Alzheimer’s caregivers
My Father, My Hero
I lived the dementia caregiver’s journey. When it was time to write about it after my father’s death from Alzheimer’s disease, I chose the Fiction genre, rather than Non-Fiction. That’s what worked for me, and I am pleased that it also worked for readers. This review warmed my heart as it was exactly what I was hoping for.
The story-telling format is a gentle way to learn about symptoms and progression of this eventually terminal ailment. Most revealing were the passages depicting Colleen’s exchanges within her caregiver support group. This technique allows the author to educate her readers about the varied behavioral challenges faced by the patient and sometimes not-so-patient caregivers.
The author also manages, through well-written dialogues with Colleen’s siblings and her best friend, to do a lot of teaching without overwhelming technical medical jargon or lecturing.
This novel is a tender one about a family who manages to help their father maintain his dignity throughout a grueling and heartbreaking journey. – Elaine H., British Columbia, CANADA
Requiem for the Status Quo, available on Amazon or wherever you buy your books.
Caregiving 101 through 1001
I’ve written several articles over the years about the importance of assembling a caregiving team when caring for a loved one – a team that doesn’t necessarily rely on family because not everyone has a participatory family when it comes to these matters. Of all the life-changes we encounter during our journey, caregiving is one of – if not the most difficult – speed bump to get over.
Caregiving: the ultimate team sport suggests how one might use the strengths of each team/family member to handle the varied needs during the caregiving journey.
Family dynamics that hamper caregiving success exposes the need to let go of stereotypes or childhood roles that don’t serve siblings well as adults. If ever there was a time to work together for the greater good – taking care of a family member with dementia or other terminal illness – this ranks right up there at the top.
Solo caregiving addresses the needs of the person who appears to be strapped with fulfilling all the roles needed for a successful caregiving venture. As the sole caregiver, you need not settle into those roles, not without the help of other, well-meaning individuals. Certainly, much relies on the neighbor, coworker, even casual acquaintance, but said entities are a resource from which much assistance can be found.
And here are several more articles for the caregivers out there – and those acquainted with a caregiver – to provide some wisdom and encouragement through the tough times: Read the rest of this entry »
Living: the ultimate team sport 