Maria M. Meyer, Paula Derr, and Jon Caswell

Contributing Writers

About

Maria M. Meyer has been a longtime advocate of social causes, beginning with her work as cofounder of the Society for Abused Children of the Children's Home Society of Florida and founding executive director of the Children's Foundation of Greater Miami. When her father-in-law suffered a stroke in 1993, Meyer became aware of the need for better information about how to care for an aging parent, a responsibility shared by millions of Americans. That experience led her to found CareTrust Publications and to coauthor the award-winning guide The Comfort of Home: An Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide for Caregivers , now in its third edition. This book earned the Benjamin Franklin Award in the health category. Meyer is a keynote speaker and workshop leader on caregiver topics to healthcare professionals and community groups, as well as a Caregiver Community Action Network volunteer for the National Family Caregiver Association.

Paula Derr has been employed by the Sisters of Providence Health System for more than 25 years. She has broad experience in many different clinical settings and for many years served as clinical educator for three emergency departments in the Portland metropolitan area. She was a founder of inforMed, which publishes emergency medical services field guides for emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, physicians, and nurses, and has coauthored numerous healthcare articles. For Derr, home care is a family tradition of long standing. For many years, she cared for her mother and grandmother in her home while raising two daughters and maintaining her career in nursing and healthcare management. Her personal and professional experience adds depth to many chapters of this book. Derr is active in several prominent professional organizations -- including the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), and the National Flight Nurses Association (NFNA) -- and holds both local and national board positions. Paula is a native Oregonian and lives with her husband in Portland.

Jon Caswell has been lead editor and staff writer of Stroke Connection Magazine, published by the American Stroke Association, for more than ten years. During that time he has written about many of the emotional travails and triumphs of stroke survivors and their caregivers. Over the years he has covered most of the scientific developments that are improving the lives of stroke families. In addition to his career as a writer, Caswell was an instructor in the Wellness Department of Southern Methodist University for 15 years. He teaches Finding Time Sitting Still, a meditation class, with Linda, his wife of 25 years. They live in Dallas, Texas.

Recently Published on Caring.com

  1. Thursday July 30, 2009

    1. Urinary Tract Infections and Stroke Survivors

      Article - Urinary tract infection may be present if the person has any of the following signs or symptoms:

  2. Tuesday May 12, 2009

    1. Acupuncture for Stroke Survivors

      Article - Learn about acupuncture for treating stroke survivors, alternative medicine and acupressure relief at Caring.com.

  3. Monday March 16, 2009

    1. Stroke Risk Factors

      Article - Risk factors are traits and lifestyle habits that increase the chance of disease. A lot of studies have identified several factors that increase the risk of stroke. There are two groups of stroke risk factors--

  4. Wednesday January 07, 2009

    1. Driving After a Stroke

      Article - After a stroke, you should reevaluate your loved one's ability to drive. Spot the signals that indicate driving may be unsafe.

    2. Toileting Tips for Stroke Survivors

      Article - A few helpful toileting tips when caring for a stroke survivor.

    3. Teeth Care for Stroke Survivors

      Article - Practical tips on providing teeth care to a stroke survivor.

    4. Dressing and Undressing Tips for Stroke Survivors

      Article - Practical tips for dressing and undressing a stroke survivor.

  5. Monday October 27, 2008

    1. Feeling Anger When Caring for a Stroke Survivor

      Article - It is easy to feel victimized in this situation; you are caught up in someone else's illness. The natural response is anger. Unfortunately, that is not a helpful response. Unleashing anger on the person in your care never helps.

    2. Checklist: Dealing with Physical and Emotional Burdens When Caring for a Stroke Survivor

    3. Caring for a Stroke Survivor: Is Home Care for You?

      Article - The need to provide care for another person arises for many reasons. Often, the person who needs care does not realize it and family members must step in to help make decisions. One of those decisions involves who the caregiver will be and where care will be provided. The choices can be difficult unless you know what to consider...

    4. Setting Up a Plan of Care

      Article - A plan of care is a daily record of the care and treatment a person needs on a daily basis. The plan helps you and anyone who assists you with caregiving tasks.

  6. Saturday October 25, 2008

    1. Getting In-Home Help for Stroke Care

      Article - Getting help with caregiving in the home involves the following options:

  7. Thursday October 23, 2008

    1. When You Doubt the Time Is Right for Discharge

      Article - NOTE: According to federal law, a hospital must release patients in a safe manner or else must keep them in the hospital. Letting a patient leave the hospital is not wise if the person has constant fever, infection, or pain that cannot be controlled, confusion, disorientation (no sense of time or place), or is unable to take food and liquids by mouth...

  8. Sunday October 12, 2008

    1. Healthcare Team for Stroke: Sub-Acute Rehab Stage

      Article - Sub-acute rehab is for survivors who can't go home and who can't perform three hours of rehab daily. Usually, people in these skilled nursing facilities receive an hour to 90 minutes of rehab a day. Although orders for care will come from a doctor, the family or caregiver will generally interact with nurses and therapists...

  9. Tuesday October 07, 2008

    1. Using the Health Care Team Effectively

      Article - When you care for someone in the home, you must also manage that person's health care. This means choosing a good medical team, keeping costs down, arranging for medical appointments, and getting the best, least expensive medicines. It also means knowing what the insurance rules are and, most important...

  10. Friday October 03, 2008

    1. Occupational Therapy for Stroke Survivors

      Article - Occupational therapy is designed to help stroke survivors regain and build skills that are important for functioning on their own. The occupational therapist will help the person evaluate levels of function.

    2. Identify Hospitals That Have Received Stroke-Center Certification

      Tip - Not all hospitals have tPA medication. It is only available at larger hospitals and those designated as "primary stroke centers." Studies indicate that patients who go to primary stroke centers have better outcomes. Because your survivor is at increased risk, it would be a good idea for you to identify...

    3. Emergency Treatment for Stroke

      Article - Because brain cells die very quickly after a stroke begins, it is urgent to get treatment as soon as possible. If a stroke is left to run its course, millions of brain cells will die. Prompt treatment can stop that.

    4. Look for Programs to Help Pay for Modifications to Vehicles

      Tip - If your vehicle needs modifying, research costs and ask dealers about financial assistance programs. Nonprofit agencies sometimes offer grants to pay for modifications, and some health-insurance plans and workers' compensation programs offer financial assistance. Check with your state's department of vocational rehabilitation...

  11. Thursday October 02, 2008

    1. Physical Therapy for Stroke Survivors

      Article - A physical therapist treats a person to relieve pain, build up and restore muscle function, and maintain the best possible performance. The therapist does this by using physical means such as active and passive exercise, massage, heat, water, and electricity. Broadly speaking, a physical therapist:

    2. Bathing Tips for Stroke Survivors

      Article - Practical tips for showering and bathing after a stroke.