Reading for caregivers and professionals
Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer’s Disease: Practical Answers on Memory Loss, Aging, Research, Treatment and Caregiving, edited by Ronald Petersen, M.D., (2002), Mayo Clinic Health Information, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, (800) 430-9699, $16.95, www.mayoclinichmr.org. This clearly written book from one of the foremost medical facilities in the country provides a thorough review of the complexities of Alzheimer’s disease and care. The causes and symptoms of the illness are covered, along with how it differs from other forms of dementia, current and potential treatments, and how to find the best care arrangement for a person with Alzheimer’s. The book also features a Quick Guide for Caregivers that addresses physical care issues, such as incontinence, as well as behavioral techniques to handle aggression, wandering, sleeplessness and communication difficulties.
Eldercare 911: The Caregiver’s Complete Handbook for Making Decisions, Susan Beerman and Judith Rappaport-Musson, (2002), Prometheus Books, Amherst, NY 14228, (716) 691-0133, $24.00, www.prometheusbooks.com. As the subtitle suggests, this book includes a range of information for caregivers and addresses a variety of issues, including how to know when your parents need help, long-distance caregiving, managing benefits and insurance, and how to hire in-home help. Real-life stories illustrate the information.
I’ll Carry the Fork! - Recovering a Life After Brain Injury, Kara L. Swanson, (1999), Rising Star Press, Los Altos, CA, (650) 968-2658, $16.95. In this touching firsthand account, Kara L. Swanson shares the complex experiences of her life, changed forever by a traumatic brain injury. From the personal details of her struggles and victories on the path to recovery and acceptance, readers learn that a “mild brain injury” isn’t necessarily “temporary,” “mild” or “easy.” With grace, candor, and sensitivity, Ms. Swanson shows readers that even in the darkest moments of dealing with a brain injury, joy, understanding and a future to look forward to still exist. The author includes helpful and practical information from experts on legal, financial and rehabilitative issues regarding life after brain injury.
Your Mother Has Suffered a Slight Stroke, Kathleen Bosworth, (2001), AmErica House, Baltimore, MD $19.95, www.publishamerica.com. Your mother goes to the hospital for a routine medical test, suffers a stroke, and life is never the same. This is the refreshingly honest and poignant account of one daughter’s struggle to care for and cope with her mother’s multiple strokes while trying to juggle work and family responsibilities. Ms. Bosworth shares the journals she kept during her fifteen-month caregiving journey in hopes of helping others in similar situations. This book will likely resonate with caregivers everywhere who have struggled through similar situations with their own loved ones. Professionals who work with caregivers will also appreciate and learn from this courageous caregiver’s journey.
The Gifts of Caregiving: Stories of Hardship, Hope, and Healing, Connie Goldman, (2002), Fairview Press, Minneapolis, MN 55454, $19.95. The author of this fascinating collection of caregivers’ stories is a journalist who started interviewing caregivers for a public radio show produced in 1999. Based on the response to the radio show, Ms. Goldman (who will speak at our Caring Counts! conference in May) decided to compile the interviews of caregivers into a single collection. The result is this well-written, moving and often inspirational book which chronicles caregiver stories in their own words. Noteworthy interviews include Dana Reeves (Christopher Reeve’s wife) and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. A CD of the public radio show is included.
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