Stroke Hope Guide for Caregivers

By Daniel Bryan Jones

Foreword by Jacqueline Piepenhagen - Artist of the Quill

Author Daniel Jones has proven that no matter what life throws at you if you have a positive attitude and the will to find purpose in your life you will move forward to live life to its fullest.

Daniel Jones exceptional drive to overcome the adversities in his life has led him to not only tell his life’s story of the massive stroke he suffered in 2006, but to reach out and spread the word that life is worth living. In this book he focuses on caregiving.

There is no “bling” in this book only the hard core reality of care giving and what it encompasses. Care giving is not for everyone. I believe this book will inform and guide you as to what is needed to be a wonderful care giver.

Daniel has laid out this self-guide from firsthand experience. Here he tells about the ins and outs; the ups and downs that can follow after a diagnosis’s of stroke. He doesn’t stop there. He guides the reader through the rehabilitation process including lifestyle changes that must be met. This book will inspire as well as inform anyone on what to expect and of what is expected of the caregiver on an ongoing bases to avoid burn out.

I have lived the roll of Care Giver for more than 20 years in the institutional setting and in the private sector. If this book had been written years ago, I feel the lives of many caregivers could have been changed in a more positive way for both them and the stroke victim to prevent inevitable burn out that sent many stroke victims to be institutionalized.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daniel Bryan Jones
• Release date: Apr 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370621569

Daniel Bryan Jones

I am Daniel Bryan Jones 57 years old. I was born in west Texas and have lived in Southern California most of my life. I am married with one grown daughter and three beautiful grandchildren. I have worked for myself since I married in 1975. I owned and operated a residential roofing company for the first twenty-five years. I retired from roofing in 1989 and spent the next ten years traveling the world's mission fields. When I finished my last mission trip to West Africa I went into the real estate business where I became successful in selling high end properties in southern California. I graduated high school in 1974 and have been self-taught and am a self-made man through my many business projects over the last thirty five years. I suffered a massive stroke in 2006 that was life changing. After years of recovery I started writing. I have recently been writing the amazing story of my time in the mission field. I am in the process of writing a six book series on stroke awareness, prevention and recovery. I am also writing a training and exercise manual for post stroke survivors and a guide to care giving for care givers.Lastly I have an autobiography on my life story half written up to 1999. Since my stroke I have been asked to speak at many of the South land Colleges and lecture on the effects of stroke and the awareness, prevention and recovery of stroke. I volunteer every Monday for a stroke group that lends support to those who suffer from "aphasia", a condition caused by strokes that renders it victims unable to communicate. I had recently spoke as the key note speaker at the 2012 Survivor's Symposium, for the National Institute for Speaking and Language Association. As of 2013I am now the Stroke Ambassador for the Inland Empire in Southern California for the American heart/stroke assn.

Book preview

Stroke Hope

Guide for Caregivers

by Daniel Bryan Jones

Copyright © Statement

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including recording, photocopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

Publisher Statement

Stroke Hope Stroke Awareness is published by Daniel Bryan Jones.

Smashwords Edition

FOREWORD BY JACQUELINE PIEPENHAGEN – ARTIST OF THE QUILL

Author Daniel Jones has proven that no matter what life throws at you if you have a positive attitude and the will to find purpose in your life you will move forward to live life to its fullest.

Daniel Jones exceptional drive to overcome the adversities in his life has led him to not only tell his life’s story of the massive stroke he suffered in 2006, but to reach out and spread the word that life is worth living. In this book he focuses on caregiving.

There is no bling in this book only the hard core reality of care giving and what it encompasses. Care giving is not for everyone. I believe this book will inform and guide you as to what is needed to be a wonderful care giver.

Daniel has laid out this self-guide from firsthand experience. Here he tells about the ins and outs; the ups and downs that can follow after a diagnosis’s of stroke. He doesn’t stop there. He guides the reader through the rehabilitation process including lifestyle changes that must be met. This book will inspire as well as inform anyone on what to expect and of what is expected of the caregiver on an ongoing bases to avoid burn out.

I have lived the roll of Care Giver for more than 20 years in the institutional setting and in the private sector. If this book had been written years ago, I feel the lives of many caregivers could have been changed in a more positive way for both them and the stroke victim to prevent inevitable burn out that sent many stroke victims to be institutionalized.

I want to thank Daniel for including this book in his series that he has written on strokes. Care Giving is a critical part of rehabilitation and lifestyle change. Care giving is often not focused on but is more an oversight in the progression of maintaining a normal life for a stroke victim. Thank you Daniel for giving Care Giving the praise it deserves.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE: STROKE HOPE GUIDE FOR CAREGIVERS

AVOIDING CAREGIVER BURN OUT

BEING THE INFORMATION CONTACT FOR THE STROKE SURVIVOR

BRAIN INJURY AND THE FAMILY GAREGIVERS

BRAIN DAMAGE MINISTRY

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS

FAMILY CAREGIVERS, HOW TO SPOT A STROKE

CARE GIVERS OF STROKE SURVIVORS

CARE GIVING ADVOCACY

CAREGIVERS: THEY DO GOD’S WORK IN A SURVIVOR’S LIFE

DEALING WITH CAREGIVER STRESS

FAMILY CAREGIVERS; ARE YOU QUALIFIED?

TELL YOUR QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE TO A GAREGIVER

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF WHEN CARE GIVING

UNDERSTANDING BRAIN INJURY: CARE GIVERS

WHERE TO FIND A CAREGIVER

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

BACK TO TOP

PREFACE: STROKE HOPE GUIDE FOR CAREGIVERS

I wrote this book, Stroke Hope Guide for Caregivers, as a tribute to the selfless people who give their time, energy and lives to care for us who would be lost without them. They do God's work without giving it a second thought. Caregivers are a special breed of person; they are able to give it all for others in need, sometimes at the peril of their own physical and mental health.

I wanted to write a book to give special credit to this special group of people. I have been intimately joined to caregivers from the early days following the massive stroke I suffered in 2006. I was inspired by the many people who took care of me when I could not do it myself.

From the professionals at the world famous brain injury hospital I spent a year at to my loving wife, June, who brought me home in a wheelchair, whose loving care nursed me back to some semblance of normality. I wrote this book Caregivers to help guide caregivers in what’s involved in care giving for another human being; both professional caregivers and the family caregiver alike. Also, I spell out some of the pitfalls that can cause heartache for the unsuspecting novice caregiver.

My research for this book led me to search out these brave souls we call caregivers. From my mother's Alzheimer's caregiver to my stroke and brain injury caregivers. They all had one thing in common. To a man, both women and men, they were kind, selfless and caring.

I want to thank this special breed of person we call the caregiver, for without them I would still be in the hospital bed in some dark room somewhere.

AVOIDING CAREGIVER BURN OUT

If you find your attitude is turning from caring and positive to uncaring and negative, you may be experiencing caregiver burn out. Caregivers who burn out may experience depression, anxiety, fatigue and high levels of stress. Caregivers may also have feelings of guilt when they spend time on themselves rather than on the one they are caring for.

SYMPTOMS OF CAREGIVER BURN OUT:

*Pulling back and withdrawing from family and friends.

*The loss of interest in things that were once enjoyed and important to you.

*Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, irritability and being blue for days on end.

*A change in weight, appetite or both.

*Changes in sleep patterns.

*Decline in mental and or physical health.

* Desire to harm yourself or the one you are caring for.

*Irritability, sudden and excessive alcohol use and sleep medication.

CAUSES FOR CAREGIVER BURN OUT:

*When you give everything you have to someone you are caring for, you run the very real risk of becoming burned out. You must take care of your mind, body, emotional, physical and spiritual needs to keep from becoming burned out.

*Unrealistic demands.

*Trying to fulfill all aspects of care and support for the one you are caring for can be too much for some caregivers.

It can be confusing when thrust into the role of a caregiver unexpectedly. It may be difficult when the lines get blurred from child, friend, spouse, caregiver etc.

Caregivers can become frustrated by the lack of skills, support, money, energy and other resources to efficiently care for a loved one.

UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS:

Expecting to have a positive effect on the one you are caring for when they are suffering from a degenerative condition or disease may be unrealistic and disappointing at times. If you fail to take care of yourself, you may find yourself getting burned out and will not be able to function effectively and may even become physically or mentally compromised yourself.

BEING THE INFORMATION CONTACT FOR THE STROKE SURVIVOR

These are found virtually in every city in the nation. They are an excellent way to network with others, there is just something good about hearing another’s story and telling yours. You find out what works for some and not for others. At least you have to get up get ready and get out of the house for awhile.

You will see you’re not alone. And in many cases be reminded that it could have been worse.

Has your life been touched by stroke? Unless it has, it is difficult to understand how suddenly your world seems to