WEIRTON — Former Weirton resident Donne Greco Paine, who resides on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, has released a new book she believes those thorughout the Ohio Valley will find beneficial.

Entitled, “Beyond the Basics: Ten Pillars of Compassionate Care — A Heartfelt Handbook for Caregivers,” the handbook provides readers with the practical tools needed, along with real-life examples and reflective exercises that may be required to uplift and sustain caregivers.

Paine is a lifelong nurse, educator and advocate for compassionate caregiving.

She has announced the release of her new handbook that was written specifically for professional and family caregivers.

The book distills decades of clinical experience and teaching and puts them into 10 essential practices that nurture not only caregivers, but the care recipients, as well.

“Beyond the Basics: Ten Pillars of Compassionate Care,” is a concise, practical guide designed to strengthen caregivers’ skills, spirit and sense of purpose, Paine explained.

Each chapter focuses on one of the 10 pillars, pairing with each an inspiring reflection with real-life examples, short exercises and practical tools which caregivers can use immediately on the job or while at home.

The handbook is intentionally accessible and ideal for new caregivers, seasoned professionals, nursing assistants, nursing directors, in-service educators and families who provide care.

“Compassionate care is more than tasks,” Paine stated. “It is presence, respect and small acts of kindness that change a person’s day.”

“This book is meant as a companion to text books and a reminder that the work caregivers do matters profoundly,” Paine continued. “My hope is that these pillars will renew purpose and make daily practice a little easier and a lot more meaningful.”

Paine was raised and educated in Weirton. She is the daughter of longtime physician Dr. Ray Greco and is a nurse, mother and grandmother.

She was trained at the Wheeling Hospital School of Nursing and continued her studies at West Virginia University, Vermont College and Norwich University.

A graduate of Madonna High School, Paine’s first nursing position was at Weirton Medical Center.

Her clinical career includes roles at Ohio State University Hospital, Miami Heart Institute and Lahey Clinic in Boston.

Paine’s teaching and leadership positions include six years at West Virginia Northern Community College and corporate roles with organizations such as UnitedHealthcare, Personnel Consultants of Hilton Head and Passport Health.

She currently teaches a nurse aide program with Health Services 2000 in Hilton Head Island.

With more than 30 years of teaching and training, beginning at the John D. Rockefeller Vocational School, Paine has trained countless health professionals and participated in medical missions to Haiti, Costa Rica and Cuba.

Her handbook, Beyond the Basics: Ten Pillars of Compassionate Care,” is available on Amazon.com. Paine said this work is ideal for directors of nursing, in-service educators, skilled nursing facilities, hospitals and for anyone who wants to encourage and support the caregivers in their lives.