Navigating the health care system can often be difficult, so here are four books that might offer some hope amid the chaos: From accessible health care to the journey of being a caregiver, we’ve got the books you need to read this fall.
There’s no way out
By Sue Fagalde Rick
More than six million Americans have dementia, one in three of whom are older adults. When you add in spouses, siblings, adult children, and professional caregivers, we are all touched by this disease.
But “No Way Out of This” is not the story of the virtuous, self-sacrificing wife who gives up everything to care for her husband. We see such spouses in romantic books and movies, but they don’t tell the whole story. No one is that good.
When Sue Rick’s husband’s endearing forgetfulness deteriorated into dementia, she traded a life of writing, music and travel with her beloved for caregiving, guilt and impossible decisions.
“No Way Out of This” is not just about Alzheimer’s. It’s about mental illness, caring for a beloved pet amidst chaos, the testing of a marriage, an examination of support systems (or lack thereof), and a love story that doesn’t have a happy ending. This is a true story.
You can buy this book here: shewritespress.com/product/no-way-out-of-this
Hope Givers: Conversations and Stories of Hope
Jody O’Donnell Ames
In her new book, Hope Givers: Conversations and Stories of Hope, Jodi O’Donnell Ames takes readers on her own deeply emotional journey through caregiving, loss, grief, and some of the most difficult and universal lessons of adulthood.
O’Donnell Ames lost her husband of 36 years, Kevin O’Donnell, to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in 2001. “Hope Givers” is part memoir, part exploration of the nature of hope in life with a terminal illness, and part moving conversations drawn from her podcast, “Gratitude to Latitude,” written with a raw, unfiltered perspective that highlights O’Donnell Ames’ successes while openly acknowledging her failures and shortcomings.
Along the way, thought leaders, mental health experts, and friends will share helpful insights with wisdom and perspectives that offer valuable lessons and comfort.
“Somewhere within these pages you will find a moment of connection and insight,” she said. “The indisputable truth is that life is complicated and difficult, but hope is in store for each and every one of us.”
You can purchase this book here: amazon.com/dp/B0D1SLSXQN
Here Comes the Dragon: One Man’s Quest to Make Health Care More Accessible and Affordable
Webb Golinkin
In his new book, Here Comes the Dragon: One Man’s Quest to Make Healthcare More Accessible and Affordable, Webb Golinkin shares his experiences and lessons he’s learned leading a healthcare company that provides urgent care, walk-in care and telehealth.
Golinkin, who has served as CEO of six companies over the past 35 years, including FastMed and RediClinic, also offers a prescription for the future.
In this book, readers will learn about some of the ways we can make healthcare more accessible and affordable.
Encourage insurers to adopt telehealth Provide more urgent and primary care in the same location Address the administrative costs of a free market approach to health care Make patient medical records more seamless and improve efficiency by eliminating unnecessary duplication of tests
You can purchase this book here: webgolinkin.com/book
Dementia caregivers’ motivation: The journey
By Massie Smith
For Dr. Massie Smith, who finished caring for her grandmother with dementia, it was important to her to share what she learned with other families to spare them the struggle of searching for basic information about optimal care.
Her new book, Dementia Caregiver Behavior Expectations: The Journey, is a concise, yet comprehensive resource designed to answer common questions and provide valuable insight throughout the caregiving journey.
In her book, Smith shows readers how to navigate a dementia care experience logically, including how to recognize potential symptoms before a diagnosis and what questions to ask a patient’s doctor. She then explains what happens after a dementia diagnosis, answers frequently asked questions, and details the different care options available to people with dementia.
While there is no cure for progressive dementia like Alzheimer’s, there is care: caring for yourself. So get ahead on this journey.
You can buy the book here: drmaciesmith.com/#buythebook
