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The unexpected journey of caring : the transformation from loved one to caregiver  Cover Image Book Book

The unexpected journey of caring : the transformation from loved one to caregiver / Donna Thomson, Zachary White, PhD ; foreword by Judy Woodruff.

Thomson, Donna, 1955- (author.). White, Zachary, (author.).

Summary:

Caregivers today find themselves in need of a crash course in new and unfamiliar skills. They must not only care for a loved one, but also access hidden community resources, collaborate with medical professionals, craft new narratives consistent with the changing nature of their care role, coordinate care with family, seek information and peer support using a variety of digital platforms, and negotiate social support--all while attempting to manage conflicts between work, life, and relationship roles. The moments that mark us in the transition from loved one to caregiver matter because if we don't make sense of how we are being transformed, we risk undervaluing our care experiences, denying our evolving beliefs, becoming trapped by other's misunderstandings, and feeling underappreciated, burned out, and overwhelmed. Informed by original caregiver research and proven advocacy strategies, this book speaks to caregiving as it unfolds, in all of its confusion, chaos, and messiness. Readers won't find well-intentioned clichés or care stereotypes in this book. There are no promises to help caregivers return to a life they knew before caregiving. No, this book greets caregivers where they are in their journey--new or chronic--not where others expect (or want) them to be.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9781538122235
  • ISBN: 1538122235
  • Physical Description: xi, 244 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm
  • Publisher: Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield, [2019]

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 231-239) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:
I'm (not) a caregiver -- Disorientation : from loved one to caregiver -- Living in-between scripts -- A hyper-intolerance of others -- Audience betrayal -- Who am I becoming and why am I so hard on myself? -- When 'getting through' isn't good enough -- Re-orientation and advocacy -- Making meaning that matters now -- Begin with the basics : what is my role at home, what do I want it to be? -- It takes a village : revealing hidden assets in neighborhood -- Navigating the rough waters of transition -- Not a social network, but a care network -- How to know what you want and get what you need -- Power and love = empowerment -- Cultivating connection.
Subject: Caregivers > Psychology.
Caregivers > Mental health.

Available copies

  • 2 of 2 copies available at BC Interlibrary Connect. (Show)
  • 1 of 1 copy available at Prince Rupert Library.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 2 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Holdable? Status Due Date
Prince Rupert Library 362.0425 Thom (Text) 33294002082477 Adult Non-Fiction Volume hold Available -

Donna Thomson is the author of The Four Walls of My Freedom: Lessons I’ve Learned From a Life of Caregiving. She is a consultant and speaker on issues relating to family caregiving, disability and aging. Donna is a patient and family advisor on health research and policy and she teaches family caregivers in Canada how to advocate for care in hospital and in the community. She blogs regularly at THE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM (www.donnathomson.com).

Zachary White, PhD, is an award winning university professor who teaches undergraduate and graduate courses addressing topics such as provider-patient communication, caregiver communication, the patient experience, health and illness narratives, digital health literacy, social support and disclosure, and sense making amidst life transitions. As the founder of the caregiver blog and resource “The Unprepared Caregiver” (www.unpreparedcaregiver.com), his original writing voice mixes first-hand experiences, communication expertise, and cultural analysis featuring a care-centered point of view.


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