STAYING AFLOAT IN A SEA OF FORGETFULNESS
by Gary Joseph Leblanc
Staying afloat is exactly what Leblanc helps the caregiver do in times of stress. The author lived with his beloved Alzheimer’s stricken father for more than nine years as his full-time caregiver. Caregiving from the unique view of a man is the same story but in a different language: the language of love on an exceptionally practical level. Leblanc has a common sense approach to caregiving and labors under no delusions that this is an easy job anyone can do.
As he learned the tips and tricks on his own, the author began writing a weekly column for the local newspaper, and these columns grew into the book he published after his father’s demise. One of Leblanc’s cardinal rules was to Keep It Simple. He found that a strict daily routine suited the lifestyle of an Alzheimer’s patient more than anything else. Leblanc urges caregivers to be aware of the stress they will encounter as they continue day after day this unrelenting duty to the patient. Feelings of guilt, loneliness, depression, irritability and being overwhelmed plague the best of caregivers. Finding ways to alleviate these symptoms benefits both the caregiver and the patient.
Read the entire review at Charlie’s website: www.charlie-robinson.com.
