This book covers three interacting stories - (1) My wife, Pook, and her health deterioration over a period of more than four years; (2) My caregiver efforts during that time, and (3) Problems encountered in confronting the American health system. 1.THE THREE STORIES Story One - Pook as a patient - Describes her bouts with Parkinson's Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, Stroke, and Atrial Fibrillation; how each of these health problems created major changes in her personality, communication abilities, and physical activities. It also depicts her responses to the numerous different rehabilitation efforts by her husband and other medical personnel. Story Two - Husband Jim's caregiver efforts - Describes the extended period of time I spent caring for Pook. Above all, it describes my singular fight, beyond the limitations of pills, to withstand the attacks of her progressive diseases, attempting to retain her mental and physical abilities as long as possible - to keep her wonderful personality alive. In the case of her stroke, to attempt to reverse its impacts - restore her ability to walk, and to again be able to use both of her hands. I also: (1) characterize my "lessons learned" as I became educated in the work of a caregiver, as her health was impacted by each problem - her PD, LBD, Stroke, and AFIB; (2) explicitly detail my written communications with her doctors, therapists, family and friends; and (3) cover the nature, benefits and limitations of efforts by other medical personnel as I endeavored to work with them. Story Three - Confronting the American health system - Describes the nature, strengths and weaknesses of the American health system surrounding Pook - doctors, therapists, systems, facilities and equipment, finances - as they had such important impacts on decisions to maintain, and attempt to rehabilitate, her health. I especially emphasize the lack of honesty, and weaknesses of, the government driven Medicare based approach to stroke rehabilitation. 2.CAREGIVER LESSONS LEARNED Caregiving is tough, complicated and mentally taxing! Over the course of almost five years as Pook's caregiver, I've learned a lot about the nature of the caregiver's job. Throughout the book you will find references to "My Caregiving Learning Process" describing examples as they apply to different parts of her health situation. Important "lessons learned" from my experiences are outlined below in the hope that you might find them helpful references for working with your patient.
About the Author: As Pook's health began to deteriorate, I was fortunate to possess personal characteristics helpful to assuming caregiver responsibilities - a strong educational background; physically fit and energetic for my age (77 years old); retired with lots of time available; living in a condo with minimum maintenance needs; married for 55 years, and deeply in love with Pook; plus a determination that I would never place her in a nursing home. Importantly, I was also lacking in skills that I would have to learn about along the way - knowing little or nothing about medicine and nursing; operation of household appliance; shopping, cooking, washing clothes, vacuuming and otherwise taking care of our household and ourselves. I have a Mechanical Engineering Degree plus Master's Degrees in Civil Engineering and Business. I have extensive analytical and management experience in aerospace, robotics, automobile design and transportation systems; a specialist background in strategic planning, market planning and marketing of technology based systems; a decade of working as an international consultant; comfortable with oral and written communications with a diversity of clients; previously a monthly feature writer for an International magazine. I have devoted myself full time to taking care of my wife ever since her health problems began within our condo home. I am now 81 years old.