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Three Score and Ten, What Then?
A ground breaking novel about a growing social issue.....long-term care; written from a resident's point of view.
As the world celebrates the dawn of a new millennium, Savannah Ashton is celebrating some very special milestones of her own. She is living her life in a third century, and in a few weeks, she will celebrate her one-hundred and third birthday; both are amazing accomplishments. Savannah is pleased that she has been able to make it that far. The rigors of old age have not yet stolen her memories or health, and she is still able to live in her own home; and home is where she hopes to stay to live out her final chapter.
But Savannah's excitement is short lived. A few short months later, an unfortunate accident occurs, leaving her debilitated. She is no longer able to care for herself and must move into a long-term care facility. She finds the transition into the unfamiliar environment somewhat trying, and is faced with some of life's harshest realities. As Savannah states, "Life is different from the inside looking out."
As Savannah approaches her one-hundred and fifth birthday, her family is excited and wish to host a huge party to celebrate the grand occasion. They feel that she is a local celebrity, but Savannah is very apprehensive of the idea. She feels that everything has changed for her since she has become a resident in long-term care. She knows that she has become part of the forgotten generation.
A month before her birthday, Savannah's granddaughter, Beth, stops by for a visit. Beth desperately wants for her grandmother to agree to have a birthday party. She thinks that Savannah has become depressed, and hopes that a party will cheer her up, but Savannah doesn't wish to discuss the idea. Instead, they spend the day together reminiscing and Savannah reveals her life story.
Savannah explains how her parents immigrated to the "Near North" region of Ontario, during the late eighteen hundreds, to take advantage of the Free Land Grant Act. She tells Beth what it was like growing up in a by-gone era, and describes how the "Near North" region was developed and evolved over the course of a century. Savannah speaks about the many changes that she has witnessed during her lifetime, then, she tells Beth what it is like to be living in a long-term care facility. She shares her emotional journey and tells what it has been like to adapt to her new home.
As the world celebrates the dawn of a new millennium, Savannah Ashton is celebrating some very special milestones of her own. She is living her life in a third century, and in a few weeks, she will celebrate her one-hundred and third birthday; both are amazing accomplishments. Savannah is pleased that she has been able to make it that far. The rigors of old age have not yet stolen her memories or health, and she is still able to live in her own home; and home is where she hopes to stay to live out her final chapter.
But Savannah's excitement is short lived. A few short months later, an unfortunate accident occurs, leaving her debilitated. She is no longer able to care for herself and must move into a long-term care facility. She finds the transition into the unfamiliar environment somewhat trying, and is faced with some of life's harshest realities. As Savannah states, "Life is different from the inside looking out."
As Savannah approaches her one-hundred and fifth birthday, her family is excited and wish to host a huge party to celebrate the grand occasion. They feel that she is a local celebrity, but Savannah is very apprehensive of the idea. She feels that everything has changed for her since she has become a resident in long-term care. She knows that she has become part of the forgotten generation.
A month before her birthday, Savannah's granddaughter, Beth, stops by for a visit. Beth desperately wants for her grandmother to agree to have a birthday party. She thinks that Savannah has become depressed, and hopes that a party will cheer her up, but Savannah doesn't wish to discuss the idea. Instead, they spend the day together reminiscing and Savannah reveals her life story.
Savannah explains how her parents immigrated to the "Near North" region of Ontario, during the late eighteen hundreds, to take advantage of the Free Land Grant Act. She tells Beth what it was like growing up in a by-gone era, and describes how the "Near North" region was developed and evolved over the course of a century. Savannah speaks about the many changes that she has witnessed during her lifetime, then, she tells Beth what it is like to be living in a long-term care facility. She shares her emotional journey and tells what it has been like to adapt to her new home.
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Published January 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 17, 2018
Goodreads Signed Win
As Savannah Ashton approaches her 105th birthday living in a retirement home, she tells her granddaughter about the snippets of what she lived through.
We hear about her childhood and the people she loved and lost do to war and age. How she learned to survive no matter what life throws at her. The wisdom she learned and the fhe fraility of the health care system.
You are swept through different centuries as we watch Canada evolve as we take a journey to the past and present.
As Savannah Ashton approaches her 105th birthday living in a retirement home, she tells her granddaughter about the snippets of what she lived through.
We hear about her childhood and the people she loved and lost do to war and age. How she learned to survive no matter what life throws at her. The wisdom she learned and the fhe fraility of the health care system.
You are swept through different centuries as we watch Canada evolve as we take a journey to the past and present.
February 6, 2018
savannah [anna] ashton was born in 1897 the story is told by her to her granddaughter beth. anna is 105 now and tells beth the story of her life. what things were like when she was a young girl. I loved the story and you can tell the author did a lot of research for the book and the photo on the cover was perfect. I recommend this book to people of all ages...
February 13, 2018
got this book from my mom and I loved it it tells the story of a woman celebrating her 105th birthday and tells her granddaughter about her life my grandmother said its 5 out of 5 and one of the best books she read reminded her about what it was like when she was younger and brought back so many stories that we have sat over coffee and told.
August 6, 2022
Really enjoyed this story about an elderly lady reminiscing about her life experience. Very interesting and should be shared. You also get a bit of history and the author wrote about attractions in Canada.
January 29, 2018
Won on a Goodreads Giveaway.
The story of a woman, Savannah Ashton (Anna), who was born in 1897 in Northern Ontario; as told to a grandchild just after her 105th birthday.
People are living longer and it is becoming a growing issue. I work in healthcare and have worked in long term care and have seen this side of the system. The end of the book is concerned with the few years remaining for Anna in long term care. After having had a life of independence, the last chapters of the story are hard to read as Anna recalls all the things that she has left behind and the conditions she finds herself in as her body betrays her.
The earlier part of the book is about Anna's life and this I found the most interesting. Her childhood years on her parent's farm reminded me some of Little House on the Prairie.
I was not sure exactly how to rate this book. I felt the story might have worked better if it was told as old woman reminiscing and moved back and forth through her memories, rather than told in this 'journalistic' style. That being said, the story is still very interesting and an important one to be told. I decided on 4 stars because of this. Not a masterpiece but I would be interested to read more by this author about life in Northern Ontario.
The story of a woman, Savannah Ashton (Anna), who was born in 1897 in Northern Ontario; as told to a grandchild just after her 105th birthday.
People are living longer and it is becoming a growing issue. I work in healthcare and have worked in long term care and have seen this side of the system. The end of the book is concerned with the few years remaining for Anna in long term care. After having had a life of independence, the last chapters of the story are hard to read as Anna recalls all the things that she has left behind and the conditions she finds herself in as her body betrays her.
The earlier part of the book is about Anna's life and this I found the most interesting. Her childhood years on her parent's farm reminded me some of Little House on the Prairie.
I was not sure exactly how to rate this book. I felt the story might have worked better if it was told as old woman reminiscing and moved back and forth through her memories, rather than told in this 'journalistic' style. That being said, the story is still very interesting and an important one to be told. I decided on 4 stars because of this. Not a masterpiece but I would be interested to read more by this author about life in Northern Ontario.
March 30, 2017
This is an excellent novel. You can tell the author has poured her heart and soul into this book and it is very well written especially being this is her first novel. It is an easy read and it tells a story about an elderly woman who is 105 yrs old and she talks about her years living in all 3 centuries. Savannah (the elderly woman) also talks about how it is to live in a long term facility now that she is in her later years. This is a very touching novel and has it moments where it pulls on your heart stings when Savannah reminisces about some of the hardships she endured during her 105 years. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a bit of history and life experiences of the elderly. It also gives some insights into how one must adapt to living in long term facilities.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews