Sylacauga, AL -- (SBWire) -- 10/29/2014 --Even with today’s sometimes unfathomable advances in technology, many terminally ill persons and their family members believe that chasing curative care is their only option, and are unaware of both the benefits and accessibility of hospice care. In her new book, Social Worker Annie Clara Brown tells her own story of working with hundreds of terminally ill patients, and provides a vital guide to those considering hospice care for themselves or a loved one.
‘My Little People: A Social Worker's Journey’ is part memoir and part guidebook; a game-changing text for those exploring options for making someone’s final days pain-free and harmonious.
Synopsis:
Annie Clara Brown is passionate about her work in hospice. It is gratifying to have embraced the social work profession in this manner! She cares deeply for her patients and caregivers, she has developed a healthy sense of humor working in an area that can be demanding both physically and emotionally.
Annie's strengths lie in the personal stories and her personal feelings, reactions, and experiences. Annie hopes to inspire caregivers and patients to choose hospice care when faced with terminal illness at the end of life. She further wants social workers and healthcare workers to know that hospice care can be one of the most challenging buy fulfilling areas to serve mankind.
“Many people don’t really know what hospice care is, who can benefit from it, when to engage with it and exactly how to get the ball rolling,” explains Brown. “They feel that they have no choice but to endure more invasive and painful testing, hours sat in medical center waiting rooms and often undignified discussions with professionals. I wrote this book for both medical staff and laypeople to present a compelling case for the benefits of hospice care, along with a step-by-step guide to putting it in action.”
Continuing, “There’s also another side to the book, a deeply-personal and moving look at my career as a Social Worker with the terminally ill. My clients have literally changed my life and I share the lessons, stories and experiences that I believe anyone can learn from. People invited me into their homes and embraced my skills at what was ultimately the darkest hours of their life. There’s something very grounding about being a part of someone’s final days, and these precious clients have empowered me to look at life differently. That’s a perspective I need to share.”
‘My Little People: A Social Worker's Journey’ is available now: http://amzn.to/1DSW5rD.
About Annie Clara Brown
Annie Clara Brown is a licensed social worker who holds a Baccelerate of Social Work (BSW) from the University of Montevallo and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Alabama. Her concentration in graduate school was children, adolescences, and families. Prior experience in the social work field includes: internships at Talladega County Department of Human Resources in Adult Protective Services, and the Cheaha Mental Health Center. Ms. Brown acquired training through the Alabama Department of Human Resources as a Family Preparation Specialist and training through the Alabama Department of Public Health as Case Manager for Diabetics and Asthmatic persons. She currently works as a hospice social worker with Lakeside Hospice in Pell City, Alabama. Ms. Brown is responsible for conducting psychosocial assessments, counseling patients and their families about end of life issues, helping patients and their families to access community resources, and conducting grief support groups as needed. Ms. Brown also works in collaboration with the Department of Veteran Affairs educating staff, community, and other veterans about the Vet to Vet Program. Other interests include working with veterans who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). Ms. Brown is a mother, grandmother, and a great-grandmother. She is also a licensed minister in the AOH Church of God, Inc. She serves as secretary in her local church and is a District Sunday School Superintendent. Ms. Brown is an avid reader. She is a published author of two other books, Christians with Pervasive Issues and Who I Be.
