A very well-written chronicle
By Lynn Moorer, host, “All About Books,” KTAL LP Las Cruces, 101.5 FM, during an interview on her show, November 9, 2018
This is a very well written chronicle of your experiences observing your mother’s care – your mother, Mary Regina — in a nursing home and in hospitals, and your follow up efforts to bring justice and improve the system….
It is definitely a must-read, I would say to my listeners.
A book that we all should read
By Linda R. Madden-Brenholts on July 30, 2017
Verified Amazon Purchase
5 out of 5 stars
It is seldom that I read a book in just two days, no matter how much I like it. This is not easy reading, but the background of this author’s childhood and the family dynamics are particularly interesting and make this true story a page turner.
It is also packed with vital information regarding the life and politics of some nursing homes that we all should know and be well aware of; not only in the caring for our loved ones, but also in the interest of our own lives – If a nursing home should be recommended or required.
The author writes so vividly about the emotional turmoil, the lack of good information, and time limitations when it comes to choosing the right place to put his mother that I felt his pain in the struggle. I could also connect to the frustration that he goes through in trying to be heard with his concerns for the care — or lack of care that he observes during the whole ordeal.
His experience is not unusual, but most of us don’t take the opportunity or time to write such a detailed account in a book for all to read and understand.
Thank you for this labor of love for humanity.
Eye opening / must read
By Amazon Customer on July 15, 2017
5 out of 5 stars
This is an eye opening overview of the nursing and elderly care industry in the United States. I would recommend for individuals researching care options for their loved ones.
Much-needed information on choosing a nursing home; also growing up in Pittsburgh
Posted on Amazon by Alice B. Davenport, on October 20, 2018
5 out of 5 stars
Mary Regina’s Nursing Home by William J. Beerman, Sr. is clearly intended to impart needed information on nursing homes and what really happens in one. The author does a great job of documenting the good, the bad, and the ugly that his mother endured while in a nursing home. As our nation ages, we all need this information for ourselves or for loved ones that may need those services. This part of the book should be required reading for anyone working with the elderly, the families of the elderly, and those caring for the elderly. That includes medical personnel working with our aging population.
I would like to see the author write a book with just the “nursing home” portion and all of the supporting documents from this book and on his constantly updated website. Students and workers in all the health fields should be using it as a handbook, so they will understand the care and needs of aging people. Small details that can cause injury or death will not slip by unnoticed by caregivers at all levels.
On a lighter note, this “novel” seems to be a memoir and I enjoyed the author’s growing up years in the Pittsburgh, PA area, learning about his family, the steel mills, and the everyday occurrences. Perhaps, the most enlightening part was about the authors parents’ long, devastating divorce…over 13 years. As a family life educator, I have often heard of Pennsylvanian’s very long divorces. I finally got to see one up close and personal.
All in all, this is a much-needed and very good book. Some portions could be smoothed out with more editing, but well worth a read.
Read this book, BEFORE you have to make the nursing home decision for your loved one
Posted on Amazon by Pamela Hett-Dobricky, on August 9, 2018
5 out of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book for the following reasons. First it is an easy read because it is in a memoir-like style with very good story telling about William’s youth and the human interest elements of the story. Secondly, William does not pull any punches when he talks about how his mother was treated in the nursing home. He is very frank when he talks about his frustration in dealing with the nursing home system and how confusing it is to try to place a loved one in a nursing home with very little notice upon hospital discharge. Lastly, William’s journalistic and auditor background comes out very clearly when he talks about the whole process of government oversight or lack thereof in nursing homes.
Besides a very good narrative story, Williams gives you facts and figures to back up all his claims. Highly recommend this book.