Although Hendershott has spent many years teaching and writing about the sociological aspects of aging, she writes that none of this could have prepared me for the overwhelming challenge of caring for my own mother-in-law in my home. She introduces baby boomers as the unexpected caregivers of the coming decades. The process of family denial about symptoms, work-family conflict, and the unique problems of children of caregivers are explored in an effort to find solutions to the caregiving challenge. Social science research is made accessible and is coupled with anecdotal information gleaned from interactions with other caregivers and personal experience. Throughout the book, Hendershott shows family caregivers that by gaining insight into their motivations for caregiving and by drawing from family support and help from the community, they can move beyond maladaptive caregiving coping styles, to a rewarding reality-based caregiving experience.

When Gore’s narcissistic mother is diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, she reluctantly moves with her girlfriend and their preschool-age son to New Mexico to help her. "We can do anything for a year," her girlfriend consoles her. But that year ends up pushing Gore to the edge of her sanity. In her new desert home, she faces an unfinished home renovation, New Age hospice nurses, and an intolerant mother who is fighting her death with every bone in her body and taking it all out on her daughter. At one point her mother kicks her out of her house, prompting Gore to "unfriend" her from Facebook. "Did I really just unfriend my dying mother?" she asks. In this macabre, and surprisingly hilarious tale, Gore--publisher of Hip Mama magazine-- confronts her mother’s manipulation with unbendable loyalty for the last time.

The personal story of a baby boomer daughter who finds herself caring for her difficult, ailing mother. Through vignettes and anecdotes, the author shares valuable practical tips for those facing similar challenges.

Learn how to develop an effective Alzheimer’s ministry. The Guide to Ministering to Alzheimer's Patients and Their Families examines the importance of spirituality in dealing with the everyday challenges of this mysterious disease. Not a “how-to” manual with step-by-step instructions or tried and true formulas, this unique book instead examines the essential elements of ministering to dementia patients based on the first-hand accounts of family members living through pain and uncertainty. The book explores the stages of Alzheimer's, grief and guilt, available resources, and implications of spiritual care for patients and families. It is equally useful as a textbook for graduate and undergraduate work, a reference for study groups and seminars, and a primer for those with limited knowledge of the illness. Ministers sometimes neglect Alzheimer’s patients and their families because they feel they don’t know what to say or do even though they want to be obedient and faithful servants in this specialized ministry. The Guide to Ministering to Alzheimer’s Patients and Their Families communicates the thoughts, feelings, and needs of those affected by the disease to help ministers feel more comfortable, confident, and competent as they develop a theological understanding of God, Alzheimer’s patients, and their role in ministry. The book also provides models for ministry; role-play scenarios; a sample text for a care facility worship service, a care facility memorial service, and a funeral service for a Christian and a non-Christian as well as a sample clergy seminar program on Alzheimer’s ministry. The Guide to Ministering to Alzheimer’s Patients and Their Families examines: common characteristics of early, mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer’s general information about Alzheimer’s ethical decision-making support group ministry respite care religious rites faith issues heredity hospitalization of Alzheimer’s patients long-distance caregiving working with other clergy The Guide to Ministering to Alzheimer’s Patients and Their Families also includes a special appendix of selections from the Scriptures. This book is a unique resource for all Christians who desire to minister to those affected by Alzheimer’s—especially pastors, priests, chaplains, pastoral counselors, church leaders, healthcare professionals, and seminary students.

Caregiving is holy work. Caring for a loved one can stretch the heartstrings and the soul in equal measure, leaving caregivers to walk a path that is exhausting, isolating, stressful, and seemingly thankless. In Caregiving with Grit and Grace, author Jessica Ronne offers solace for your journey and extends a heartfelt invitation to view your role through the lens of eternity. Learn to reframe your challenges, embrace God's ever-present faithfulness, be more present with your loved ones, and draw strength from the fellowship of suffering. Jesus sees your labor of love—every sacrifice, every tender touch, every hard-earned sigh. Let this book remind you that with every act of devotion, you glorify God and reflect the heart of the One who cares for us all.

Written for caregivers of parents and spouses, this funny but brutally honest collection of essays from award-winning author Eastman challenges the romanticized notion of caregiving, portraying it as an elegant conflict that reshapes family dynamics. At first grateful to be able remodel the dining room of her family’s modest home in Connecticut to accommodate her eighty-six-year-old father for what everyone felt would be a short duration of care, Cindy Eastman ultimately experienced a whole gamut of feelings over the course of what turned out to be four years of caring for her dying dad. Caregiving impacts everyone, and this account—told in essays recorded before, during, and after the time Eastman’s father was with her—details that impact, not just on the primary caregiver but also the rest of the family. One of the reasons Eastman committed to writing down her experiences was because she predicted that once her dad died, there would be a tendency to soften or even deny any of the negative and challenging times—and there were many. As of 2020, more than 53 million adults provide homecare in this country, and the reality of that arrangement is different for every family. It is not, as some might suggest, a “noble gesture” but rather an elegant conflict—an intricate reassembling of the family dynamic that many people don’t ever see coming. In these candid, often poignant essays, Cindy Eastman brings all the emotions of taking on the challenging responsibility of caregiving a parent at the end of their life to the surface.

A humorous guide to help male cancer patients or anyone struggling with chronic illness, including those who are ill and their caregivers, and family, and especially those who have a slightly warped sense of humor. Each chapter begins with a quote and ends with a joke, but offers practical, hands-on help about coping with difficult and often unfamiliar scenarios such as major surgery, high-dose chemotherapy, and total body irradiation. This book also stresses the importance of humor and exercise, which lead on to motivation and resilience.

The stories in We Carry Each Other are born organically through the CarePages community-- one of the world's largest social networking sites where lifestyle and health needs meet community and emotional support. These stories of everyday heroes are sure to inspire a social movement in compassionate caring toward those struggling with illness, loss, and life's difficulties, much like Random Acts of Kindness launched worldwide attention to simple acts of goodness. We Carry Each Other is a guide to finding the courage inside ourselves to open our hearts and spirits, and reach out with caring and compassion when a spouse, child, parent, friend, neighbor, or colleague needs us most. * Seventy-eight million Baby Boomers are caring for aging parents, children, and grandchildren. * We Carry Each Other is a guide to finding the courage inside ourselves to open our hears and spirits, and reach out with caring and compassion. * CarePages is a social networking tool for patients, caregivers, and friends with over 1.5 million members. It has been featured in USA Today, NBC News, UCLA Health News, and many other outlets. * A support group in book form with invaluable resources and tips.