24/7 or Dead: A Handbook for Families with a Loved One in the Hospital

Jari’s husband was suddenly stricken with severe pancreatitis and spent six out of eight and a half months in a Kansas hospital dependant on life support. Jari spent every moment by his side, she became involved in his treatments and care and participated in his recovery, she educated herself in his medications and treatments, and was there on more than one occasion to save his life. But her involvement was not always welcomed by the healthcare providers and she was often referred to as a “pain in the ass family member”. She learned the hard way how to be a patient advocate and this is her story.

With hospitals and health care professionals stretched to the limit it is unfortunate that the health care system is resisting support from those who have the most invested in their patients; the family member.

Jari Holland Buck prepares us for the unimaginable events that we are never prepared to cope with. 24/7 or Dead is an essential guidebook that teaches the reader the critical importance of co-caring for, and being a patient advocate for your loved one in the hospital. It is rich with valuable information, walking you through the process of difficult and confusing issues such as how to seek out the Patient Advocacy Office, obtain a Patient Rights Statement; legal questions such as when to implement a A Living Will and a Power of Attorney; and how and why you should educate yourself about the medications and injections being used to provide treatment.

The scope of this book encompasses much more than just the physical aspect, Jari approaches the topic of Prayer and Surrender with beautiful eloquence. “We have nothing to lose by praying, so be very clear about what you want”, she says. “…even if the answer is ‘no’, you will know then that you have done everything that can be done and you can let go and surrender.”

I especially liked an idea that Jari had; she suggests displaying pictures of your loved-one, of the way they used to look while they were healthy, so that the nurses and staff can see him as a person and not just a patient.

24/7 or Dead is a timely and valuable resource, and though some of the content, such as the legal suggestions and hospital billing practices may not be pertinent in another country, the call to be more of a patient advocate for our loved ones has never been more necessary.

For more info about this New Release email the author at jari@majesticwolf.com
Review was written by Cindy DeJager of Rosetta Stone Press at cindy@rosettastonepress.com