From Booklist
Silin, a geriatric social worker with his own management company, has worked with all those involved in the daily routines of nursing homes--the residents, their families and friends, and the professional and nonprofessional members of the staffs. His advice in this definitely nonacademic book is broadly based. He counsels realistically on what to look for in choosing a home, how to deal with the family member who will become a resident, and how to handle the various relationships that will be involved. He doesn't just discuss those matters; he also suggests what to say in various situations and how to say it. Moreover, he considers feelings of guilt and shame as well as such things as selection, costs, and handling complaints. Silin works in Canada, but the book's valuable appendixes contain information helpful to those living in the U.S., as well. William Beatty
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From Book News, Inc.
Gives family members practical advice and emotional support when facing the decision to place a relative in a nursing home and presents voices and stories of family caregivers struggling with the nursing home decision. There is material on talking about care with the relative needing care, caring at home versus finding a nursing home, and a detailed overview of a typical day in a nursing home. There is also discussion of guilt, loss, and grief, visiting, and working with other families to improve a nursing home. Includes a list of US state ombudsperson offices, and a questionnaire for assessing a nursing home. Silin is a geriatric social worker and principal of a geriatric care management company in Canada.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Los Angeles Times
"Making a Home Better" ...includes wonderful advice on how ...one can influence what goes on inside a nursing home...


Review
"Practical and valuable information at a difficult time."--Annette Meyer, Arizona Daily Star


ElderLawAnswers.com
Silin comes across as such an extraordinarily sensitive commentator that you often feel he is right there chatting with you.


Review
"These true stories speak with power and passion."--William H. Thomas, author of The Eden Alternative


Contra Costa (California) Times
"... I particularly like ... "Settling In," which covers resident adjustment, changes in behavior, dementia and the caregiver's emotional adjustment…


Book Description
Being the family member of someone in a nursing home is part of a difficult and painful process that begins long before a loved one enters the home. Focusing on the psychological, emotional, and social aspects of that process, Nursing Homes: The Family's Journey gives family members important practical advice and emotional support, and it explains the intricacies of care and nursing homes.Peter S. Silin approaches his subject with compassion and sensitivity, guiding readers through the entire process. Section one helps caregivers cope with difficult decisions and deal with the emotional issues that arise. Section two describes nursing homes and how they work, and it outlines how to choose a home. Section three explains how to prepare for the day a relative moves into a nursing home and suggests ways to help the resident settle in. The fourth section focuses on the family member's role in solving problems, obtaining quality care, and visiting, and it offers advice about how to deal with death and dying. After each chapter are real-life vignettes written by caregivers which help validate and support the reader.In assisting their loved ones through the transition to life in a nursing home, one of the greatest obstacles families face is a dearth of practical information and sympathetic experience. This book will help fill the gap for family members and their infirm relatives, as well as for social workers and family therapists. It will also be a valuable tool for nursing home administrators and care staff.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A guide to making decisions as family, choosing a facility, and getting the best possible care.Being the family member of someone in a nursing home is part of a difficult and painful process that begins long before a loved one enters the home. Focusing on the psychological, emotional, and social aspects of that process, Nursing Homes: The Family's Journey gives family members important practical advice and emotional support, and it explains the intricacies of care and nursing homes.

Peter S. Silin approaches his subject with compassion and sensitivity, guiding readers through the entire process. Section one helps caregivers cope with difficult decisions and deal with the emotional issues that arise. Section two describes nursing homes and how they work, and it outlines how to choose a home. Section three explains how to prepare for the day a relative moves into a nursing home and suggests ways to help the resident settle in. The fourth section focuses on the family member's role in solving problems, obtaining quality care, and visiting, and it offers advice about how to deal with death and dying. After each chapter are real-life vignettes written by caregivers which help validate and support the reader.

In assisting their loved ones through the transition to life in a nursing home, one of the greatest obstacles families face is a dearth of practical information and sympathetic experience. This book will help fill the gap for family members and their infirm relatives, as well as for social workers and family therapists. It will also be a valuable tool for nursing home administrators and care staff. Author Biography: Peter S. Silin is a geriatric social worker and principal of Diamond Geriatrics, Inc., a geriatric care management company in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has worked in all areas of senior care.

FROM THE CRITICS

Los Angeles Times

Among the most valuable chapters in this book is one titled "Making a Home Better", which includes wonderful advice on how a loved one can influence what goes on inside a nursing home...His inclusion of real-life stories from the families he's encountered over 20 years anchors the book compassionately.

Booknews

...Gives family members practical advice and emotional support when facing the decision to place a relative in a nursing home and presents voices and stories of family caregivers struggling with the nursing home decision. There is material on talking about care with the relative needing care, caring at home versus finding a nursing home, and a detailed overview of a typical day in a nursing home. There is also discussion of guilt, loss, and grief, visiting, and working with other families to improve a nursing home. Includes a list of US state ombudsperson offices, and a questionnaire for assessing a nursing home. Silin is a geriatric social worker and principal of a geriatric care management company in Canada.

Peter S. Belson

This is a terrific book that will be of immense comfort and benefit to those who read it. Families dealing with aging and chronic illness need concrete information, decision support and clear, empathic guidance to face and accept the storm of emotions that accompany these issues. Peter Silin's book does all of that, in a calm, forthright and sometimes humorous manner that goes directly to the often unspoken pain that complicates the process of choice. The inclusion of the stories from support group members is invaluable. I enthusiastically recommend this work to clients and fellow care management professionals.

William H. Thomas

These true stories speak with power and passion.

Lilian Wells

The information in Nursing Homes is of excellent quality. The vignettes are a powerful supplement to each section. Silin's style is informal and easy to read but based on sound theoretical principles, research, and 'best practices' in gerontology. Read all 7 "From The Critics" >

RATING

5 Stars! from Doody

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