Handbook for Mortals: Guidance for People Facing Serious Illness - Hardcover

Lynn, Joanne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195116623 ISBN 13: 9780195116625

Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc, 1999

Synopsis

Modern medical technology has changed not only the way we live but also the way we die. Until two generations ago, people usually died suddenly, after an accident or serious illness. Now, most of us may expect our dying to take longer, to require more care, and to demand more forethought than ever before. This book is addressed to all those who wish to approach the final years of life with greater awareness of what to expect and greater confidence about how to make the end of our lives a time of growth, comfort and meaningful reflection. Written by Dr. Joanne Lynn and a team of physicians, this book provides equal measures of practical information and wise counsel. Readers will learn what decisions they will need to face; what choices are available to them; where to look for help; how to ease pain and other symptoms; what to expect with specific diseases; how the health-care system operates; and how the entire experience affects dying persons, their families, and their friends. This book is intended for the general reader and professionals working with the terminally ill.

About this title

Review:

This Handbook for Mortals is a sentimental guide for people living with a terminal illness and for those who are caring for someone with an illness.

People are living longer today than they were generations ago, and the age that people can expect to reach is getting older all the time.

Living longer, however, usually goes hand-in-hand with higher morbidity levels-- this means the longer we live, the more illnesses we can generally expect to suffer from.

In today's society we have the most advanced technology and medical equipment ever, yet no matter how many operations or how much physical treatment we go through, they cannot help with the psychological effects of the condition which we are trying to tackle.

Any one person suffering from an illness or condition will react to it differently and cope with it in a different way.

Some will look at it as living with an illness, while others will regard their situation as dying from an illness.

No-one but that person can truly know how much control the condition actually has over their lives, and learning to come to terms with it, whether you are the person suffering or caring, can be a very traumatic time.

Being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease immediately brings to mind doom and gloom, and most of all the fear of death.

The sections of this book cover ways to live with a serious illness and how to plan for an uncertain future. It looks at mourning for lost loved ones and finding a way to cope through this difficult time.

It is a book certainly worth reading if you, or someone you know, is undergoing long-term treatment for a serious illness, and helps to view difficult situations in a more positive light.

Included are case studies of people who have experienced these feelings, and inspirational quotes--many from the sufferers themselves--to offer hope and guidance, which gives the book a comforting touch. --Louise Coyle

Review:

"I found this an excellent, very readable book and expect it to be one of those books that I return to for information, ideas or practical suggestions." Progress in Palliative Care, Volume 10, No 3

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0195116623
• ISBN 13: 9780195116625
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256