Anyone faced with the prospect of having to place a parent in a nursing
home knows it is one of life's more difficult decisions. One often feels
guilt, doubt, helplessness, and sometimes even resentment. These
emotions can overshadow the conviction that "this is the right thing for
Mother/Father."
Now there is a book that provides a solid basis for public evaluation of
a nursing home. You, Your Parent, and the Nursing Home examines what
makes a facility an emotionally nourishing environment. The author, who
is eminently qualified to provide such guidance, explains the "Six
Common Practices" that may not be contributing to the overall benefit of
nursing home life, and which, until now, have been kept in the realms of
"professional perogatives." Nancy Fox takes the reader on a tour of the
local nursing facility, affording a peek backstage both during and after
visiting hours, by the day and in the dead of night, into every nook and
cranny. She provides helpful instructions on what to observe, and how to
evaluate the care given. The family, she suggests, can become a powerful
influence in bettering that care.
Nancy Fox has practiced as a direct-care nurse or licensed vocational
nurse in nine facilities in five states, and in a Vetran's Hospital. She
has served as in-service director, staff nurse, and floor supervisor.
