By Rick Banas of senior living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
The story in the second chapter of Cheryl Woodson’s book “To Survive Caregiving: A Daughter’s Experience, A Doctor’s Advice on Finding Hope, Help and Healing” really hit home.
Only my mother-in-law was not as fortunate as Mrs. M in the book. When my mother-in-law pulled out into traffic coming home from church, she was hit broadside. Fortunately, no one in the other car was injured. The accident she caused, however, cost my mother-in-law her life. She died a few hours later while petting the dog.
Roger Breisch, Executive Director of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce, had just finished reading Dr. Woodson’s book the night before we saw each other at a Batavia Women in Business luncheon last week. With our company operating a Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community in his town since 2003, he wanted me to have a copy.
Dr. Woodson wrote the book as a doctor who has practiced Geriatric Medicine for more than 20 years and as a daughter who was a caregiver for her mother. She will be the speaker at the Batavia Women in Business luncheon on April 10, talking about “Eldercare” Five Keys to Caregiving Survival.” For more information, visit bataviachamber.org
What I love about Dr. Woodson’s book is that it is filled with real-life stories about her experiences and the experiences of other caregivers. It is written in everyday language and filled with practical suggestions and advice for caregivers.
Dr. Woodson talks about struggles, guilt trips and the crushing responsibilities of caregiving.
The Crisis in Caregiving today, Dr. Woodson says, is that caregivers are responsible for caring for more older adults for much longer periods of time. In addition, the older adults being cared for are older and sicker than those in previous generations.
The focus of the book, however, is not on the person being cared for but on the caregiver. Dr. Woodson stresses the importance of caregivers taking care of themselves. As a caregiver, you are “your loved one’s most valuable asset.” How well do you take care of that asset?
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“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois
and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
