I turned 100 in September, 2007. I have been seeing a geriatrician. She has been coming to my house for the last six years. The care she provides is just marvelous.

I have always thought I would just continue seeing a doctor at an office, but then, several years ago, the doctor I'd been seeing retired and turned his practice over to two other doctors. The one I started seeing then did house calls and came to our home. My husband (who died three years ago) was still living at that time, and this doctor saw both of us. Then we got a call from the University of California at San Francisco, Division of Geriatrics' Housecalls Program. They must have gotten our names from our previous doctor. They asked if the two of us were interested in participating in their program. We readily agreed. So, Dr. Rebecca Conant, who is the head of the program, started seeing us on a monthly basis. She saw my husband until his death. We had never seen a geriatrician before. The care she provides has been wonderful and I have nothing but praise for the program.

I have a thyroid problem and take Synthroid for that. I also have macular degeneration and I can't see close up. I've had pneumonia twice. But, really, I am blessed. I live in my own home, with the help of part-time caregivers. I walk and do exercises every day. I do use a wheelchair at times, like when I go to the mall. I also go out to restaurants and go on cruises regularly. For my 100th birthday, I took 12 members of my family and friends on a cruise through the Panama Canal!

Both my husband and I loved Dr. Conant from the start. She is a very caring person and she certainly understands older people. I told her she could call me "Doris," but she explained, "I was raised to call elders by their formal name," so I am "Mrs. Paulsen." If I'm not feeling well, I'll call Dr. Conant. If it is urgent, she answers immediately and will visit. She will come at any time. She still makes her regular monthly visit.

When she comes, she does everything -- she is so thorough, it's amazing. She checks my heart and lungs and oxygen levels and blood pressure, which was never anything but normal until I got into a fight with a grandchild and it soared. Then Dr. Conant gave me some pills and it went back down to normal. She always does a thorough exam of my lungs. She also listens to my stomach and examines my ankles, and looks at my feet and hands, my ears, glands and throat, and weighs me. She stays about a hour and a half. She'd stay two hours if needed. She takes the time to ask me questions and really listens. She also reviewed all of my medical records from, well, from forever! She and my greatgrandson, who is also a doctor, have lots of conversations back and forth about me. She has met my entire family and knows everyone personally. Actually, she knows more about me than I do! She is interested and I appreciate this.

I'd recommend geriatrics care, and programs like the Housecalls Program, to any older person unhesitatingly. It enables me to live in my own home, where I expect to die.