Running a clinic for seniors requires a lot more than simply providing medical care. In Stories from the Tenth-Floor Clinic, Marianna Crane chases out scam artists and abusive adult children, plans a funeral, signs her own name to social security checks, and butts heads with her staff–two spirited older women who are more well-intentioned than professional–even as she deals with a difficult … situation at home, where the tempestuous relationship with her own mother is deteriorating further than ever before. Eventually, however, Crane maneuvers her mother out of her household and into an apartment of her own–but only after a power struggle and no small amount of guilt–and she finally begins to learn from her older staff and her patients how to juggle traditional health care with unconventional actions to meet the complex needs of a frail and underserved elderly population.
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I actually wished the book were longer!
It’s an interesting enough read, but I am puzzled why the author worked in a medical job where she hated her patients so thoroughly.
Things are so often not as they seem… A nurse practitioner gets involved to try to help in ways nursing school doesn’t teach. We all need to expand our views of how to help each other during trying times, and it often means finding creative solutions to fill the need.
The true stories that are explored here are moving as well as informative. Very easy to read and relate to
This was autobiographical and had interesting bits, but did not give enough background to understand many of the little stories of her senior clients and was not personal enough to draw the reader in to the parts she shared of her own life.
Anecdotes from a public health clinic in a housing development for senior citizens were interesting, informative, and entertaining.
I’m a RN so I really enjoyed reading about about another medical job and patient interaction
A Nurse Practitioner’s memoir of working in a Chicago low-income, elder care facility. She shares her angst of caring for her patients physical well-being while being drawn into helping them with non-health care problems: abuse by family members, arranging a funeral for a woman with no family & elder scams.
As a former visiting nurse, I could relate to many of her stories and found them interesting.
I would not recommend this book. It did not have developed character descriptions of her patients and was more of a rambling monologue of her day. I did not learn anything from it nor feel her engagement with her patients.
As a retired elder care nurse I recognized many of the characters, both the clinic workers and the people they cared for. The conditions they encountered were much like the ones I encountered in home health and hospice nursing. It reminded me that my caring mattered to my clients and made a difference in their lives.
Very interesting stories. Would like more!
Negatives: no real ending to wrap up her full recount. I also got the feeling that the author thinks that she always knows best. Didnt like the attitude of that, but I guess it fits. I would recommend it though.
An interesting look at senior healthcare issues on a personal level.
I liked this book. There are some very happy times in the stories of the elderly who lived in the clinic building and some tragic stories. I think the main character really changed at the end of this story because the residents grew on her.
Realistic view of working with seniors.
I loved this book and the way it addressed the issues of the elderly. The main character’s journey to self-awareness and compassion was not always easy to read but very gratifying. I could have read a dozen more chapters!
Interesting study of geriatric care.
As a former geriatric nurse, I adored the stories in this book. Anyone who enjoys the older population will be able to relate and maybe even find someone they used to know in this book.
Working with seniors can be tricky. Living with one can be difficult. These seniors had a rare opportunity to have someone that cared there for them.
Having elderly parents, I found this book to be enlightening.