Do you Know What It's Like?

I moved from New Jersey to California to take care of Mom. This was North County San Diego, not Southern Orange County, where I spent my high school years, or San Bernardino County, where I spent my Junior High years. I was meeting new people.

Sometimes when I told the new people what I did, they seemed a bit puzzled. They couldn't imagine what it might look like to take care of a person with dementia.

Others knew exactly what it was like. They were the ones who had done it themselves, or were doing it. They were the ones who pulled a little closer and asked me how I was doing. And then they listened. Sometimes they shared their stories. Usually they gave me some encouraging words, something like, "You'll never regret this decision."

They were right. 

Now when I meet someone who tells me they're taking care of a loved one with dementia, I ask them how they're doing. I listen, and I tell them they're doing good work, and they won't regret it. 

Sometimes I offer them a copy of my book. 

Now we have a lot more books to choose from to encourage and inform caregivers. November is Caregiver Appreciation Month. This week, Nov 10-17, many resources from AlzAuthors will be discounted. Some will be available free! My memoir, Bringing Mom Home: How Two Sisters Moved Their Mother Out of Assisted Living to Care For Her Under One Amazingly Large Roof, will be on sale too. It's available as a paperback or an ebook. 
If a caregiver's memoir from a Christian perspective is not your cup of tea, there are a variety of genres available: non-fiction, fiction, memoir, children's books, and more. They cover a wide range of situations: caring for a parent, a spouse, Alzheimer's, early-onset dementia, and more. All are available in a variety of formats, including digital, paperback, and audio. Find them here: https://alzauthors.com/2021/11/09/book-sale-caregiver-appreciation-month/?utm_source=sendfox&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=start-spreading-the-news-our-caregiver-appreciation-month-book-sale-giveaway-starts-today