Now Available from Old Mission Press        Caregiver Summary

In a recent interview, Jeanne Hannah stated: “I now know that the primary caregiver is the person most likely to know when a loved one needs medical attention.”
 
 Some of the major messages of Taking Charge are:
 
 • Family caregivers do not need medical training to be effective members of the caregiving team.
 
 • Although medical schools and nursing schools are trying to correct this by encouraging training in geriatrics, the fact remains that currently, most medical caregivers have little or no training in geriatrics. This makes misdiagnosis a serious danger.
 
 • The elderly are most at risk to suffer medication errors, adverse drug reactions, delirium, dehydration, malnutrition, and to fall because of age-related problems.
 
 • Family caregivers are able to detect subtle changes in the status of their loved ones and should advocate for an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.
 
 • Family caregivers are in a good position to work with medical caregivers to prevent complications.
 
 • Family caregivers can protect their loved ones and themselves by utilizing clearly written, legal documents that will make their decisions about end-of-life care enforceable.
 
 "This book enables me to give confidence to the elderly and to their caregivers," said Hannah. "I want them to know that you don't need a medical degree to be effective. The caregiver spends more time with their loved one than anyone."