Caregiver's Handbook

If someone close to you has become sick, disabled or aging is taking its toll, then the Visiting Nurse Association of America offers their advice on how to be a more effective caregiver. They realize that you also need support when providing care to others. The first chapter explains how you can become a caregiver, the benefits of home care, how your relationship will change, how you should take time for yourself, how to understand how you are feeling and asks: "Are you coping?" Home Hygiene, healthy eating, bed comfort, maintaining mobility, personal care, wound care, facing death, emergency care and communication is discussed in detail. There are step-by-step photographs to show you how to change someone's position in bed or how to use a hair washing tray for those who are flat on their backs in bed. Since you will need to order supplies for home care, a complete section of useful addresses also includes Web site information. There were a few items I had never thought of. If you are pushing someone in a wheelchair, you might want to lower the chair backwards down a stair as the occupant could fall out of the chair and even if you had tilted the chair backwards, it could become unstable. They also show how you can adapt a bathroom for someone who would otherwise need help and installing various items can help you save time. There is a chart which explains the stages of grief. First you will go through denial, then anger and finally acceptance. Allowing yourself to go through these stages can be very healing and during the unsettling time of a death, you will take these steps, even as a caregiver. There are many sidebars with "case studies" which show how the advice can be used in real life. A patients bill of rights is included. A glossary of medical conditions helps to explain a few main illnesses. Through reading this book you will gain more information on caregiving skills and how to administer emergency and calming care. If you feel a bit of anxiety about caregiving, this book will give you many answers to your questions and put your mind at ease. ~The Rebecca Review

An extremely useful reference for safely caring for the sick or the elderly. Practical suggestions for everything from eyedrops to incontinence, including excellent illustrations of techniques and equipment. I've recommended it to several people.