PORTLAND-BASED AUTHORS MARCY HOULE & DR. ELIZABETH ECKSTROM TO RECEIVE CHRISTOPHER AWARD FOR "THE GIFT OF CARING"

Portland, Oregon-based Marcy Cottrell Houle, MS, and Elizabeth Eckstrom, MD, MPH join forces in The Gift of Caring: Saving Our Parents from the Perils of Modern Healthcare (Taylor Trade Publishing/Rowan & Littlefield). It is one of 12 books for adults and young people by 21 authors and illustrators to be celebrated, along with the writers, producers and directors of nine winning feature films and TV/Cable programs, on May 19, 2016 at the 67th annual Christopher Awards in New York.

Following the death of her parents, Houle sought to share the insights she learned to help others going through similar experiences. The book alerts readers to watch for changes in an elderly loved one’s behavior and persona so as to understand and best accommodate them.

Tony Rossi, communications director of The Christophers, described the book as “a heartfelt memoir of a daughter supporting her aging parents through their medical problems and an empowering handbook on navigating the perils of the healthcare system.” Caregivers and patients alike will learn the importance of knowing a person’s baseline and about the Beers List, which includes the names of drugs the elderly are often given--but should not be.

Houle is a biologist and award-winning author of four books and numerous articles for The New York Times, LA Times, Reader's Digest, Nature Conservancy Magazine, among others. In addition to this award, her work has also been recognized by the New York City Library Best Books, the Oregon Book Award, and has been selected as New York Times Notable Reading. She lives with her family on small sheep farm on Sauvie's Island, Oregon.

Eckstrom is Associate Professor and Director of Geriatrics in the Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. She sees patients and their families and teaches students, young physicians in residency, and practicing clinicians, focusing on promoting a healthy lifestyle in seniors and in educating all health professionals to be competent in the care of older adults. The author of numerous peer-reviewed publications, her research includes improving education for teams in health care, falls prevention, and tai chi to improve health in older adults. She directs the Oregon Geriatric Education Center and co-directs Oregon Health and Science University’s Healthy Aging Alliance."

Created in 1949, The Christopher Awards are presented to authors and illustrators as well as writers, producers and directors whose work “affirms the highest values of the human spirit.” Rossi says, “The world around us can seem like a dark place but the stories we honor with Christopher Awards remind us that we can illuminate the darkness by choosing to practice faith, love, compassion, courage, teamwork, and determination.”

The Christophers, a nonprofit organization founded in 1945 by Maryknoll Father James Keller, is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of service to God and humanity. The ancient Chinese proverb—“It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness”— guides its publishing, radio, and awards programs. More information about The Christophers is available at www.christophers.org.