Stefania Shaffer, Profile

844-389-6832

Posts tagged with "Boomers"

Fan Mail for 9 Realities from Carol

Fan Mail from Carol

This piece of fan mail comes in the form of a blog review by Carol Cassara for both the Memoir 9 Realities of Caring for an Elderly Parent: A Love Story of a Different Kind, and The Companion Playbook, just released June 2016.

Carol, I thank you for sharing this elder care twin set with your readers, your family and friends. Thank you seems so inadequate since their two tiny words seem hardly enough to capture the enormous gratitude I have for your kind words. But, they are the best I’ve got. So Carol, THANK YOU!!—Stefania

Here is the full Blog with the direct link: http://carolcassara.com/caregiving-advice/

COMPASSIONATE, PRACTICAL CAREGIVING ADVICE

caregiving-adviceAre you concerned about what will happen when your elderly parents can no longer care for themselves? No one gives us caregiving advice when we’re younger. As we get older, so do they, and often, it falls to us to figure out what to do, how to handle it.  No one has prepared us.

Until now.

9 Realities of Caring for an Elderly Parent is subtitled “a love story of a different kind” and it’s clear that author Stefania Shaffer speaks for many experienced, compassionate caregivers in her new book. Practical advice, compassion, action plans—it’s all here. The humorous incidents, the frustrating moments and some of the most touching, moving prose that I’ve ever read.

She tells her own story, and all along the way provides excellent advice and compassionate understanding that anyone engaged in caregiving—or planning for it—would find helpful. Plus, she’s done a tremendous amount of research so her readers don’t have to — it’s chock full of useful resources.  Given in the context of her own caregiving story, the advice is starkly appropriate.

If, for some reason, a reader wants a shorter version that includes only advice and resources and not her beautiful story, the shorter Companion Playbook has “just the facts, ma’m” and is available separately.

But why would you not want her memoir? Shaffer’s story is moving and beautiful and so worth the read.

This would be a thoughtful gift –for a holiday or just anytime– for someone who is either anticipating caregiving or in the midst of it.

caregiving-adviceI am no stranger to caregiving.

When my mother was hospitalized for almost a year, I spent at least a week or two a month traveling from Florida to western New York so I could be at her bedside, helping care for her. My siblings both worked full-time, so my visits, thanks to leave from my own work, were the few long stretches where a family member had long days of caregiving duties over a week or two. Which is an entirely different thing than popping in for a couple of hours. I was, in a word,clueless.

During the last year of my beloved friend’s life, her closest friends banded became a caregiving team, even spending the night with her for periods of time. It would have been so helpful for us and her grown children to have this book. I was glad when Stefania offered to send me a copy for an honest review and even happier to highly recommend it.

You want this book and I want you to have it. In fact, I want you to have both the book and the Playbook and so does the author. We’re doing a giveaway of the duo of books to one lucky person who comments on this post.

Comment below, making certain your email is in the comment signup so I have a way to reach you if you win.

This giveaway is open to residents of the continental U.S. and the deadline for entries is Monday, Oct. 24, 2016 at 11:59 pm. Yep, just before it’s Tuesday.

And if you don’t win a book? Buy it. The caregiving advice is superb and the memoir is beautiful.  You won’t be sorry. It’s available at all the usual places.

Fan Mail for 9 Realities from Lucretia

Fan Mail from Lucretia

This fan mail comes from Lucretia’s Blog after reading 9 Realities of Caring for an Elderly Parent: A Love Story of a Different Kind and The Companion Playbook, released in June 2016.

Again, the two little words thank you seem paltry compared to the enormous meaning they hold for an author—this author—who is filled with such gratitude. Thank you Lucretia for taking your time to read and share with the world what 9 Realities has meant to you. Many, many THANKS!!—Stefania

Here is the direct link to Lucretia’s original review: http://lucretiasreflection.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-9-realities-of-caring-for.html

Lucretia’s Reflection

Friday, August 19, 2016

Book Review: “9 Realities of Caring for an Elderly Parent”

Way back in January 2014, the day after my mom went to the hospital for emergency heart surgery, I attended a talk given by a woman who had gone through pretty much what I was about to go through, and who had written a book about her experience.  The book is “9 Realities of Caring for an Elderly Parent”, and the author, Stefania Shaffer, was touring to promote it, and was invited to speak at our university.  I almost didn’t go, because I was afraid the hospital might call while I was at the talk; it turned out to be one of the best things I could have done.  Not only was I inspired by what she had to say at a time when I really needed it, but I bought her book and read it while dealing with caring for my mother and grandmother.
During those two years when I was shuttling back and forth between home and my mom’s house (or the nursing center), I  sometimes felt VERY much alone.  Although my friends and family were verbally supportive, I had very little help with anything that actually needed doing, not because nobody wanted to help, but because most of the time no one else was in a position to.  Unfortunately, this happens to many people who find themselves suddenly having to care for elderly parents alone, when other family members are either unable or unwilling to pitch in.  “9 Realities” became part of my support group, because I was able to compare what she had to deal with against my own situation.  I sent copies to a few friends to help them cope as well.  When my mom died, I read the section on grieving more than once, to remind myself that I still wasn’t alone.
“The Companion Playbook” came out just this year, and I was privileged to receive one as a gift from Stefania.  I sure wish I’d had it while my mother and grandmother were alive, I could really have used it as well!  It not only has the really important points from the book reiterated in “nutshell” format, but it has charts and checklists for each point that can be used as written or adapted to your individual situation.  The Playbook can serve as a stand-alone guide without the original book, if you really don’t have the time to read that as well.
Stefania’s book is an incredible story of love and forgiveness, and I highly recommend both it and its companion workbook to anyone who has aging parents, even if they are still active and in good health.   You can order both books at Stefania’s website:  https://stefaniashaffer.com/

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41Hl60fuyvL.jpg                  https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51cYCEQL64L.jpg