Nursing a parent, spouse, other relative, or friend through the painful progress of a terminal disease is not a road best traveled alone.The Complete Bedside Companionoffers warmth, encouragement, and the medical, legal, financial, and emotional advice you need when caring for an ailing loved one.Drawing on the experiences of dozens of ordinary people who have cared for relatives and friends ill or dying from cancer, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, stroke, emphysema, diabetes, AIDS, and other serious conditions -- along with the practical wisdom of distinguished medical, legal, financial, and psychological experts -- this sound, compassionate guide provides field-tested advice on every aspect of caring for the sick including:
- Doing battle with insurance companies
- Managing symptoms such as nausea or pain
- Exploring experimental and alternative therapies
- Maintaining cash flow and coping with bills
Rodger McFarlane,one of America's most respected consumer advocates for the sick, currently directs collaborative research between the American Association of Health Plans and Lotus (IBM), evaluating experimental medical treatments on behalf of customers of the managed care industry. He is the former Executive Director of the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
ContentsIntroduction
How to Use This BookPart One: Caring for the Sick1.The Hospital and the Medical Team: Who's Who and What's WhatWhen It Is Most Important to Be at an Ailing Loved One's Side
The Family and Medical Leave Act
Set the Stage at Work
Preparing for a Loved One's Hospital Stay
Arranging Blood Donations
What to Bring to the Hospital (and What to Leave at Home)
First Stop: The Admitting Office
Next Stop: The Floor
The Health Care Team: Who They Are and What They Do
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![The Complete Bedside Companion: A No-Nonsense Guide to Caring for the Seriously Ill [Paperback]](/itemImage/2/8/3/6/2_6648434.jpg "The Complete Bedside Companion: A No-Nonsense Guide to Caring for the Seriously Ill [Paperback]")