About the Book
Author Nancy Kriseman, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker who has been working with older people and their families for more than 30 years. Nancy heads up Geriatric Consulting Services, where she provides consultation and training to organizations and long-term care facilities. Nancy has been personally challenged by her own parents' health issues. At the age of 71, her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and eventually had to be placed in a local Atlanta nursing home. For 15 years, she had to make some heart wrenching decisions at each interval in her mothers decline. Her mother died in March of 2009 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. When Nancy's father became seriously ill, she faced the challenges of long distance support. Having these very personal experiences coupled with her professional experience has only reinforced her strong passion for helping elders and their families.
Nancy is the author of two other books: The Caring Spirit and Meaningful Connections.
Book Information
ISBN-10: 1442223545
ISBN-13: 978-1442223547
Publisher: Rowman and Littlefield, 2014
Available in hard copy & paperback
The Mindful Caregiver highlights two major approaches to help transform the journey:
- adopting a practice of mindfulness, which helps caregivers become more self-aware and fully present with the person with whom they are caring
- honoring “the spirit-side” of caregiving which offers new ways of connecting to one another
These approaches take into account not just the needs of the care recipient, but also the needs of the caregiver and other people in his/her life.
Remembering to care for oneself when someone else is in great need can be
difficult, but with the suggestions and tips in this book, any caregiver can
cultivate routines and practices that benefit everyone. Solutions that caregivers can use in their day to day routines are provided, so caregivers who use them can feel more empowered and hopeful. Using real stories throughout, Nancy offers self-care exercises and addresses a wide variety of subjects such as setting realistic expectations, making the best possible decisions, advocating effectively, and evaluating available resources and services.