Old Friends
You might think of nursing homes as lonely places where the elderly live on their own—but this fictional story roundly refutes that idea. Two older men, Lou and Joe, become friends after living as roommates in Linda Manor. Despite being separated from their families and having deteriorating health conditions, the bonds between the two men and their loved ones become much stronger.
Source: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
The Four Walls of My Freedom: Lessons I’ve Learned from a Life of Caregiving
In this family memoir, author Donna Thomson writes about raising a son with cerebral palsy.
As a former actor, director and teacher, she experienced major life changes after her son’s birth. She now spends most of her time as his caregiver, with a second career as a disability activist, author and consultant. Here, Thomson provides vivid descriptions of how she and her family work together in taking care of her son. The book provokes thoughts about how people with disabilities contribute to society, the importance of giving and receiving care, and the definition of a good life.
Source: House of Anansi Press
The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation from Loved One to Caregiver
In this honest portrayal of the life changes that come with caregiving, Donna Thomson and Zachary White give first-hand advice that’s tried and true. Their best takeaway is the debunking of the myth that caregiving requires training. Rather, they suggest that caregiving is innate—a talent that appears when a loved one needs help. The book shows readers how to adapt their lives as they become caregivers.
Source: Rowman & Littlefield
Even Vegans Die: A Practical Guide to Caregiving,
Acceptance, and Protecting Your Legacy of Compassion Addressing the rise in body shaming and disease shaming, Even Vegans Die presents a strategy for building a more compassionate and diverse vegan community. The authors celebrate the benefits of a plant-based diet, while acknowledging that vegans can get sick. This book teaches you how to make health decisions that are suitable for you, help animals in the long run, and provide care to yourself and others suffering from serious illness. It is worth a read—both for animal advocates and those who wish to live healthier.
Source: Lantern Books
Take Good Care: Finding Your Joy in Compassionate Caregiving
While there are lots of people who are experienced in taking care of the aging adults and people with special needs, many of us still struggle with looking after both others and ourselves. Testimonies of caregivers, advice from outstanding experts in the field and the thoughts of author Cynthia Orange presents the differences between caretaking and caregiving. People may feel burdened during the process, which hinders the sense of joy and engagement, but this read shows us caring for each other can be mutually rewarding.
Source: Hazelden Publishing
The Bucket List
Edward and Carter (Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) lead extremely different lives. But what they have in common is cancer—and less than a year to live. They therefore create a “bucket list” (goals to accomplish before “kicking the bucket”) and go on adventures together. The two protagonists spend the remaining moments of their lives with each other and their families. The story reminds us to love our family and friends and, most importantly, to always live life to the fullest.
Many thanks to Caregiver Solutions for sharing these articles with our community
Posted By Jordan Kalist
