The Home Stretch’ by Sanjay Dattatri is a thoughtful referral guide for family caregivers, sensitive and all encompassing. This review by Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, a special educator and rehabilitation expert appreciates the various nuggets of information the book has managed to put together.
As I read the first few chapters I had this sense of Déjà vu. Almost all the incidents were a repeat of what I had experienced about 10 years ago while taking care of my mother-in-law. And I found myself laughing aloud while perusing the ‘Remote Caregiving’ chapter! Yes, I was also a victim of the well-meant remote caregiving by other relatives living abroad! Dattatri has brought it all out very well, with a pinch of diplomacy, and got us to see both sides of the coin.
This book is very easy to identify with, if you are /have been, a caregiver to an elder at home.
It could be used as a handbook for a caregiver of an adult with disability or any adult with an illness, needing care. Dattatri has detailed all the intricacies of home caregiving succinctly. He has looked at caring for the bed-ridden person as well as for the mobile, also for the fairly independent elders living alone and suggested safety measures for the latter.
He has looked at not only the physical aspects but also the emotional ones involved, of both the care-giver and the stake-holder, suggesting self-help groups and giving a few more tips for self-care for caregivers.
How many of us know about the different kinds of wheelchairs available or which Air bed is suitable for a dear elder? Sanjay Dattatri has listed out a number of different kinds of accessories and gadgets which could be required in the care of an ailing senior, with a lot of detailing. He also describes simple adaptations that could be made in the bedroom, kitchen and washrooms to make life more easy and less dangerous.
He goes on to describe what products you may need in which situation and tips on how to choose it correctly. The chapters are divided according to the difficulties faced due to various illnesses, like Incontinence, Mobility and Accessibility etc. I was overjoyed at him having spent a whole chapter on Mobility and Accessibility!
There’s also a chapter on Retirement homes -what to look for and how to select a suitable one. Another chapter on visual and hearing aids would have been terrific.
My only grouse is the stark absence of any illustrations or pictures. Considering that Dattatri has all the products right there, I wish he had put in many visuals. This would have definitely made the book more attractive and interesting.
This will definitely serve as a handbook for anyone with\without elders with\without ailments, as a good referral on their shelves.
Link to the book here:
Read Lakshmi's article on Elder friendly home modifications
Read another perspective on the book on dementiacarenotes
