Stuck in the Middle: Shared Stories And Tips For Caregiving Your Elderly Parents [Paperback]

Barbara McVicker (Author), Darby McVicker Puglielli (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 9, 2008

For more than 75 million people in the United States providing care for an aging parent, Barbara McVicker has released Stuck in the Middle. In her book, McVicker provides real-life short stories by caregivers and a practical guide with tip lists.Like many adult children, McVicker felt "stuck in the middle" of the needs of her children, her aging parents, and her career. As the responsibilities became too overwhelming, she quit her job as a development director for a non-profit agency, eventually devoting 10 years to caregiving her parents.During those years, Barbara searched for a primer on caregiving elderly parents to help guide her through the maze of emotion and information. Because every aspect of taking care of her parents involved reacting to crisis after crisis, she longed for both a support group and information crucial to her role as a caregiver. McVicker has now written that primer.Having interviewed hundreds of caregivers and healthcare professionals, McVicker has compiled information that is essential for all caregivers. Her work also serves as a "support group in a book", so adult children caregivers do not feel so alone and isolated. The book contains chapters on the Rewards of Caregiving, Grief, Must Have Documents, Effective Ways to Communicate, Universal Conflicts when Caregiving, and much more.Stuck in the Middle has been recognized by the media, the National Hospice Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, medical school researchers, and seminary professors.For more information, please visit www.BarbaraMcVicker.com

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A professional speaker, consultant and author, Barbara McVicker was a caregiver to her parents for 10 years while raising two children and struggling to maintain her career as a high-level development director. Overwhelmed and feeling isolated, she eventually quit her job to care for her parents full-time.To help her cope, Barbara started interviewing other caregivers and was moved by their joy and pain. These were ordinary people suddenly thrown into extraordinary situations. She interviewed hundreds of caregivers and healthcare professionals, gathering their stories and compiling information and common themes essential for all caregivers. This data, including numerous poignant stories, became the basis for her keynote presentations, as well as her book.The book is McVicker's opportunity to provide a lifeline for caregivers through highly emotional times - a lifeline Barbara wishes she would have had while she was a caregiver. "The Sandwich Generation" is Stuck in the Middle of their children, aging parents, and careers. This group is estimated at close to 75 million individuals.Prior to her career as a professional speaker, Barbara was a medical researcher and grant writer for an acclaimed medical school, founder of a partnership for Habitat for Humanity,and a consultant in hospital management. McVicker was employed as a development director managing million-dollar fundraising campaigns when she resigned from her job to care for her parents full-time. Her vast experience in the healthcare and non-profit arenas, combined with her own individual experiences as a caregiver, provide Barbara with a unique view from both the professional and personal perspectives.For more information, please visit www.BarbaraMcVicker.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (January 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1434339688
• ISBN-13: 978-1434339683
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #486,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OLD, YOUNG AND IN THE MIDDLE SHOULD READ & PONDER, February 16, 2009

By 

Susan K. Cull (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stuck in the Middle: Shared Stories And Tips For Caregiving Your Elderly Parents (Paperback)

Many of "Stuck in the Middle's" range of true stories reflect my own family's physical, emotional, financial and spiritual journey caring for our parents. I'm glad my mom honored and personally cared for my paralyzed dad for 13 years. And I'm glad my siblings and I helped Mom remain at home despite debilitating strokes requiring round-the-clock nursing for several years until her death. But the cost, especially on two sets of siblings and their families was huge. We could have used this book to help us all "count the cost" and better conserve our own health and finances while supporting Mom. I am not a natural planner; but "Stuck" prods me to begin to research and lay out a plan for my own future, and to honestly engage my children in this. - So my copy of the book will be highlighted and dog-eared! I now work in a home health company involved in Person Centered Care, and I intend to refer others to "Stuck in the Middle."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stuck in the Middle, April 2, 2008

By 

Wendie (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stuck in the Middle: Shared Stories And Tips For Caregiving Your Elderly Parents (Paperback)

Stuck in the Middle: Shared Stories And Tips For Caregiving Your Elderly Parents The stories in "Stuck in the Middle" ring true and give me hope. At my stage in life, my greatest concern is becoming a burden on my daughters. Thank you for your great list of DOs and DON'Ts for those of us who will soon be receiving care.
This book was so meaningful to me that I gave a copy to a dear friend who has been trying to "hold it together" while caring for her 98 year-old mother. In her "Thank You" note she wrote, "I have read "Stuck in the Middle" and, whaddaya know, there are others out there just like me - some are much worse off - I feel fortunate. I appreciate so much your thinking of me with the book - it is comforting to read how others have coped and get the little hints and tidbits that they offer."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource and compelling reading, March 4, 2008

By 

Nancy Petro - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stuck in the Middle: Shared Stories And Tips For Caregiving Your Elderly Parents (Paperback)

The real-life testimonies in this book provide a rare glimpse into the personal and inter-personal dynamics in every family and every care-giving situation. These often-unaddressed human elements set the tone for the entire care-giving experience and are every bit as challenging to navigate as the more recognized practical aspects and stages of care giving. Thankfully this book gives important and reassuring insights into the entire care-giving journey--from practical tips on such matters as legal preparations to staying emotionally and physically healthy as caregiver.