Anyone faced with the prospect of having to place a parent in a nursing home knows it is one of life's more difficult decisions. One often feels guilt, doubt, helplessness, and sometimes even resentment. These emotions can overshadow the conviction that "this is the right thing for Mother/Father."

Now there is a book that provides a solid basis for public evaluation of a nursing home. You, Your Parent, and the Nursing Home examines what makes a facility an emotionally nourishing environment. The author, who is eminently qualified to provide such guidance, explains the "Six Common Practices" that may not be contributing to the overall benefit of nursing home life, and which, until now, have been kept in the realms of "professional perogatives." Nancy Fox takes the reader on a tour of the local nursing facility, affording a peek backstage both during and after visiting hours, by the day and in the dead of night, into every nook and cranny. She provides helpful instructions on what to observe, and how to evaluate the care given. The family, she suggests, can become a powerful influence in bettering that care.

Nancy Fox has practiced as a direct-care nurse or licensed vocational nurse in nine facilities in five states, and in a Vetran's Hospital. She has served as in-service director, staff nurse, and floor supervisor.