A Family Caregiver Speaks Up: It Doesn't Have to Be This Hard (Capital Cares) (Capital Cares) [Paperback]

Suzanne Geffen Mintz (Author)

Book Description

Series: Capital Cares | Publication Date: March 7, 2008

Full of advice for family caregivers, this one of a kind book written by a family caregiver provides lessons from family caregivers across the country, tips for interacting with the healthcare system to better meet the needs of families dealing with chronic illness, and a cogent presentation of how public policy has a profound effect on even the most intimate details of life in caregiving families. Suzanne Mintz has deftly woven together self-help ideas and emotional guidance for individual family caregivers with an inspirational call to arms for health policy change. Through her own powerful personal story, she tackles the range of emotions and the challenges facing every caregiver. And most important, she offers advice on how to ask for help. In addition she has taken the discussion of family caregiving issues to the next level and clearly explains why they demand the attention of our elected officials. Whether you are a current or future family caregiver, or a health policy advocate, you'll want to read, and re-read, this book. As the mother of a son with a disability, I only wish I'd read Suzanne's book before I brought him home from the hospital. --Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer This is a revised and updated edition of Love, Honor & Value

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Suzanne Mintz is the president and founder of The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), which is a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting and improving the lives of America's family caregivers. She is the author of The Resourceful Caregiver: Helping Family Caregivers Help Themselves.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Capital Books; Revised edition (March 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933102462
• ISBN-13: 978-1933102467
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #450,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Caregiver Resource, May 2, 2008

By 

C. F. Carmichael (Broken Arrow, OK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: A Family Caregiver Speaks Up: It Doesn't Have to Be This Hard (Capital Cares) (Capital Cares) (Paperback)

This is a must read for anyone who is a caregiver, it is full of resources to take care of you as well as the patient.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very practical guide for caregivers, March 13, 2008

By 

Robert C. Ross (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Family Caregiver Speaks Up: It Doesn't Have to Be This Hard (Capital Cares) (Capital Cares) (Paperback)

If any of these thoughts from the Forward resonate with you, buy this book:

"At each step we tried to anticipate the next problem Dad would be facing .... This forward thinking has helped us not to have to scramble and has helped us be mentally prepared as changes occurred." Indiana.

"A lot of people don't want to be around someone who is sick. Some friends may never call or stop by again." California

"... have nurses during the day to care for Kaylee so I can work and I have nurses at night so I can sleep ... I have NO time to care for myself." Maryland.

"After three months I had lost twenty pounds, had terrible bags under my eyes, and looked like a zombie. The doctor threatened to hospitalize me because I was suffering from exhaustion." New Jersey

Suzanne Mintz is president and co-founder of the National Family Caregivers Association, and wrote an earlier edition of this book, Love, Honor and Value: A Family Caregiver Speaks Out About the Choices and Challenges of Caregiving (Capital Cares). The very helpful Appendices and the comprehensive Bibliography have been expanded and updated, and the third chapter on public policy matters has been significantly revised. There is also a good introduction to and description of the Association and its benefits and activities.

As a care receiver and caregiver for almost 30 years, we've found our own way to deal with the many challenges and joys of this way of life. As the Bibliography indicates, there is an enormous and growing literature on caregiving; with an estimated 50 million caregivers in the US, that's not surprising. The revised edition of this book is an excellent choice for beginners or old hands. Best of all, the Association keeps it up to date in a very effective manner.

Robert C. Ross 2008