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As a former co-caregiver for both of my aging parents (Mom had Parkinson's disease and Leukemia while Dad had Alzheimer's disease), I helped and supported Mom and Dad in their final years, where and when I could. Without expecting to become a caregiver or being prepared to do so, I struggled with watching Mom and Dad decline ... Dad worsened to the point of completely forgetting his own family - including me, as his only son.
I also assumed many newfound responsibilities including moving Mom and Dad (repeatedly), shuttling them to and from doctor's appointments, managing their banking (both paying of regular bills and handling their investments), speaking to them about their final wishes and acting as Dad's Joint Guardian and Alternate Trustee.
All of this took its toll on me physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. I knew I needed some kind of outlet, so I turned to writing. Journalling my thoughts and frustrations proved to be very therapeutic as well as professionally rewarding (I've had a number of my caregiving and senior-related articles published in newspapers and magazines).
Following my parents deaths, I realized that caregiving is fast becoming a national concern. Considering our country's aging population, more and more family members, friends, spouses and/or partners are required to provide support to seniors. This is a job one cannot do alone and caregivers, themselves, need help. I decided to share my experiences and write a book!
The resulting title, Caregiver's Guide for Canadians, is a valuable resource for prospective, new and current caregivers. Sample chapters include "Caring from a Distance", "Finding and Moving Your Parent Into Appropriate Long-Term Care",
"Looking After Yourself" and "Finding Joy in Caregiving". While my supplied website resources are specifically for Canadian caregivers, the remaining copy is general enough to appeal to caregivers living elsewhere.
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