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Author Gaffney, Sandra J.

Title Making myself at home in a nursing home / Sandra J. Gaffney.

Publication Info. Nashville : Vanderbilt University Press, [2012]
©2012

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Location Call No. Status
 University of Saint Joseph: Pope Pius XII Library - Standard Shelving Location  362.16 G131M    Check Shelf
Description 174 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm
Note Includes index.
Summary "Sandra Gaffney entered her first nursing home for long-term care at the unusually young age of fifty. Fourteen years earlier she had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Over the next sixteen years, Gaffney lived in nursing homes in Florida, Virginia, and Minnesota, as the ways she could be close to family changed. She describes her situation in these words: "As a nursing home resident, I require total or maximum care. I have limited use of my hands and arms. With special splints, I am able to turn the pages of my books, use the telephone and TV/VCR/FM radio remote control. When my cup is positioned properly, I can drink independently. I am able to walk with a platform walker and the help of two nursing assistants. My walking is not functional; it is only for exercise. After I moved into my third nursing home, I learned to operate a power wheelchair by using an adaptive switch between my knees. ... All other areas of physical care have to be done for me. My speech is impaired. If people listen carefully, they can understand what I am saying. ... I am able to eat regular food and breathe on my own." Gaffney became an acute observer and strategist about how to live in a nursing home. Her first-person account, dictated to family members and assistants, covers making the decision to enter a nursing home, choosing the right one, and understanding its culture. She talks about how to furnish your room and about all the issues that arise in a resident's typical day. She has much to say about communication with staff and family about "how to help others help me." Gaffney's daughters, Amy and Bridget, and her friend Ellen Potter provide additional perspectives on the caregiving experience"-- Provided by publisher.
Subject Gaffney, Sandra J. -- Health.
Nursing homes -- United States -- Psychological aspects.
Nursing homes -- Social aspects -- United States.
Nursing home care -- United States.
ISBN 9780826518644 hardback
0826518648 hardback
9780826518651 paperback edition
0826518656 paperback edition
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