The Complete Bedside Companion
No Nonsense Advice on Caring for the Seriously Ill
by Rodger McFarlane and Philip Bashe
(Simon & Schuster)

Balancing an attention to detail that rivals Martha Stewart with a wit that tops Erma Bombeck, McFarlane and Bashe have written a comprehensive manual on how to care for the critically ill. For those of you who operate on the Terms of Endearment model, this book will teach you easier and more effective methods to ensure the comfort of your loved one. From the initial chapters on doctors, hospitals and nursing -- “Sidestepping Hospital Visiting Policies,” “How to Give a Four-Star Bed Bath,” “How to Make an Occupied Bed” -- through the later chapters on specific illnesses (including cancer, traumatic brain injury and up-to-the-second AIDS info), this “how to” with heart is a must-buy for any potential caregiver or any care receiver.