The Comfort of Home for Stroke: A Guide for Caregivers

I thought this book had a lot of good basic information (including sources for products) for someone taking care of an elderly stroke survivor at home. This book assumes you will be taking on the role of full time nurse/medical assistant and even gives instruction things like changing bed linens with the person lying in bed like in a hospital. I did like the reminders that caregivers need to take care of themselves this is vital not only to the caregiver but also to the patient, who will receive better care and I applaud the authors for giving this strong emphasis. I took of a star because of them extreme emphasis on elderly stroke survivors and dark view of recovery. There are many many younger people who suffer strokes each year in my case a young adult sister. After her stroke I sought out information on strokes like a woman possessed and this book would have frightened me unnecessarily. For example, the book states that docs say that all of the recovery that will take place will happen within the first six months. After this heartbreaking statement, the sidebar "tip" says that although the MOST gains occur during the first six months, recovery continues after that time period. They did a huge disservice to readers by presenting this information in that way. Other stroke books I consulted (and my own experience) indicate that recovery will continue for a very long time more than 3 years for noticeable gains. Also, the book assumes that the person will never, ever return to his or her old job incorrect information in my experience. Overall, it is a good basic book but overly pessimistic on recovery. The first book you should read is Living With Stroke: A Guide for Families, 3E....then once things settle down and you are thinking about long term care you might try The Comfort of Home.

The Comfort of Home for Stroke: A Guide for Caregivers is a practical guide especially for anyone charged with the responsibility of taking care of a stroke survivor. Chapters instruct the reader in the causes of stroke and how to prevent one from recurring, how to make the home safe and comfortable for a stroke survivor, the key factors for a successful stroke recovery, how to communicate effectively with health care professionals, coping with personality changes in a stroke survivor, handle everyday activities such as wheelchair transfers, bathing, and toiletries, and much more. Written in plain terms, and filled with valuable checklists, bullet points, black-and-white diagrams, lists of resources, glossary, and index, The Comfort of Home for Stroke is an absolute "must-have" for anyone working with or taking care of a stroke survivor. Highly recommended.

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The book is a wonderful addition to our library at the Family Caregiver Alliance. By sharing these books with us, you have helped us help our clients. The layout, in manual style with clear headings and bulleted or numbered items, makes the material very accessible...each book is divided into three parts: Getting Ready, Day-by-day, and Additional Resources.. Additional chapters on therapies and special challenges are included in the Stroke guide. In both, tips notes and resources are included throughout, as well as sample forms. [Review from Reviewer's Corner from the Family Caregiver Alliance at www.caregiver.com]

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