Making a Difference 7 - Face the Future: Seniors, Make the Most of the Health You Have

Face the Future is a four-part book series that addresses topics of special relevance and interest to the over-60s, from a Christian perspective. Balancing practical advice, inspirational stories and a generous dose of humour, William Cutting shows how Seniors can live life to the full, with purpose, pleasure and a positive approach.

The third book encourages Seniors to make the most of the health that they have. As well as providing helpful, easy-to-understand medical advice and practical suggestions, the book teaches how to make the best use of the existing health services. There are steps that Seniors can take to minimize future risks, including sensible eating, reasonable exercise, arranging a safe living environment, and a careful use of the right medication. With appropriate lifestyle changes, Seniors can enjoy good health and fitness.

William Cutting is one of the few people who can communicate with one person or with thousands effectively.
His writing is evidence based, clear and readable, which is a very rare combination.
In this book he has again combined practical advice and philosophical reflection in a masterly way.

Professor Sir J.A. Muir Gray CBE, MD (Glas)
Formerly Chief Knowledge Officer to the NHS
Director of the National Campaign for Walking

The subtitle of ‘Face the Future’ Book 3 says it all: “Seniors, Make the Most of the Health You Have.” It focuses on all aspects of health and wellbeing for Seniors and encourages everyone to take responsibility!
We owe it to ourselves to do whatever we can to live responsibly, through lifestyle choices, so I’m sure this book will be a real help to every Senior who reads it. It is packed with good-humoured, anecdotal, professional, practical and spiritual advice.
I recommend this book to everyone to ‘help themselves to health’.

Fiona Castle
Author

The attitudes and understanding of older people themselves about health in later life are at least as much in need of a radical rethink as those of health and social care professionals. This ‘retired’ paediatrician’s practical health and healthcare ‘survival kit’ challenges much that is negative, prejudiced and stereotyped in a clear, readable, often light-hearted, non-technical, but factual way that makes it a valuable resource for any older reader concerned to be informed and wise in looking after personal health and in living well. While many of his stories about health care amount to a strong apologetic for health service change, Dr Cutting provides older consumers with a lorry-load of ammunition to enable them to put the service to good use and make proper demands on it, as well as much practical self-help information on maintaining and promoting their own health. From my perspective as a career-long specialist in medicine and ageing, I feel slightly that he lets me and my colleagues off the hook – so my only addition would be to encourage readers not to be reticent in demanding to see one of us lot – sooner rather than later! His Christian perspectives on spiritual well-being are a particularly valuable common strand throughout. I commend this 3rd volume in his series.

Professor Cameron Swift, PhD FRCP FRCPI
King’s College London School of Medicine

It is generally acknowledged that the last chapter in the book of life is the most difficult to write. This third volume in Dr William Cutting’s series ‘Facing the future’ is once again overflowing with wise advice about the ageing process.
A distinguished Scottish paediatrician, Dr Cutting on retirement became a very knowledgeable amateur geriatrician. Though now in his eighties he is convinced that age is only a number and you are only as old as you feel. This easy-to-read book deals in a very positive manner with the joys, problems and frustrations of the later decades of life. It highlights, for example, the dangers of being medically over-drugged. It provides hints about going into and being discharged from hospital, and about making our homes and gardens safer places. As well as highlighting the benefits of a balanced diet, and how exercise releases beneficial hormones into the brain as well as strengthening our muscles, the book also provides helpful advice on many other aspects of advancing years. Being widely read in the sphere of geriatric medicine, Dr Cutting includes many helpful quotes from leading medical authorities.
Aware that kindly wit can enrich a serious message, the book includes many humorous stories which will exercise the reader’s chuckle muscles. His witty definitions, such as ‘toothache is the pain that drives you to extraction’, certainly brought a smile to my face.

The Very Rev. Dr James A. Simpson
Former Moderator, General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Minister, Dornoch Cathedral.

Excellent read – and point of reference. From the perspective of both a patient and chair of a patient support group, the recommendations were spot on. In pressure situations – going to the doctor, being clear about how to manage medications, going into hospital, and a host of others matters – it is often the simple, logical things that are overlooked. This book gives brilliant advice laced with candour, humour and relevant stories. More than a tinge of medical humour. Excellent!

Dr James Wildgoose
Retired Head of the Scotland Office
(Head of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland),
Elder, Belhaven Parish Church of Scotland, Dunbar, Scotland.

This book is full of practical wisdom, humour and nuggets of easily digested advice. Any senior (and indeed anyone of any age!) will find enormous help and encouragement in what it contains.
Most noteworthy, however, is that I know the author seeks to live by and embody what he is recommending; truly a man who has discovered ‘life in all its fullness’ in its greatest sense and is eager to pass this great gift on.

Rev. David Baker
Rector, East Dean with Friston and Jevington Churches
East Sussex

Again this book is a very good read; informative, instructional and in places very funny, a must for all Seniors. It carries the insight of medical expertise and complements perfectly the previous books in this series. It is written with Christian wisdom and a helpful reflective prayer at the end of each section. I just could not resist reading out loud some portions to my wife. We both laughed and it helped us take on board the more serious messages!

Captain Mike Collyer CA
Hon. Evangelist to Sheffield Cathedral
Facilitator of the Seniors’ Action Team and Ministry for the Elderly

‘Face the Future’ is a compellingly positive book about those ‘bonus years’ which modern medicine, improved diet and a healthier lifestyle have given us. Its theme is that life is not about quantity but quality, and healthy living is much more than not being ill. With a doctor’s eye and a pastor’s heart, the author sets out a way of living which helps the older generation to experience true wholeness.

David Winter
Writer, teacher, broadcaster, Anglican priest

William constantly reminds us of the need to embrace growing older and use the years of learning to help others grow.

Mairead McCormick
Deputy Chief Operating Officer
Barking, Havering and Redbridge university hospitals