Book of the Month

April & May Book Club Pick

Though it is not a formal outlet, the Take Care Book Club makes a pointed effort to select books that delve into topics that are applicable and educational for Take Care Private Duty Home Health Care caregivers and staff. For the April and May months, the Take Care Book Club pick is Tales From the Bed: A Memoir by Jenifer Estess. Tales From the Bed takes the reader on an emotional journey as Jenifer, a thirtysomething successful woman living in New York City, is faced with the diagnosis of ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).

If you read Still Alice by Lisa Genova and appreciated its true-to-life recounting of a life taken all too quickly from Alzheimer’s, Tales From the Bed provides an equally deep and vivid recounting of how this one woman and her family is forced to cope with the disease and its suffocating effects. Jenifer shares her end-of-life story as she battles this fatal neuromuscular disease.

In support of local businesses, consider buying local. Call ahead and order a copy as Take Care employees receive a 15% discount (Sarasota and Venice: Annie’s Paperbacks).

Recommend a book for the Book Club. Email: bookclub@takecarehomehealth.com.

January & February Book Club Picks

In keeping with the New Years’ Resolution theme, the Take Care Book Club recommends two books for the coming months. No matter what you’ve opted for your Resolution list, you’ll be sure to find a direct connection within your life to some of the underlying messages and themes in either one of these books.

The first book, The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, is a timeless classic and is one of those books that you pass on to friends and family. When diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, Randy set about to prepare his last lecture as professors often do, and rather than have the focus of the lecture be dying it was about living. He titled it “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” and the message was full of inspiring life lessons and wisdom.

The Last Lecture is a book that forces you to look at your life and provides you with some guidance and encouragement to make the most of your life as “you may find one day that you have less than you think.” Utilizing his wit, humor, and intelligence, Pausch emotionally connects to his readers leaving a lasting impression.

Taking a different turn and focusing on your physical health and well-being, Karen Koenig’s book The Rules of ‘Normal’ Eating will help you develop the psychological and behavioral skills necessary to maintain your natural and comfortable weight for life.

There’s no better time of the year to reassess various factors  in your life that may directly contribute to your overall well-being. Find out how to develop a healthier living style that works for life-not just fad diets or temporary tricks.

Recommend a book for the Book Club. Email: bookclub@takecarehomehealth.com.

October & November Book Club Pick

For the October and November Take Care Book Club, we chose Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. The main character, Jacob Jankowski, takes us through the journey of his life, unfolding his past from his bed in a nursing home, not enjoying living out his days there.  At the beginning of the novel, Jacob says: “I am ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other.” Though his experience in the nursing home is not the main story line,  it evokes understanding and sympathy making it a perfect inclusion to the Take Care Book Club.

Jacob, as a young man faces tragedy and triumph and spontaneously joins the Benzini Brothers circus (which pales in comparison to the Ringling Brothers), in Depression-era America.  A few key lines in this book can be taken and interpreted in our daily lives as we care for and interact with older adults, patiently listening and understanding each person’s unique and individual life story. Read a few of these lines and discussion questions. See if it piques your interest in reading the October/November Book Club pick.

Later in the story, Jacob laments that his stories no longer interest his grown children, who now have children of their own, and he says, “My real stories are all out of date. So what if I can speak firsthand about the Spanish flu, the advent of the automobile, world wars, cold wars, guerrilla wars, and Sputnik-that’s all ancient history now. But what else do I have to offer?” It raises the question on how perhaps we can appreciate stories and life lessons from our elders.

Tying back into the quick lesson on listening, Jacob looks at himself in the mirror and tries “to see beyond the sagging flesh.” But he claims, “It’s no good. . . . I can’t find myself anymore. When did I stop being me?” How would you answer that question if posed to you from an older adult?

A friendly reminder that there are two local bookstores offering a discount to Take Care employees: Little Bookworms (Lakewood Ranch) and Annie’s Paperback Express (Venice).

August & September Book Club Pick

For the August and September Take Care Book Club, we chose Still Alice by Lisa Genova, who holds a Ph.D in neuroscience from Harvard University. It is a fictional story of a 50-year-old woman’s trying experience both leading up to her diagnoses of early onset Alzheimer’s Disease and the journey that takes her through the debilitating disease.

The reader is given a unique perspective as the story is told by Alice, the patient. Alice takes us on the course of how she struggles to find the work‑family balance and eventually weighing in on finding purpose and meaning in her own life, all while her mind succumbs to Alzheimer’s.

It is a must read for all. It is educational and enlightening. Take time for yourself to get back into education mode. Reading is a wonderful way to foster and continue the learning process. Last month we supported physical exercise, this month we encourage exercising your brain.

In support of our “Back to School” theme, information about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease will be available in the office. If you would like to schedule an appointment to view one of our Alzheimer’s videos, schedule a time with Kristen Stone, HR Coordinator in the Sarasota office, at 927.2292. Also visit www.Alz.org for more information.