Readers' comments and reviews by experts about the Irish Red Cross Helping You to Care Handbook
Readers' comments and reviews by experts about the Irish Red Cross Helping You to Care Handbook
Comments and remarks
"An absolutely brilliant book," Pat Kenny, RTE (Today Show 20-04-07).
By Teresa Mc Cluskey, Director of Nursing, Hermitage Medical Clinic, Dublin.
Using the Irish Red Cross ‘Helping you to Care' Handbook, carers can competently look after an elderly parent, sick child or friend at home
The Irish Red Cross hand book ‘Helping you to Care' is a practical and keenly priced guide for everyone who has to care for anyone of any age.
The book is an excellent source of relevant information for carers to look after loved ones in the home, and for carers employed in home care services in the community.
With this book, care givers can have confidence in their skills and expertise, which allows the recipient to enjoy the privilege of living in their own home.
There is a big demand for these services today as the demographics of our society have changed. With better access to healthcare, people are living longer and enjoying better health. Thanks to the assistance of well trained carers, our loved ones can enjoy living at home, in their own homes with the dignity and love they deserve.
Using the ‘Helping you to Care' Handbook, carers can competently look after an elderly parent, sick child or friend at home, knowing all the community supports and voluntary organisations available to support them.
The layout and colour coding in the book facilitates easy access to all relevant information. It is very easy to understand and interpret the information provided in the hand book.
It highlights the relevant aspects of skills and expertise required to confidently care for a person in the home.
It explains how to communicate effectively, and highlights the importance of key issues such as infection control and prevention. The book also explains how to make someone comfortable in bed, with practical hints to adapt the home to cater for their special needs in a safe environment.
The book contains colourful illustrations of balanced nourishing meals including special diets.
Maintaining independence is encouraged in the themes running through the book. It has an excellent section on diagnostic aids in determining the status of the ill person in the home. Subsequently it facilitates vital information being given to the GP and Public Health nurse, to make a determination on the person's health status.
The book includes a poignant section on Palliative and End of Life care, which highlight concerns of the dying person, friend and carer, with very apt and beautiful pictures.
By the Mayor of Clonmel, Cllr Phil Prendergast.( Registered General Nurse).
What a wonderful practical book. This book should be the bible of every student nurse, every carer, every health care professional, and everyone who cares about the social, cultural and dignity of those in need of care. Its range of subjects is so wide ranging but yet compact and practical, it would be very difficult for anyone who finds themselves in a position of care giving to make any mistake with this book as a guide. I ,as a health care professional can heartily endorse this as a wonderful addition to any training program and congratulations to all in the Irish Red Cross who are associated with it.
By Mary McMahon, CEO, Caring for Carers Ireland
Caring for Carers Ireland as a national voluntary organisation supporting Family Carers warmly welcomes the new Irish Red Cross 'Helping You To Care' Handbook.
Mary McMahon CEO commented that the new handbook is accessible, clear and positive with excellent photographic images. She added,
"It will be a valuable resource and reference for the Caring for Carers Ireland 'Caring in the Home' Training Programmes which have been run in partnership with the Irish Red Cross for over sixteen years. I also feel that 'Helping You To Care' is a handbook that should be in every home."
By David Fanagan, Fanagan Funeral Directors Dublin
As a Funeral Director, I sometimes forget what a bereaved family has had to cope with prior to them having to make contact with someone like myself.
The Irish Red Cross Handbook "Helping You to Care" is an excellent publication. It refers, in a very practical manner, to the very many issues that one encounters when dealing with the care and well-being of a loved one who requires assistance in their day-to-day living.
The language used is easily understood. The advice is simple but highly effective in improving the lives of those who depend on the care of others. Critically, the carer is also catered for with many tips and good advice.