The Comfort of Home: An Illustrated Step-By-Step Guide for Caregivers, 2nd Edition

by Maria M. Meyer, Paula Derr

A guide that takes the fear out of home care and brings confidence and peace of mind to caregivers. The Comfort of Home starts with the basics and contains all the information caregivers need to do the job at their fingertips, both now and as new healthcare needs arise. The guide helps -make the home safe and comfortable, -handle everyday activities like toileting, bathing, and wheelchair transfers, -avoid infections and illnesses, -deal with Alzheimer's care, -communicate with healthcare professionals, -understand end-of-life health care documents and -avoid caregiver burnout.

364 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1998

Reviews

[Matthew Gatheringwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not as technical as instruction aides for professional caregivers, this clearly-written book is perfect for family members caring for a seriously ill person at home. I will definitely be recommending this book to my clients and I've already reproduced some of the helpful forms and checklists in the book to use in my work.

The Comfort of Home is a practical guidebook that starts with a realistic assessment of whether or not home care is possible. If it is, then the subsequent chapters will tell you how to make your home safe and accessible, how to get outside help, and how to perform activities of daily living for your loved one. If you are caring for someone who is not going to recover from their illness, later chapters describe hospice options and what to do after someone has died.

The book is printed in larger type with clear black-and-white illustrations. It has a helpful index and glossary, and it is full of resources for additional information. There is plenty here to help a caregiver to cope. It would also be a great resource for religious organizations with committees to care for sick people in the congregation