Pook's Caregiver: Five Years Coping with Parkinson's, Lewy Body, Stroke and AFIB

ISBN-13: 9781502482075 / Angielski / Miękka / 2014 / 300 str.

Jim Haugen

Opis

This book covers three interacting stories - (1) My wife, Pook, and her health deterioration over a period of more than four years; (2) My caregiver efforts during that time, and (3) Problems encountered in confronting the American health system. 1.THE THREE STORIES Story One - Pook as a patient - Describes her bouts with Parkinson's Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, Stroke, and Atrial Fibrillation; how each of these health problems created major changes in her personality, communication abilities, and physical activities. It also depicts her responses to the numerous different rehabilitation efforts by her husband and other medical personnel. Story Two - Husband Jim's caregiver efforts - Describes the extended period of time I spent caring for Pook. Above all, it describes my singular fight, beyond the limitations of pills, to withstand the attacks of her progressive diseases, attempting to retain her mental and physical abilities as long as possible - to keep her wonderful personality alive. In the case of her stroke, to attempt to reverse its impacts - restore her ability to walk, and to again be able to use both of her hands. I also: (1) characterize my "lessons learned" as I became educated in the work of a caregiver, as her health was impacted by each problem - her PD, LBD, Stroke, and AFIB; (2) explicitly detail my written communications with her doctors, therapists, family and friends; and (3) cover the nature, benefits and limitations of efforts by other medical personnel as I endeavored to work with them. Story Three - Confronting the American health system - Describes the nature, strengths and weaknesses of the American health system surrounding Pook - doctors, therapists, systems, facilities and equipment, finances - as they had such important impacts on decisions to maintain, and attempt to rehabilitate, her health. I especially emphasize the lack of honesty, and weaknesses of, the government driven Medicare based approach to stroke rehabilitation. 2.CAREGIVER LESSONS LEARNED Caregiving is tough, complicated and mentally taxing Over the course of almost five years as Pook's caregiver, I've learned a lot about the nature of the caregiver's job. Throughout the book you will find references to "My Caregiving Learning Process" describing examples as they apply to different parts of her health situation. Important "lessons learned" from my experiences are outlined below in the hope that you might find them helpful references for working with your patient.

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