When Caregiving Calls

WINNER--2020 Best Indie Book Awards, Non-Fiction: Caregiving

Caring for a parent, spouse, or relative who cannot care for themselves due to age, infirmity, or illness is one of the noblest human activities. It's also one of the most stressful, posing challenges that can be painful, confusing, frustrating, and deeply rewarding-sometimes all at once. When Caregiving Calls is an invitation to a deep conversation about caregiving and its meaning for you.

Aaron Blight has lived the caregiving experience many ways-as a family caregiver for a mother-in-law struggling with brain cancer as it stole her mental clarity and ultimately her life; as the owner of a home care company that supported thousands of families living their own versions of the same journey; and as a researcher, lecturer, and consultant traveling the world to learn from family caregivers and their professional helpers.

Now he shares his insights in eighteen brief, thoughtful chapters that examine the many facets of caregiving. He explores how caregiving reshapes family relationships, challenges comfortable assumptions, and stresses your ability to manage your time, energy, and emotions. He shows how the changing mental and physical state of a loved one can lead to growing vulnerability, need, and loneliness on the part of care receiver and caregiver alike. He shares stories-poignant, funny, and often inspiring-that vividly capture the unique daily realities of the caregiving life. And he offers candid, practical advice that can help family caregivers do a better job of coping with the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual challenges they face.

WINNER--2020 Best Indie Book Awards, Non-Fiction: Caregiving

Caring for a parent, spouse, or relative who cannot care for themselves due to age, infirmity, or illness is one of the noblest human activities. It's also one of the most stressful, posing challenges that can be painful, confusing, frustrating, and deeply rewarding-sometimes all at once. When Caregiving Calls is an invitation to a deep conversation about caregiving and its meaning for you. 

Aaron Blight has lived the caregiving experience many ways-as a family caregiver for a mother-in-law struggling with brain cancer as it stole her mental clarity and ultimately her life; as the owner of a home care company that supported thousands of families living their own versions of the same journey; and as a researcher, lecturer, and consultant traveling the world to learn from family caregivers and their professional helpers. 

Now he shares his insights in eighteen brief, thoughtful chapters that examine the many facets of caregiving. He explores how caregiving reshapes family relationships, challenges comfortable assumptions, and stresses your ability to manage your time, energy, and emotions. He shows how the changing mental and physical state of a loved one can lead to growing vulnerability, need, and loneliness on the part of care receiver and caregiver alike. He shares stories-poignant, funny, and often inspiring-that vividly capture the unique daily realities of the caregiving life. And he offers candid, practical advice that can help family caregivers do a better job of coping with the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual challenges they face.

How to Use This Book

1. Conversation
2. Roles
3. Relationship
4. Family
5. Time
6. Stress
7. Work
8. Body
9. Mind
10. Home
11. Independence
12. Loneliness
13. Emotion
14. Providers
15. Skills
16. Rewards
17. Faith
18. Next Steps

Afterword

Acknowledgments

Recommended Additional Reading

Index

About the Author