Daily Comforts for Caregivers [Paperback]

Pat Samples (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 12, 1999

For those who feel overwhelmed by the day-to-day struggles of caregiving, this charming little book offers gentle guidance and support.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Caregivers have one of the hardest jobs in the world. Beyond all their usual personal and family demands, they must take on the special responsibility of caring for family memers or others with long-term health problems. All the stresses that come with the territory can be overwhelming and make a caregiver feel hopeless at times. With 366 days worth of wisdom and affirmations, Daily Comforts addresses one caregiving issue per day. An index of topics allows caregivers to find the readings most pertinent to their immediate concerns.

Written in the first person, each page of Daily Comforts acts as a caregiver's monologue--as if what is on the page is coming directly from his or her mind. Few meditation books offer this approach. The idea is for the reader to transition from "venting" to thinking about the issue from a different perspective, to finding a solution. Daily Comforts works like a support system in a pocket by helping both family and professional caregivers cope with isolation, guilt, exhaustion, and frustration. Each reading concludes with an inspiring, practical affirmation designed to help caregivers better care for themselves.

From the Inside Flap

Daily Comforts for Caregivers helps bring peace of mind to those struggling with the responsibilities of caring for someone with chronic or long-term health problems. The 366 daily meditations offer compassionate resassurance and gentle encouragement in simple, down-to-earth language.

A poignant and wise book. It captures the experience of caregiving in a way I have not seen in "how to" manuals, and, more importantly, validates caregivers' feelings, giving them the strength to make it through the day. Patricia Schaber, MA, OTR, University of Minnesota

I highly recommend this book. Anyone who cares for children will find in these pages the strength of their own wisdom and the support of others' experiences. Mary Steiner Whelan, author of For the Love of Children

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Fairview Press (October 12, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577490886
• ISBN-13: 978-1577490883
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,621 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm aging and I'm fascinated by the process. I'm committed to aging consciously and to supporting other people in doing so as well. I have given hundreds of workshops and keynote talks across North America since 1991 on conscious aging, body wisdom, and family caregiving. I also provide teleseminars and offer many other resources on these topics (see my website).

What I'm most fired up about at present is helping women in midlife uncover the emotional brilliance in their bodies so they can live from their spiritual essence and enjoy a sense of vibrancy and creative freedom as they age. That's why I wrote The Secret Wisdom of a Woman's Body and why I'm actively involved in leadership roles in the National Center for Creative Aging, the American Society on Aging, and the Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network.

My background includes working and volunteering in the arts, social services, education, journalism, and ministry. My master's degrees are in human development and creative writing. I co-directed an inner city arts education program for a number of years, I've written hundreds of published articles, and I have been an editor of several wellness publications.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Honest appreciation for caregivers, December 28, 1999

By 

Thomas Wright (Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Daily Comforts for Caregivers (Paperback)

This book reaches out to those who carry the heavy burdens of caregiving and offers them small, daily gifts of understanding, appreciation and compassion. Caregivers often feel overburdened and unappreciated. These meditations acknowledge the emotional and physical demands placed on those who care for persons who may be in lengthy recovery from serious accidents or illnesses, or who are infirm, senile or dying. Real feelings - anger, guilt, fear - are fully acknowledged. In writing about the tough job of caregiving, Samples does not blink. There is no cheap, gushy sentiment here. She gives much deserved credit to caregivers while offering them encouragement and suggestions for maintaining their own lives in the process. The real hazards of exhaustion and burnout are acknowledge and addressed in this little volume. It is a perfect gift for those who care for children, parents, partners, or others who cannot care for themselves.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful for Caregivers!, January 9, 2012

By 

Caregiver Coach - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Daily Comforts for Caregivers (Paperback)

Every day has a special topic specific to what caregivers are going through. Reading it will help caregivers take better care of themselves and gain wisdom to cope.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Gift, April 12, 2011

By 

J. Littlefield (WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Daily Comforts for Caregivers (Paperback)

I have given this little book many times to someone I know that is doing a lot of care giving. It has always been very appreciated and then they tell me of someone they know that they want to give it to also! This writer hits the mark so often- I find I usually can't just read one day- I have to sneak a peek at another day too.