6 Life Hacks for Family Caregivers Book Reviews

This reflection/review by my friend Sue Watkins speaks so deeply of the caregiver experience I just have to share.

My full-time life partner for 39 years had multiple myeloma for 32 years before transitioning three years ago. While he experienced other cancers and medical episodes over the years, they had little impact in our continuing to live a full life. When his health became more serious and began impacting daily activity and functioning the last two and one-half years there was never any thought that I would not be there to care for his needs. It was not a conscious decision, it just was. The last year he was on kidney dialysis 3x a week, chemo once a week with other days often spent with blood transfusions, acupuncture, dental issues, etc. I seriously would have benefited from the Six Life Hacks for Family Caregivers as my support system consisted mainly of the relationship with his Oncologist who treated him the full 32 years and the Nurses in the oncology suite and later the Nutritionist in the Dialysis Center. The “What If’s” and The Triple Strand along with much in the book even now has benefited me in gaining new insight into the struggles I experienced in those last 2 1/2 years of his life. I remembered instances the information and techniques described would have benefited me in managing my emotions and interactions during extremely stressful times. I find it helpful now in continuing my struggle to deal with guilt around moments and times I emotionally withdrew due to stress and physical exhaustion. I was on duty 24 hours a day as his need for care increased throughout the last year. I feel blessed however that he never complained and remained optimistic throughout. It was my emotional well-being that I needed guidance in managing.

I can hardly wait to send a copy of Six Life Hacks for Family Caregivers to my niece who is now in the early stages of managing the financial and medical issues for my sister who has early-stage dementia.

Thank you Tanya Straker for your care of your Mother and for sharing your insights and knowledge to give caregivers a way of viewing the relationship of caregiver and caree. The tools and techniques you describe will help provide for the improving the mental health of those in caregiving positions as well as those for whom they care!

I will be rereading this book many times!!

When I cared for my mother after her debilitating stroke I was too crazed to read the books that could have helped me. I preferred to watch Netflix on my laptop under the covers for relief. Yet, every time I learned something that others knew but didn't "tell me" I would think over and over "Caregivers need to know this." So here it is, my take on what caregiver's need to know, as simple and as short as I could make it. It has a workbook you can download for free if the book is too much to read at the moment. Six things you can do to master the journey ahead. Good Luck! You've got this!