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

Jari Holland Buck
Authorhouse (2006)
ISBN 142085982X
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (5/06)

“24/7 or Dead” covers a really complex difficult area of life that all of us will have to face someday, if we haven’t already. That is the care of a loved one while they are hospitalized. This book is really well written and easy to follow. The author, Jari Holland Buck, makes fourteen recommendations to assist the family member that is in charge with making sure that the loved one get the proper care and treatment. These recommendations are very easy to follow, and Buck describes them in depth. They touch on all aspects of how to be able to best care for the patient.

The first and last recommendation is to “Take care of yourself.” This makes so much sense, because if you fall apart from the stress, you will not be able to help anybody, let alone take care of yourself. Other aspects of the recommendations involve dealing with legal issues and spiritual issues. Buck presents the subject matter in a way that is easily understandable. She provides short definitions in parentheses immediately affect presenting a medical term. This immediately lets the reader know what she is talking about and provides the reader with an understanding of a professional term in which they will be hearing from the medical staff. The more educated the caregiver is, the more information they will have to work with regarding understanding the care of the loved one. Buck also provides easy to follow checklists to that will enable to caregiver to make sure that their family member’s needs are being met. I think that the checklists will be especially helpful to those that are immediately involved in the stress and trauma of trying to see that someone is cared for. It would be best to read this book ahead of time, while you are not stressed out so that you are prepared for the fight that will be ahead of you when faced with a situation such as this.

I personally have worked in several hospitals and as a social worker for several years. Before I read the book, I thought that I already knew a lot about patient advocacy and what I could do to stand up for the rights of a hospitalized family member. As I was reading the book, I realized that I knew very little. Buck in an effort to save her husband’s life, she went way beyond the call of duty and I believe in doing so, she actually did save him. I am grateful that she shared her knowledge and experiences with us through this book because I know that when I encounter this situation, I will be better prepared to handle it.

In addition to Buck sharing her story about her husband, she also presents some spiritual principles and advice that I feel will help bring peace and hope to those involved. I highly recommend this book to people who are involved with caring for family members that are aging. I also recommend it to people that are involved in the care of those who are ill. I think that people that work in the medical industry need to read this so that they can understand what it is like for a family member to have to fight through the system to keep a loved one alive. If nothing else, they will learn compassion

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