This book recounts the experience of a grass roots group in Maine that is providing quality care for the elderly, helping many avoid nursing homes. Full Circle America has enabled many people to remain productive and happy citizens in their own homes, through a combination of interactive technology (“virtual assisted living”), home care, volunteers (including the elderly themselves), and organized outings and social gatherings. This book is important because it shows what can be done now within the economic and bureaucratic constraints of our society.
One of the biggest obstacles to providing qualify long-term care has been the insistence, on the part of family and government, of zero physical risk, No one, of any age, can live a risk-free life, and most elderly would rather have a social life than be confined to their beds. The greatest obstacle has been state and federal bureaucrats. Even the backing of Maine’s governor failed to get state bureaucrats to loosen some regulations. One regulation which causes a great deal of stress for nursing home residents is the extreme application of privacy regulations. A resident would disappear overnight, and no one would tell his or her friends what had happened. Had they died? Had they gone to the hospital?
Full Circle America is attempting to export their business model for humane and efficient eldercare – see their website http://www.fullcircleamerica.com/services.html. This book should be of interest to anyone who fears growing old, or paying exorbitant fees to keep their loved ones warehoused in unhappy situations. ( )