By Iris Waichler
I began writing my book, Role Reversal: How to Take Care of Yourself and Your Aging Parents, as a tribute to my father, Melvin Sneider. I knew he was an extraordinary and giving person who had touched many lives. When I began writing he was 95 and in good health after recovering from a cerebral hemorrhage at age 90.
Suddenly things changed. He was hospitalized for pneumonia. As it happens with many seniors, he suffered a cascade of medical problems. They included irregular heartbeat, inability to eat food except if it was pureed, memory issues and dementia, incontinence, and decreased mobility. He was unable to get dressed or bathe without help. His decline continued until his death at age 97.
While I was writing my book I encountered many people who were caregivers. The numbers surprised me. I had been a caregiver for my mother and 2 friends prior to becoming my dad’s primary caregiver. I come to caregiving from 2 perspectives. I have been a medical social worker and patient advocate for 40 years. My work involved helping patients and family members cope with catastrophic illness and helping them to set up additional care post hospitalization.
I chose to blend my personal experience as a caregiver with my professional expertise in writing my book. Many caregivers face universal challenges that leave us feeling overwhelmed and alone. Before he became ill my dad had written his own autobiography. I learned he had become a caregiver from an early age trying to protect his brothers and sister from a father who was emotionally and physically abusive. I decided to use his voice with mine in writing my book. He became a caregiver for many people in his life, something I had never realized until I read his writing.
My book is an unusual combination of memoir and self help. It is also unusual in having the voices of the caregiver and the person who receives care. I use my dad’s life story as a springboard to approach common caregiving concerns. For example, when my dad decides to go into assisted living I have a chapter where I interview a nursing director about what family members and potential residents should know and ask about when considering this transition.
My goal in writing my book was to reach as many people as possible who are struggling with this ultimate role reversal, where the adult child becomes a caregiver for their parent. It is a useful tool for all caregivers. I address topics like coping with grief, memory loss, and confusion, to concrete issues like estate planning and assessing the right level of care.
When I contacted publishers some told me since my father was not well known nobody would care about his story. I have been so pleased to hear from so many people telling me how much they connected with him and how they loved his story as well as my professional input.
The response to my book has been surprising, gratifying, and overwhelming. It has won 6 major book awards. People seem to really respond to the the way I have structured Role Reversal and find the information, resources, and support strategies very useful in their daily lives. This brings me great joy. I am very proud of my book and love the idea that my dad will live on through my readers.
About the Author
Iris Waichler, MSW, LCSW has been
a licensed clinical social worker and patient advocate for over forty years.
She worked as a medical social worker in three major teaching hospitals. This
is her third book; her last book, Riding the Infertility Roller Coaster, won
four book awards, including “Best Book of the Year” from the National
Association of Parenting Publications (NAPPA) and a Mom’s Choice Award. She has
also been a Foreword Magazine and USABookNews finalist for best book of the
year. Waichler has led workshops and done group, family, and individual
counseling with people struggling with a variety of medical problems. She lives
in Chicago with her husband, Steve, and her daughter, Grace.
Connect with Iris Waichler
***
No comments:
Post a Comment