Hospice Volunteer's Insights Guide Dignified Death and Nursing Home Reform
Frances Shani Parker's new book "Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes" shares her volunteer experiences and insights on end-of-life care, offering hope for those who want dignified death journeys for themselves and their loved ones.
Detroit, MI (PRWEB) September 3, 2007
Living out one's final stage of life in dignity and peace is an entitlement that Frances Shani Parker believes everyone deserves. In order to help others claim this precious right, she wrote "Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes" (ISBN 9781932690354, Loving Healing Press, 2007), based on her own work in end-of-life care over the past nine years.
The hospice philosophy supports quality end-of-life care physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually for dying patients and their families. Parker decided to become a certified hospice volunteer after a three-year period of helping two acquaintances living with AIDS. Her years volunteering have been spent in various nursing homes in Detroit.
"Becoming Dead Right" is literally an information guide for becoming dead the right way. This captivating book includes heartfelt stories of the remarkable individuals Parker met during her service as a volunteer and offers practical advice for caregivers, as well. Each chapter concludes with a touching, original poem that arose from a passion inspired by people and events from Parker's encounters in nursing homes.
In particular, "Becoming Dead Right" includes the perspectives of people of color and those dying in urban nursing homes -- viewpoints that are often excluded from many other end-of-life books on the market. She also wrote the book with a much larger group in mind: the vast baby boomer generation, which is moving into senior citizenship and needing end-of-life care information for themselves and their elders. Parker provides educated suggestions for caregiving, death and bereavement strategies.
The final chapter of "Becoming Dead Right" features an imaginary tour of an ideal -- and very feasible -- nursing home, based on best practices used in limited nursing homes today. Even the young and healthy will benefit from reading "Becoming Dead Right," because the useful information it offers eventually will prove invaluable to all readers.
About the Author
Frances Shani Parker resides in Detroit, Michigan. She is a writer, consultant, hospice volunteer and former school principal, who has won numerous awards for her creative and academic writings, as well as her achievements in education.
"Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes" (ISBN 9781932690354, Loving Healing Press, 2007) can be purchased through local and online bookstores. Distributed by Ingram and New Leaf. For more information, visit www. francesshaniparker. com. Publicity contact: info @ lovinghealing. com. Review copies available upon request.
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