Description
Being the family member of someone in a nursing home is part of a difficult and painful process that begins long before a loved one enters the home. Focusing on the psychological, emotional, and social aspects of that process, Nursing Homes: The Family's Journey gives family members important practical advice and emotional support, and it explains the intricacies of care and nursing homes.
Peter S. Silin approaches his subject with compassion and sensitivity, guiding readers through the entire process. Section one helps caregivers cope with difficult decisions and deal with the emotional issues that arise. Section two describes nursing homes and how they work, and it outlines how to choose a home. Section three explains how to prepare for the day a relative moves into a nursing home and suggests ways to help the resident settle in. The fourth section focuses on the family member's role in solving problems, obtaining quality care, and visiting, and it offers advice about how to deal with death and dying. After each chapter are real-life vignettes written by caregivers which help validate and support the reader.
In assisting their loved ones through the transition to life in a nursing home, one of the greatest obstacles families face is a dearth of practical information and sympathetic experience. This book will help fill the gap for family members and their infirm relatives, as well as for social workers and family therapists. It will also be a valuable tool for nursing home administrators and care staff.Reviews
"An important book about the often difficult and painful process that begins long before a loved family member enters a nursinghome . . . A thorough, excellent and humane book that helps families navigate a difficult, traumatic life change in the most successful way possible."—Marcie Paker, Ph.D.CFLE, Inside GCM"Among the most valuable chapters in this book is one titled Making a Home Better, which includes wonderful advice on how a loved one can influence what goes on inside a nursing home..His inclusion of real-life stories from the families he's encountered over 20 years anchors the book compassionately."—Los Angeles Times "Although I have read other books about nursing home placement and nursing home quality, this book stands out for its focus on the feelings of the families at this stressful time."—Doody's Health Sciences 5-Star Review "Silin has worked in elder care for 20 years and has his own geriatric care management company, Diamond Geriatrics. Reading his book, you're hearing the voice of experience..Although there is a vast literature on choosing a nursing home, this book seems to do more."—Vancouver Sun "With a clear and intelligent writing style, Silin has performed a vital service that will make nursing home decisions easier."—Bob Powers, Marietta (Ohio) Times "[Silin] counsels realistically on what to look for in choosing a home, how to deal with the family member who will become a resident, and how to handle the various relationships that will be involved. He doesn't just discuss those matters; he also suggests what to say in various situations and how to say it. Moreover, he considers feelings of guilt and shame as well as such things as selection, costs, and handling complaints."—Booklist "This is both a very humanistic book and a very practical one . . . written with the insight of a sociologist and geriatric care manager, someone who sees the human side of the equation first."—ElderCare Online "The information in Nursing Homes is of excellent quality. The vignettes are a powerful supplement to each section. Silin's style is informal and easy to read but based on sound theoretical principles, research, and 'best practices' in gerontology."—Lilian Wells, University of Toronto School of Social Work "This is a terrific book that will be of immense comfort and benefit to those who read it. Families dealing with aging and chronic illness need concrete information, decision support and clear, empathic guidance to face and accept the storm of emotions that accompany these issues. Peter Silin's book does all of that, in a calm, forthright and sometimes humorous manner that goes directly to the often unspoken pain that complicates the process of choice. The inclusion of the stories from support group members is invaluable. I enthusiastically recommend this work to clients and fellow care management professionals."—Peter S. Belson, former president, National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers and Senior Director, CareGuide, Inc. "These true stories speak with power and passion."—William H. Thomas, author of The Eden Alternative "Practical and valuable information at a difficult time."—Annette Meyer, Arizona Daily Star "This book is a complete guide to the family's complex journey of placing someone in a nursing home."—Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Author Information
Peter S. Silin is a geriatric social worker and principal of Diamond Geriatrics, Inc., a geriatric care management company in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has worked in all areas of senior care.
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