The Comfort of Home for Chronic Lung Disease: A Guide for Caregivers

About the Authors

Mary Gilmartin, BSN, RRT, is a Nurse Specialist and coordinator of the COPD Clinical Research Network at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, Colorado. National Jewish Medical Center has been rated first in the nation for treatment of lung disease by U.S. News & World Report. For over 30 years she has worked with people who have severe lung disease. Her focus has been to educate both patient and family about lung disease to help them have more control over the illness.

Maria M. Meyer has been a long-time advocate of social causes, beginning with her work as co-founder of the Society for Abused Children of the Children’s Home Society of Florida and founding executive director of the Children’s Foundation of Greater Miami. When her father-in-law suffered a stroke in 1993, Maria became aware of the need for better information about how to care for an aging parent, a responsibility shared by millions of Americans. That experi­ence led Maria to found CareTrust Publications and to co-author the award-winning guide, The Comfort of Home™: An Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide for Caregivers—nowin its third edition. This book earned the Benjamin Franklin Award in the health category. She is a keynote speaker and workshop leader on caregiver topics to health care professionals and community groups, as well as a Caregiver Community Action Network volunteer for the National Family Caregiver Association.

Paula Derr, RN, BSN, CEN, CCRN, has been employed by the Sisters of Providence Health System for over 30 years. She has broad experience in many different clinical settings and for many years served as clinical educator for three emergency departments in the Portland metropolitan area. She was a founder of InforMed, which publishes emergency medical services field guides for emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, firefighters, physicians, and nurses and has co-authored numerous health care articles. For Paula, home care is a family tradition of long standing. For many years, Paula cared for her mother and grandmother in her home while raising two daughters and maintaining her career in nursing and health care management. Her personal and professional experience adds depth to many chapters of this book. Paula is active in several prominent professional organizations and has held both local and national board positions. Paula is a native Oregonian and lives with her husband in Portland.