Family Caregiving
A Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Caregiving
by
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Are you ready for this?
One morning, I got a frantic call from my Dad’s significant other. When they both woke up, Dad was lying in a pool of his own blood. After alerting Dad’s Primary Care Physician (PCP), I told her to immediately take Dad to the hospital Emergency Room (ER). With these phone calls, my world stopped and there was nothing more important in my life than breaking every speed limit driving to the ER. This was the start of a five month journey where Dad lost his independence and I became his full-time family caregiver.
Prior to this event, Dad’s significant other was his primary caregiver since she and Dad lived together. I served as a consultant; attended Dad’s doctor appointments and out-patient procedures, sat with Dad during a previous week-long stay in the hospital, and maintained Dad’s Medical Packet and related documentation. I was also the family ‘first responder’ because, with the exception of an elderly Uncle, the rest of my family lived more than 600 miles away. In this capacity, I was able to continue my life socially and work; all of which came to an abrupt halt with that one frantic phone call.
Was I ready for this? NO! Did I get ready? Yes, and quickly!
If you are reading this, you probably had a similar experience and are wondering, “Oh my God! Can I do this?” Hopefully, I can help you answer this question because caregiving will require significant preparation and changes in your life; especially if full-time care is required. If you think you are ready for this, please consider the following to prepare yourself to become a successful family caregiver:
• Physical, Mental, and Emotional Capability.
• Home.
• Transportation.
• Documentation.
• Pharmacies.
• Medical Equipment.
• Research, Communication, and Tools.
• Expenses and Taxes.
Your caregiving journey begins!
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About the Book
Family Caregiving explores one of the most precious and fulfilling gifts of love that can be given to a family member or a friend—and also one of the most difficult tasks to undertake. The difficulty increases in magnitude because many family caregivers have no formal medical training other than basic first aid. In most cases, all of their medical knowledge has come from their own life experiences with personal illnesses, accidents, and medications. In Family Caregiving, author Brett Lewis shares his insights and the bounty of information that he learned acting as a family caregiver for both his father and his close friend.
He explains that even though caregiving is stressful, being prepared and knowledgeable can reduce stress levels and better position a family member for caregiving success. A caregiver should have a thorough understanding of the patient’s personal and family medical history, current symptoms, and medical conditions. It is critical to learn how to interact effectively with medical personnel; to become familiar with hospital/rehabilitation center processes and protocols; and to learn about basic medical terminology, equipment, and procedures.
By sharing candid, real-world experiences—including his mistakes—Lewis provides a step-by-step guide that can enable the family caregiver to better navigate the journey of caregiving.
About the Author
BRETT LEWIS is a recovering family caregiver. He cared for his father for two years and for his friend Amy for five months. Brett is now recovering from his caregiving journey while making sense of it all by writing this guide, Family Caregiving, to share his personal experiences. He currently lives in New Jersey.