As its title implies, the purpose of this column is to provide you with useful information and help you tap into new networks or learn about available products and services.
Are you struggling with health insurance costs and access to care? The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) has unveiled The National Underinsured Resource Directory. The Directory is intended to help underinsured individuals and families (those who have health insurance but are still struggling to meet their out-of-pocket costs) locate important resources and seek alternative coverage options or methods to cover their healthcare needs.
The National Underinsured Resource Directory is available through an online interactive tutorial program. The comprehensive online tool will help underinsured Americans locate valuable resources and action steps to provide financial relief. Visitors to the Web site can also access suggestions for resolving specific issues as well as a list of national and state-specific resources. Go to http://patientadvocate.org/help4u.php .
Are you looking for home safety tips for your entire family? The Home Safety Council (HSC) is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to preventing home-related injuries that result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits on average each year. The Home Safety Council‘s award-winning programs are designed to educate people of all ages to take the steps needed to protect against home injuries. The programs target different age-specific audiences, from children to older adults, and focus on the five leading causes of home injury. Go to www.homesafetycouncil.org .
Are you looking for a single source of reliable information on neurologic disorders? The American Academy of Neurology sponsors a Web site specifically designed for patients, their family caregivers, and their loved ones. The Web site serves as a comprehensive resource on specific neurologic disorders by combining information from the American Academy of Neurology and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Web sites into one user-friendly site. Get trusted answers to pressing questions regarding causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of common neurologic disorders.
In addition, Neurology Now® , an official publication of the American Academy of Neurology, features new information about advances in the diagnosis and treatment of neurologic diseases; expert advice about wellness and disease prevention, new medications, and therapies; and strategies for coping with neurologic disorders. Those with neurologic disorders and their caregivers can register for a free subscription. Go to http://patients.aan.com/ .
BOOK REVIEW
Journey of a Lifetime: The Caregiver’s Guide to Self-Care by Jane Meier Hamilton, MSN, RN (Infinity Publishing.com, 2010, $11.95).
“You want me to take time for myself? I don’t see how I could possibly add one more thing to my plate, even if it is something good for me …” Sound familiar? Well, you do need to take care of yourself. How? That’s where Journey of a Lifetime: The Caregiver’s Guide to Self-Care comes in. It’s a small, easy-to-read book, full of checklists, resources, and ideas you can use today to do something good for yourself. Jane Meier Hamilton includes recommendations and activities that are easy to apply. The book is arranged along her “7 C’s of Self-Care”: Claim your caregiver role, consider facts about caregiver stress, care for yourself as you care for others, center yourself, channel your thoughts, choose wisely, and, finally, cultivate community. After 35 years as a family caregiver, Hamilton knows how hard it can be to make the time. So, she takes you by the hand and shows you how. If you’re just starting on the caregiver path, this book may save you years of stress. If you’ve been on the path a while, this book can help you refocus and think about yourself for a change.
Journey of a Lifetime: The Caregiver’s Guide to Self-Care is available wherever books are sold and at www.buybooksontheweb.com .
The Book Review was provided by CCAN representative Liz de Nesnera.
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