If Only I'd Had This Caregiving Book [Paperback]

Maya Hennessey (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1425909744 | ISBN-13: 978-1425909741 | Publication Date: January 10, 2006 | Edition: 1

Caring For A Loved One? Are you overwhelmed by the demands of caring for a loved one? Is your mounting "To-Do List" crushing you more each day? Has caregiving squeezed out friends and activities that once brought joy? Feeling forsaken by the lack of help and betrayed by broken promises? Find it difficult to ask for help? Professionals Helpers?Are you a case manager, counselor, group leader for caregivers? Does your heart ache watching caregivers burn out? Whether you are a caregiver for a loved one or a professional caregiver trying to help caregivers, Maya's Model is for! When you are called-perhaps suddenly!-by fate and circumstance to be the one ultimately responsible for care and daily living needs of another person, please know that you are not alone. Family members, friends, and various agencies are approachable, helpful and often eager to help you in managing the burdens of caregiving. Most caregivers embark on this journey with loving determination, while family members, friends, professional colleagues and even healthcare professionals fail to recognize how often caregivers become the 'second victim' of their loved one's illness. "I learned this lesson as I cared for my husband through a struggle with terminal brain cancer. My professional life, personal life and health suffered as a result of the stress. Research shows that caregiving weakens the immune system. Without adequate support caregivers deteriorate with their loved one, sometimes even faster. But, there is hope. Studies show that an Effective Social Support Network offers the vital protection to help caregivers thrive and survive the otherwise harrowing, and sometimes life threatening experience of caregiving. Each caregiver and each situation is unique. Using a workshop format, the reader will move through self discovery exercises to honor his/her unique personality and preferences, developing an individualized network to support, regardless of the loved ones condition or resources. This net

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

About The Author My late husband and I had lots of friends, with varied skills and resources, eager to help. Yet I was nearly destroyed until I started applying the principles that you'll be introduced to in this book. Maya Hennessey is a national consultant, trainer and author. In addition to conducting workshops on Maya's Model, and on Communicating Effectively With Healthcare Professionals, she is the chairwoman of the Illinois Community Action Network of the National Family Caregivers Association and has trained for the Illinois Council of Case Coordination Units and Area Agencies on Aging. Maya was featured in the Bill Moyers series on addiction titled Close To Home. She is also a trainer and consultant on services for addicted women and their families with a long list of appointments to city, state, federal projects and committees on child welfare, corrections, sexual assault and domestic violence. For more information on Maya see www.mayahennessey.com. "Working with caregivers daily, I personally recommend anyone providing care or expecting to be providing care to apply Maya's techniques. This book will save you a lot of heartache and help you make the most of your caregiving experience." Theresa Colvin Caregiver Specialist Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging "Maya Hennessey is an incredibly energetic, motivated, and passionate training expert. Her warmth and understanding weave through every word, as she takes participants on a walk through her life and her soul-passing on to others the healing techniques that she discovered throughout her personal and professional journey. " Linda Henderson Prevention Resource Development Project Prevent Child Abuse Illinois "Maya's charisma and her engaging style are the marks of an outstanding presenter and workshop leader, as her expertise and passion for oppressed women keep weaving their way through the additions field." Bill L. White Author, Slaying the Dragon: The History of Addiction and Treatment a

Product Details

• Paperback: 116 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse; 1 edition (January 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1425909744
• ISBN-13: 978-1425909741
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, If Only...., January 29, 2007

By 

Carol Bennett "Stony River Writers" (Henderson, KY, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: If Only I'd Had This Caregiving Book (Paperback)

If only I had read Maya's caregiving book four years ago, I'd have saved myself a lot of grief in the forms of resentment and guilt. And I would have been a better caregiver to both my mother and to myself. When my ailing mother came to live with me, I was knocked off my feet with this entirely different type of relationship with her. For 60 years, she had been my mother, now she had become my child. I had planned my retirement years carefully, including lots of traveling, and I was spending those years listening to her memories of her own marvelous post-retirement travels. I resented the fact that the rest of my family had abandoned her to my care. I could find no relief. At times I was angry; more often, I was awash with guilt. Maya's book took me step-by-step through the caregiving experience and explained the overwhelming ups and downs that every caregiver goes through, including the guilt trips. But more than that, this book showed me not only did I deserve help, but how to identify sources of help and how to ask for it. I don't have to do it all myself all the time. Now, I can take care of my own needs without feeling guilty. This book made me realize the resources I have, the help that's available, and the techniques that work to relieve stress and feelings of guilt. Once I gained a better perspective through this book, I have been able to give care more freely and live my own life more fully than I had been able to since mother came here. Thank you, Maya.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TLC for the caregiver, September 12, 2006

By 

D. Moran - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: If Only I'd Had This Caregiving Book (Paperback)

This book not only helped me acknowledge my strengths as a caregiver, but also allowed me to seek the help I needed (to assist with my dad) from my friends and family members. I liked the simple excercises and found by working through them, I got increased strength and had more time for myself, my husband and my kids.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Caregiving help, October 6, 2008

By 

Sharon W. (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: If Only I'd Had This Caregiving Book (Paperback)

This book is arranged well when looking for topics in the writers caregiving history. Not quite what I expected from the title, but a good quick reference.