An Emotional Perspective on Long-Term Care: The Clash Between Expectations and Reality

It Shouldn't Be This Way: The Failure of Long-Term Care (see record 2005-06662-000), by Robert L. Kane and Joan C. West, is a book that reads well for the heart and the mind. Long-term care can transform one's entire sense of self from what was once familiar to one shaped by medical and environmental constraints. The authors present the perspective of a son (a physician and gerontologist) and a daughter (a teacher) who are, first and foremost, family members. However, they also carry with them several voices based on identity and roles. Through their eyes, we gain insight into their mother, Ruth Kane. Despite the authors' vast collective knowledge, they felt they could not ultimately fully help their mother. This, too, is the case for many families. Especially touching is a reminder to those who work with families that as important as skill and competence is the human element of relationship with families. The authors thoughtfully and thoroughly bring us through their journey. They have had many bad and emotionally challenging experiences, which is one reason they wrote the book. It is conceivable that awareness and validation, to some degree, will assist others in preparing for similar circumstances. Perhaps some readers will be motivated to work for national health care change. However, the emotional struggle in seeing a loved one go through comparable alteration in later life functioning may not be avoidable. Here lies the personal wish that "it shouldn't be this way." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)