is personal, while most such books are written from an academic point of view. Most are penned by sociologists, doctors, gerontologists, even the CEO of AARP, and one by a Catholic nun, Joan Chittister. Chittister's book, 'The Gift of Years' is beautifully written, focusing on spiritual values and finding meaning in life. Chittister admits in the preface that she was only 70, which is the front edge of aging, and her book is somewhat abstract.

Atul Gawande’s book, 'On Being Mortal', relates medicine and old age, It enjoys high Amazon rankings, in the category of “the sociology of aging.” It contains a great deal of valuable scientific information and shows understanding of the physical and emotional needs of the elderly.

Frances Fuller’s book, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost Ninety', is an up-close and very personal encounter with aging. It is an uncontrived and firsthand look at her own daily experiences: wrestling with physical limitations, grief, loneliness, fears, and the decisions she has made about how to cope with these and keep becoming a better person. She faces regrets and the need to forgive herself and others and is determined to live in a way that blesses her children and grandchildren.

Frances deals with many common, universal but sometimes private issues in an open, conversational tone. Her confessions and decisions invite self-searching and discussion. She tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations. In the process she shares her daily life, enriched with memories from her fascinating experiences. Her stories and her voice — fresh, honest, irresistible — keep the reader eager for more. The end result is a book that helps create a detailed map through the challenging terrain of old age.

The result of this intimate narrative is that readers laugh, cry and identify with her mistakes and problems. Reviewers have called the book, “unique,” “honest,” “witty,” “poignant,” “challenging” and “life-changing.”

For these reasons it is a book unlike any other book on aging you will ever read. The book can serve as a primer on what lies in store for all of us, from someone who is working through many of these issues. While the book is a perfect fit for book clubs, there are many other individuals and groups who could benefit from the information and ideas in the book:

Those approaching retirement
People who are currently retired
Children of aging parents
Those who have lost a spouse
Retirement community discussion groups
Counselors
Educators
Life coaches
Church groups (men and women)

and a host of others. For group discussions, Fuller has made a set of discussion questions available at her website at http://www.FrancesFullerAuthor.com.

Readers have lavished praise on the new book. One Amazon review stated, "I find myself thinking,'I need to read this again and take notes!' It’s full of wisdom, humor, and grace. I also have committed to rereading it annually - it’s that important!" Another said, "There is valuable life experience in this book. Helping Yourself Grow Old is truly is a book for all ages, and one not to be missed." Another stated, "Beautifully written book telling timeless truths, for both the old and the young. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to laugh, cry, and learn wisdom from someone who has lived so much life."

Frances' prior work, 'In Borrowed Houses', has taken three industry awards and has achieved Bestseller status. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.

Critics have also praised ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “ . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “ . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”

Frances has shared stories about her life in an interview with Women Over 70, and a recording is available on their Facebook page.

Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website at http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com.

About Frances Fuller:

Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.

Contact:

Frances Fuller

frances0516@att.net

http://www.francesfullerauthor.com

Leia Mais…

Assisted Living: What You Need To Know Before You Make A Decision - Will I Get The Healthcare I Need Is A Primary Question Says Frances Fuller, Bestselling Author Of Helping Yourself Grow Old

Best-selling author Frances Fuller offers a unique outlook on aging based on her own experience. Her insights are penetrating and deal with issues that many seniors and their families are concerned about. She offers an insider's view of assisted living.

When considering assisted living options, nothing is more important or urgent than the healthcare issue. In a recent article, Frances Fuller, bestselling author of 'Helping Yourself Grow Old', Fuller broke down the subject for those who are considering assisted living. In that article, to be followed by another, she covered a large range of subjects one needs to consider, and presented the major concepts broken down by role: The role of location, the role of insurance, the role of the institution and the role of the resident (Part Two on this subject will deal with the role of the resident's family). The article reads, in part:

The siren of an emergency vehicle is a common phenomena in a large elder care community. It means that someone has fallen or fainted or might be dangerously sick. An ambulance or the fire department EMTs have arrived.

This is not surprising, since the organization has gathered into a small space a crowd of people whose tired bodies have begun to wear out.

Among the many questions we must ask before putting ourselves or a family member into a retirement home or any kind of continuing care community, none is more crucial than the question of quality health care.

Will I get the care I need when I need it?

Or:

Can the specific needs of my elderly parent be addressed effectively in that place?

The Role of Location
The first basic truth we must recognize is that an elder care home is just that: a home, not a hospital. Its residents, like all residents of the city where it is located, are dependent on the area’s existing medical facilities: emergency rooms, hospital beds, doctors, specialists.

Any home for the elderly should not be far from these services. Without them there is little serious health care. In recognition of this perpetual need, retirement homes normally make transportation to medical appointments the highest priority for the company van.
Significant to this subject is the issue of an in-house doctor. Some homes claim that a certain local doctor is a part of what they provide their residents. At the same time every resident is free to use this doctor or another whom they may prefer.

On the surface it might seem really good to a new resident to choose the services of the doctor who comes to the home. Surely it saves a lot of going to and fro for appointments, we think. And usually this doctor is well-known and highly regarded in the city. Their name lends prestige to the elder care home.

But there are questions the new resident needs to ask:

Will the doctor take full responsibility for a resident, like a normal gp, providing regular checkups and recommending needed specialists?

When does the doctor come to the home? (We know that he/she still has their practice in the city.)

How many in-house patients can the doctor see in a week? A month?

How much time will any resident have with the doctor, having chosen him/her as their general practitioner?

Recently a resident who uses an in-house doctor told me: “I have never seen him except at 6:30 in the morning. So I am never awake enough to remember my questions.”

Of course, the doctor may have an assistant, who is easier to contact, but both the doctor and the assistant have an office somewhere else, not in the retirement home. In other words, the in-house doctor is not actually in the house, but does make house calls.

And then there is the annoying question:

How much of the resident’s monthly fee goes to this doctor, whether or not the resident opts to use him/her?

The Role of Insurance
Though I hate to mention it, in America medical care must be paid for, and without insurance the cost can be astronomical. Living in a home for the elderly does not change this.

Medicare is basic, of course, but a dependable supplement, accepted nationwide is hard to live without. Prescription drug coverage is a major need, too. Without it, elderly people may spend a major part of their income for medicines, and being in an elder care home will not change that.

Some people also have long-term care insurance which may or may not be accepted as part of the cost of services in the elder community. Read the fine print on your policy and ask before you make a choice. Never assume. I have friends who have waited years for their insurance company to pay and finally moved to another home that, for some reason, the insurance company preferred.

Just like people living in their own homes, residents of the elder community should have their insurance cards always with them. Though the cards are on file with the home’s office, it is residents or guardians who must pass them to medical offices. If a technician comes to your room to make an x-ray or take your blood for a test, don’t cooperate until you see them copy your insurance cards.

The full piece is available at her site at http://www.francesfullerauthor.com.

Frances Fuller's book is unique among the many books on aging, because it is personal, while most such books are written from an academic point of view. Most are penned by sociologists, doctors, gerontologists, even the CEO of AARP, and one by a Catholic nun, Joan Chittister. Chittister's book, 'The Gift of Years' is beautifully written, focusing on spiritual values and finding meaning in life. Chittister admits in the preface that she was only 70, which is the front edge of aging, and her book is somewhat abstract.

Atul Gawande’s book, 'On Being Mortal', relates medicine and old age, It enjoys high Amazon rankings, in the category of “the sociology of aging.” It contains a great deal of valuable scientific information and shows understanding of the physical and emotional needs of the elderly.

Frances Fuller’s book, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost Ninety', is an up-close and very personal encounter with aging. It is an uncontrived and firsthand look at her own daily experiences: wrestling with physical limitations, grief, loneliness, fears, and the decisions she has made about how to cope with these and keep becoming a better person. She faces regrets and the need to forgive herself and others and is determined to live in a way that blesses her children and grandchildren.

Frances deals with many common, universal but sometimes private issues in an open, conversational tone. Her confessions and decisions invite self-searching and discussion. She tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations. In the process she shares her daily life, enriched with memories from her fascinating experiences. Her stories and her voice — fresh, honest, irresistible — keep the reader eager for more. The end result is a book that helps create a detailed map through the challenging terrain of old age.

The result of this intimate narrative is that readers laugh, cry and identify with her mistakes and problems. Reviewers have called the book, “unique,” “honest,” “witty,” “poignant,” “challenging” and “life-changing.”

For these reasons it is a book unlike any other book on aging you will ever read. The book can serve as a primer on what lies in store for all of us, from someone who is working through many of these issues. While the book is a perfect fit for book clubs, there are many other individuals and groups who could benefit from the information and ideas in the book:

Those approaching retirement
People who are currently retired
Children of aging parents
Those who have lost a spouse
Retirement community discussion groups
Counselors
Educators
Life coaches
Church groups (men and women)

and a host of others. For group discussions, Fuller has made a set of discussion questions available at her website at http://www.FrancesFullerAuthor.com.

Readers have lavished praise on the new book. One Amazon review stated, "I find myself thinking,'I need to read this again and take notes!' It’s full of wisdom, humor, and grace. I also have committed to rereading it annually - it’s that important!" Another said, "There is valuable life experience in this book. Helping Yourself Grow Old is truly is a book for all ages, and one not to be missed." Another stated, "Beautifully written book telling timeless truths, for both the old and the young. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to laugh, cry, and learn wisdom from someone who has lived so much life."

Frances' prior work, 'In Borrowed Houses', has taken three industry awards and has achieved Bestseller status. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.

Critics have also praised ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “ . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “ . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”

Frances has shared stories about her life in an interview with Women Over 70, and a recording is available on their Facebook page.

Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website at http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com.

About Frances Fuller:

Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.

Contact:

 

Frances Fuller

frances0516@att.net

http://www.francesfullerauthor.com

Leia Mais…

Assisted Living: What You Need To Know Before You Make A Decision - Can I Afford The Assisted Care I Need Is A Primary Question Says Frances Fuller, Bestselling Author Of Helping Yourself Grow Old

 Best-selling author Frances Fuller offers a unique outlook on aging based on her own experience. Her insights are penetrating and deal with issues that many seniors and their families are concerned about. She offers an insider's view of assisted living.

On that long list of worries and concerns about aging, there is one subject that always rises to the top of the list - money. For many seniors, that long-awaited time when we should be able to kick back and enjoy our new-found freedom is colored with a growing sense of worry regarding our limited resources. Having a place to live, without placing a burden on others, is paramount in the minds of many. Frances Fuller, award-winning author of "Helping Yourself Grow Old" addressed that question in a recent post on her website titled, "Can I Afford The Assisted Care I Need?" In that piece she wrote in part:

"The question of cost is basic when we begin to search for a place to spend our declining years. Our resources are limited, and we don’t know how long they need to last. While visiting a certain very beautiful community, I met a lively, well-dressed woman who was chatting with a friend in the common room. She told me she was 98 years old and had lived there for nineteen years. Honestly if I had heard this when I was seventy-five I would have found it scary. (The cost of getting old can be fearful.)

"Besides, even if our funds are unlimited, we have principles related to how we are willing to spend money. We have families, younger generations behind us. And we live, with tender consciences in a needy world.

"All I can tell you about this conundrum is what to watch for as you try to make a wise decision.

"First, be aware that there are many retirement communities, owned and managed as businesses. Profit is their purpose. They may offer a lot that we want; they must if they are to get our business. And we may have good reasons for choosing one of these. A business offering care of the elderly is fair and reasonable, just like a restaurant or an airline.

"At the same time we should be aware of how they make their money. After all they are getting it out of our purses. Do they pay their employees a fair salary? If not you will surely see them struggling to keep staff. Are they able to keep their promises to residents? Ask people who live there. And are there major areas of life without known price tags? I have become suspicious of large sums that pay for everything: food, cleaning, electricity, internet, entertainment, all provided, though I don’t know what any of it actually costs.

"As residents, we might live with this a while before we notice that when we go out for dinner just to be with friends or family, we still pay for the dinner we didn’t eat in the retirement home. We would like to buy something we really like from a store and eat it in our room, but we see this as extravagance, because we have already paid for dinner in the dining room. Finally, we realize that we don’t know what we pay for meals.

"At the same time we should be aware that there are not-for-profit communities. Sometimes these are institutions that began as homes for certain groups of people, perhaps a Christian denomination that gives preference to its own retired ministers. They might even be subsidized by the denomination. Their daily activities will likely reflect the culture and values of the sponsors, and their monthly fees will be lower.

"Even within this kind of system there are varieties of financial models. Some require money up front, giving the impression that they are very expensive. My experience says, do the math over periods of years. The advance funds may come back to you in the form of small monthly expenses . . ."

The full piece is available at her site at http://www.francesfullerauthor.com.

Frances Fuller's book is unique among the many books on aging, because it is personal, while most such books are written from an academic point of view. Most are penned by sociologists, doctors, gerontologists, even the CEO of AARP, and one by a Catholic nun, Joan Chittister. Chittister's book, 'The Gift of Years' is beautifully written, focusing on spiritual values and finding meaning in life. Chittister admits in the preface that she was only 70, which is the front edge of aging, and her book is somewhat abstract.

Atul Gawande’s book, 'On Being Mortal', relates medicine and old age, It enjoys high Amazon rankings, in the category of “the sociology of aging.” It contains a great deal of valuable scientific information and shows understanding of the physical and emotional needs of the elderly.

Frances Fuller’s book, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost Ninety', is an up-close and very personal encounter with aging. It is an uncontrived and firsthand look at her own daily experiences: wrestling with physical limitations, grief, loneliness, fears, and the decisions she has made about how to cope with these and keep becoming a better person. She faces regrets and the need to forgive herself and others and is determined to live in a way that blesses her children and grandchildren.

Frances deals with many common, universal but sometimes private issues in an open, conversational tone. Her confessions and decisions invite self-searching and discussion. She tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations. In the process she shares her daily life, enriched with memories from her fascinating experiences. Her stories and her voice — fresh, honest, irresistible — keep the reader eager for more. The end result is a book that helps create a detailed map through the challenging terrain of old age.

The result of this intimate narrative is that readers laugh, cry and identify with her mistakes and problems. Reviewers have called the book, “unique,” “honest,” “witty,” “poignant,” “challenging” and “life-changing.”

For these reasons it is a book unlike any other book on aging you will ever read. The book can serve as a primer on what lies in store for all of us, from someone who is working through many of these issues. While the book is a perfect fit for book clubs, there are many other individuals and groups who could benefit from the information and ideas in the book:

Those approaching retirement
People who are currently retired
Children of aging parents
Those who have lost a spouse
Retirement community discussion groups
Counselors
Educators
Life coaches
Church groups (men and women)

and a host of others. For group discussions, Fuller has made a set of discussion questions available at her website at http://www.FrancesFullerAuthor.com.

Readers have lavished praise on the new book. One Amazon review stated, "I find myself thinking,'I need to read this again and take notes!' It’s full of wisdom, humor, and grace. I also have committed to rereading it annually - it’s that important!" Another said, "There is valuable life experience in this book. Helping Yourself Grow Old is truly is a book for all ages, and one not to be missed." Another stated, "Beautifully written book telling timeless truths, for both the old and the young. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to laugh, cry, and learn wisdom from someone who has lived so much life."

Frances' prior work, 'In Borrowed Houses', has taken three industry awards and has achieved Bestseller status. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.

Critics have also praised ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “ . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “ . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”

Frances has shared stories about her life in an interview with Women Over 70, and a recording is available on their Facebook page.

Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website at http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com.

About Frances Fuller:

Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.

Contact:

 

Frances Fuller

frances0516@att.net

http://www.francesfullerauthor.com

Leia Mais…

Assisted Living: What You Need To Know Before You Make A Decision - How Do Employee Shortages Affect Assisted Living Asks Frances Fuller, Award Winning Author Of 'Helping Yourself Grow Old'

Best-selling author Frances Fuller offers a unique outlook on aging based on her own experience. Her insights are penetrating and deal with issues that many seniors and their families are concerned about. She offers an insider's view of assisted living.

All of us are experiencing the vexing effects of worker shortages, brought about by a global pandemic. Some store shelves are nearly bare due to supply chain issues. Fast food restaurants are practically begging for workers, offering sign-on bonuses as an enticement. Many non-essential services have been cut or greatly reduced. Entire industries have been slowed to a crawl. There are not enough workers to fill the available jobs. Those who are working are being pushed into filling the gap by working harder, or putting in overtime hours. All of us suffer as a result, some more than others. It is frustrating, annoying and exasperating.

Frustration and irritation pale however in comparison to the potentially life-threatening problems brought about by a shortage of workers in the field of health care, especially for those who depend on health care professionals to meet their ongoing daily needs. It can be a matter of life and death. Frances Fuller, award-winning author of "Helping Yourself Grow Old" addressed that question in a recent post on her website:

A friend of mine here in the elder care community was in pain. I could see it on her face. It was 10:00 a.m. and the medicine she was supposed to take at 7:00 had not arrived. A couple of Tylenol was all she needed, but residents in assisted care must surrender to the nursing staff every drug in their possession, the point being that they have admitted an inability to take the right medicine at the right time in the right amount.

Bravely, Annie had come to the group study anyway, and the distress on her face tested my ethical commitments. With the classification of “independent living,” I had Tylenol in my bedside table and would gladly share with Alice. But this is against the rules, and if anything went wrong as a result, I could be in trouble.

Susan, also a part of this small group, did not get to the meeting at all, because the attendant who helps her shower and dress came very late.

Meanwhile, down the hall, Betty, who had recently lost her ability to walk, needed someone to push her wheelchair. On a beautiful spring day she longed to go out to the patio and sit in the sun, but all the attendants were busy, so she stayed in the sitting room, wishing. Again, a healthy friend could not help since she isn’t covered by the company’s insurance.

My problem was less serious than those of Annie, Susan and Betty. I missed the evening news because service in the dining room was so slow.

This was the height of the pandemic. Hospitals were full of dangerously sick and contagious people. Health care workers were breaking under the stress. Childcare programs and schools had closed, leaving parents stranded.

As a result of all this, homes for the aged and ailing were understaffed. Some of their employees refused to be vaccinated and had to be dismissed. And it seemed that everybody who could work was demanding more money.

This situation exposed the truth that long-term care facilities are dependent on more than just trained health care staff but also a variety of other workers in the local market.

An acquaintance in another home told me that her community lost its chef, and sometimes the administrators resorted to ordering pizza delivery for the residents. One community was embarrassed to have dirty halls and no one to do the cleaning. All were short of cooks, waiters, gardeners, and cleaning staff, as well as nurses.

One way or another the overall industry lost 400,000 employees during the covid pandemic, according to McKnight’s Business Daily.

Business correspondents are saying now that a large number of workers who left the American job market during the pandemic don’t seem to be in a hurry to return. President Biden reported recently that fewer people are looking for jobs than anytime since 1950. Low unemployment is normally considered a healthy economic symptom. In this case it apparently means also that the return to normal is slow.

An assisted care community is not like a restaurant. The owner can’t just close the doors for a while.

The full piece is available at her site at http://www.francesfullerauthor.com.

Frances Fuller's book is unique among the many books on aging, because it is personal, while most such books are written from an academic point of view. Most are penned by sociologists, doctors, gerontologists, even the CEO of AARP, and one by a Catholic nun, Joan Chittister. Chittister's book, 'The Gift of Years' is beautifully written, focusing on spiritual values and finding meaning in life. Chittister admits in the preface that she was only 70, which is the front edge of aging, and her book is somewhat abstract.

Atul Gawande’s book, 'On Being Mortal', relates medicine and old age, It enjoys high Amazon rankings, in the category of “the sociology of aging.” It contains a great deal of valuable scientific information and shows understanding of the physical and emotional needs of the elderly.

Frances Fuller’s book, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost Ninety', is an up-close and very personal encounter with aging. It is an uncontrived and firsthand look at her own daily experiences: wrestling with physical limitations, grief, loneliness, fears, and the decisions she has made about how to cope with these and keep becoming a better person. She faces regrets and the need to forgive herself and others and is determined to live in a way that blesses her children and grandchildren.

Frances deals with many common, universal but sometimes private issues in an open, conversational tone. Her confessions and decisions invite self-searching and discussion. She tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations. In the process she shares her daily life, enriched with memories from her fascinating experiences. Her stories and her voice — fresh, honest, irresistible — keep the reader eager for more. The end result is a book that helps create a detailed map through the challenging terrain of old age.

The result of this intimate narrative is that readers laugh, cry and identify with her mistakes and problems. Reviewers have called the book, “unique,” “honest,” “witty,” “poignant,” “challenging” and “life-changing.”

For these reasons it is a book unlike any other book on aging you will ever read. The book can serve as a primer on what lies in store for all of us, from someone who is working through many of these issues. While the book is a perfect fit for book clubs, there are many other individuals and groups who could benefit from the information and ideas in the book:

Those approaching retirement
People who are currently retired
Children of aging parents
Those who have lost a spouse
Retirement community discussion groups
Counselors
Educators
Life coaches
Church groups (men and women)

and a host of others. For group discussions, Fuller has made a set of discussion questions available at her website at http://www.FrancesFullerAuthor.com.

Readers have lavished praise on the new book. One Amazon review stated, "I find myself thinking,'I need to read this again and take notes!' It’s full of wisdom, humor, and grace. I also have committed to rereading it annually - it’s that important!" Another said, "There is valuable life experience in this book. Helping Yourself Grow Old is truly is a book for all ages, and one not to be missed." Another stated, "Beautifully written book telling timeless truths, for both the old and the young. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to laugh, cry, and learn wisdom from someone who has lived so much life."

Frances' prior work, 'In Borrowed Houses', has taken three industry awards and has achieved Bestseller status. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.

Critics have also praised ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “ . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “ . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”

Frances has shared stories about her life in an interview with Women Over 70, and a recording is available on their Facebook page.

Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website at http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com.

About Frances Fuller:

Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.

Contact:

Frances Fuller

frances0516@att.net

http://www.francesfullerauthor.com

Leia Mais…

Assisted Living: What You Need To Know Before You Make A Decision - Is Assisted Living The Place To Spend Flu Season Asks Frances Fuller, Award Winning Author Of 'Helping Yourself Grow Old'

Best-selling author Frances Fuller offers a unique outlook on aging based on her own experience. Her insights are penetrating and deal with issues that many seniors and their families are concerned about. She offers an insider's view of assisted living.

We have all heard the horror stories regard the pandemic's effect on residents of nursing homes. But what about assisted living? While an assisted living facility is very different from a nursing home, there are some similarities - the primary one being large numbers of residents in a confined space. What are the rules regarding Covid-19 and other forms of the flu in assisted living facilities? Frances Fuller, award-winning author of "Helping Yourself Grow Old" addressed that question in a recent post on her website:

Before I came to live in the retirement community, I was in my house alone a great deal of the time. I slept alone, ate alone, watched television alone, made messes and cleaned them up alone, walked alone outdoors in the afternoons. Because of covid the fewer people I saw up-close, the safer I was.

The beginning of the pandemic had already caught me away on a book tour, but once I risked another four hours in the air with a hundred people and got back home, I felt I was surely safe.

On the other hand, I had to go to the grocery. I needed a haircut. There was that long-standing appointment with my dentist. I wanted to go to church. (A young friend did some shopping for me. I let my hair grow and apologized to the dentist, who might have been relieved. At church I sat where an usher put me, surrounded by empty seats, and “passed the peace” with hand signals.)

I am good at using time alone, but I missed my friends. Sometimes one would drop by for a ten-minute visit, bringing a bowl of soup or a piece of cake, and we would sit on opposite sides of my living room wearing masks or visit on the front stoop, shifting our weight from one foot to the other. Regardless of the circumstances, I felt inhospitable when I did not invite people in.

The bright spot in my week was Friday evening when my son and his wife arrived from half an hour away, bringing dinner. We had decided to trust one another.

Sometimes I think about the contrast between my life then and now, living in the retirement community. When I came here I had not even imagined how long covid would be with us or how much it would change some of our lives. And the reason I asked at the top of this article if this is the place to spend flu season is that we have come to realize that covid will not totally go away but will be impacting our lives for the foreseeable future. We have to compare it in this way to the flu that attacked the world viciously in 1918, taking the lives of many people, young and old, creating havoc in the medical system and work force, and giving the scientists an urgent assignment. Sound familiar?

We didn’t get rid of the flu; we just learned to control it.

Now I hear that covid will be the same. We will win but not a total victory. We will forever expect covid and be obliged to respect it.

Therefore. . .the question: Is a continuing care community the place to be if there is a covid-season like flu season?

Based on the current response to covid, this is what I can say:

Numerous people who work in a senior community will come in the mornings and go home in the afternoons and a few others will come in to handle the night shift. No one can know what all these people did while they were away. Surely they will be vaccinated, however. If they refuse, they will lose their jobs. Nevertheless they may carry in with them some strain of covid and/or the flu.

Visitors to the community now (and we can assume during any epidemic) are limited and asked to follow CDC guidelines for wearing masks. Their temperature is taken at the door. They must sign in at the reception desk, answering numerous other nosy questions, all designed to protect the people who live inside. Such rules may be revised to fit danger levels, but one thing we can know. The owners and administrators of such a community are deeply invested in every resident’s well-being. An outbreak of a contagious disease inside their walls would be a public relations disaster.

As a resident, you cannot be required to accept vaccination, but the administration may arrange a community vaccination event and boast of a percentage like 97%, while the rest of the country struggles to reach 75% fully vaccinated.

The full piece is available at her site at http://www.francesfullerauthor.com.

Frances Fuller's book is unique among the many books on aging, because it is personal, while most such books are written from an academic point of view. Most are penned by sociologists, doctors, gerontologists, even the CEO of AARP, and one by a Catholic nun, Joan Chittister. Chittister's book, 'The Gift of Years' is beautifully written, focusing on spiritual values and finding meaning in life. Chittister admits in the preface that she was only 70, which is the front edge of aging, and her book is somewhat abstract.

Atul Gawande’s book, 'On Being Mortal', relates medicine and old age, It enjoys high Amazon rankings, in the category of “the sociology of aging.” It contains a great deal of valuable scientific information and shows understanding of the physical and emotional needs of the elderly.

Frances Fuller’s book, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost Ninety', is an up-close and very personal encounter with aging. It is an uncontrived and firsthand look at her own daily experiences: wrestling with physical limitations, grief, loneliness, fears, and the decisions she has made about how to cope with these and keep becoming a better person. She faces regrets and the need to forgive herself and others and is determined to live in a way that blesses her children and grandchildren.

Frances deals with many common, universal but sometimes private issues in an open, conversational tone. Her confessions and decisions invite self-searching and discussion. She tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations. In the process she shares her daily life, enriched with memories from her fascinating experiences. Her stories and her voice — fresh, honest, irresistible — keep the reader eager for more. The end result is a book that helps create a detailed map through the challenging terrain of old age.

The result of this intimate narrative is that readers laugh, cry and identify with her mistakes and problems. Reviewers have called the book, “unique,” “honest,” “witty,” “poignant,” “challenging” and “life-changing.”

For these reasons it is a book unlike any other book on aging you will ever read. The book can serve as a primer on what lies in store for all of us, from someone who is working through many of these issues. While the book is a perfect fit for book clubs, there are many other individuals and groups who could benefit from the information and ideas in the book:

Those approaching retirement
People who are currently retired
Children of aging parents
Those who have lost a spouse
Retirement community discussion groups
Counselors
Educators
Life coaches
Church groups (men and women)

and a host of others. For group discussions, Fuller has made a set of discussion questions available at her website at http://www.FrancesFullerAuthor.com.

Readers have lavished praise on the new book. One Amazon review stated, "I find myself thinking,'I need to read this again and take notes!' It’s full of wisdom, humor, and grace. I also have committed to rereading it annually - it’s that important!" Another said, "There is valuable life experience in this book. Helping Yourself Grow Old is truly is a book for all ages, and one not to be missed." Another stated, "Beautifully written book telling timeless truths, for both the old and the young. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to laugh, cry, and learn wisdom from someone who has lived so much life."

Frances' prior work, 'In Borrowed Houses', has taken three industry awards and has achieved Bestseller status. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.

Critics have also praised ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “ . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “ . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”

Frances has shared stories about her life in an interview with Women Over 70, and a recording is available on their Facebook page.

Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website at http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com.

About Frances Fuller:

Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.

Contact:

Frances Fuller

frances0516@att.net

http://www.francesfullerauthor.com

Leia Mais…

Viral Ignorance Is Bringing Avoidable Bondage, Poverty And Death Says Dr Richard Ruhling

Ruhling is an expert on Healthcare which he says is inversely related to medical care

In the Swine Flu of 1918, 50-100 million died, including half of those who contracted the disease in Europe, but in the US, less than 1% of those admitted to the Battle Creek Sanitarium died, says Richard Ruhling, MD, MPH, board-certified in Internal Medicine. He taught Health Science at Loma Linda University and offers the following information on what made the difference in Battle Creek:

Dr. John Kellogg authored 'Rational Hydrotherapy' and pioneered in natural remedies at a time of medical ignorance that used mercury, arsenic and strychnine. Sanitarium guests included people like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and JC Penny.

The rationale is that white blood cell circulation increases after contrast hot and cold fomentations or baths. Their diet was also different. Kellogg’s Cornflakes and Post Toasties originated in the basement of the sanitarium where they prepared cereals and other healthy eating for the guests. Peanut butter was not invented, but was popularized there as better for health on whole wheat toast with applesauce than bacon and eggs or sausage.

Eating habits greatly affect immunity. The phagocytic index (the ability to engulf germs) is greatly reduced by sugar and the average person gets over 35 grams daily in soft drinks and packaged foods. This explains the flu season every winter after holiday eating of cakes and cookies. Fresh fruits and vegetables are known by nutritionists as protective foods.

Fasting also enhances immunity. As a general practice, a good breakfast and midday dinner is best with abstinence for supper so the digestive organs can rest when we sleep and break fast in the morning. It’s a key to weight loss because calories that we eat at supper get stored when we aren’t burning them at night.

The need for Vitamin C increases under stress, and infection is a stress. It’s water soluble, so it goes out in the urine. Taking 250 mg every 3-4 hours is better than 1000 when faced with infection.

Ruhling faced infection. Working an Emergency Room in Riverside, California, he noticed he was getting sick—scratchy throat, runny nose, achy and feeling a chill. He took his temperature and it was normal. But he remembered that in microbiology, they said viruses were killed faster with fever, so he wondered what he could do to get a fever!

Taking a break, he filled a hospital tub with water as hot as he could tolerate, and in 20 minutes, his temperature was 102.5 (F). As the water was running out, he did the Battle Creek treatment and poured cold water, front and back several times—it felt refreshing. He had no vitamin C, but he skipped supper to enhance his immunity.

He saw his patients and as things slowed down about 11 PM, he thought the bath had helped him, so he took another “fever treatment” with a hot bath, finishing with cold water. He slept well and in the morning, he had no symptoms—catching the ‘bug’ early with a good strategy aborted the flu.

Medical science has admitted that no drug kills a virus. A drug salesman admitted to Ruhling that if the body is losing against an infection, an antibiotic may turn the tide from 49% losing to 51% winning the battle.

With coronavirus, some are promising a cure, but historically, drugs disappoint us and they all have a list of adverse effects, some of which are serious. Why should we risk the drugs when the above measures work?

Even with the Swine Flu, when the Battle Creek Sanitarium was full and they gave instructions on what to do at home, only 4% mortality bested Europe’s 50%.

CNN reported kids who died of the flu all had flu shots. “Even on a good year, the effectiveness of the flu vaccine is about 60%. On a bad year, it’s as low at 10%,” says Dr. Anthony Fauci, National Institutes of Allergy & Infectious Disease. This year is “not a very good match.” And now comes the coronavirus. What can a smart person do to beat the odds? https://needtoknow.news/2020/02/ or https://needtoknow.news/2020/02/robert-f-kennedy-jr-on-the-stunning-corruption-in-the-vaccine-industry-that-has-killed-hundreds-of-thousands-of-americans/.

Ruhling notes that medical care and Adverse Drug Reactions are not even mentioned in the CDC list of leading causes of illness and death, though well-supported by medical literature, http://LeadingCauseOfDeathPrescriptionDrugs.com. He says we are in bondage to a medical system that is not healthcare! Medical care is the diagnosis and treatment of disease with drugs that adversely affect health in spite of symptomatic relief when we could live better and be well without Rx’s.

Billions of dollars are being lost in this crisis as businesses close down due to the real pandemic—fear. It’s so needless when natural remedies and supplements like vitamin C, garlic, echinacea, turmeric, colloidal silver can help. If we live well and aren’t afraid of the virus (but practiced social distance and hygiene, we would be better off than the fear from media and the control that government agencies are forcing on us as a test, moving toward Global Gov. and tyranny?

For a better understanding, Ruhling recommends his book, 'Health, Happiness & Destiny', available in bookstores and on Amazon where a Top 100 Hall of Fame Amazon Reviewer, Grady Harp, MD, “Highly Recommended” it with 5 stars.

About Dr. Richard Ruhling:
Dr. Ruhling graduated from Loma Linda University medical school and planning for overseas work, took a Masters Degree in Public Health. After Internal Medicine training and board certification, he also had a Cardiology Fellowship before teaching at Loma Linda’s School of Public Health. Attending a cardiology convention, he heard Pritikin reporting how a vegan-like diet got reversed heart disease and got 85% of patients off their drugs for diabetes and blood pressure.

For Media Interviews Contact:

Dr. Richard Ruhling
ruhling7@juno.com
http://richardruhling.com
928-583-7543

Leia Mais…