Passages in Caregiving: Turning Chaos into Confidence

by Gail Sheehy

Overview

“One of those rare books that can drastically lighten even the heaviest of loads.”
—Rosalynn Carter

“Trust me: there is no better guide to caregiving.”
 —Bill Moyers

Gail Sheehy, author of the groundbreaking Passages—which was a New York Times bestseller for more than three years—now brings us Passages in Caregiving. In this essential guide, the acclaimed expert on the now aging Baby Boomer generation outlines nine crucial steps for effective, successful family caregiving, turning chaos into confidence during this most crucial of life stages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061993527
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/16/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	419
File size:	758 KB

About the Author

Gail Sheehy is the author of seventeen books, including the classic New York Times bestseller Passages, named one of the ten most influential books of our times by the Library of Congress. A multiple-award-winning literary journalist, she was one of the original contributors to New York magazine and has been a contributing editor to Vanity Fair since 1984. A popular lecturer, Sheehy was named AARP's Ambassador of Caregiving in 2009.

Hometown:

New York City and Berkeley, California

Date of Birth:

November 27, 1937

Education:

B.A., University of Vermont; M.A., Columbia School of Journalism

What People are Saying About This

Bill Moyers

“Trust me: there is no better guide to caregiving.”

Editorial Reviews

Starred Review.

Like the 44 million other Americans caring for an ill or elderly person in their homes, prolific writer Sheehy looked after her late husband Clay Felker while he battled cancer for more than a decade. Having already chronicled almost every stage in baby boomer life (most notably in 1976's Passages), Sheehy offers an empathetic, well-researched guide to an unfamiliar, often scary role to which boomers are being initiated, outlining eight stages of caregiving from "Shock and Mobilization" to "The Long Good-Bye." Along with doctors and nurses, home caregivers have become the backbone of the (admittedly broken) U.S. health-care system, and an increasingly important part of a patient's decision-making team. As such, Sheehy contends, caregivers are in desperate need of knowledge and support, and this resourceful manifesto provides it, including practical steps to take, strategies for each point of care, likely obstacles for both patient and caregiver, and a lucid explanation of what's to come: "My intention is to illuminate the challenges and rewards inherent in the caregiving passage-to identify universal patterns in the chaos and give the journey a form that makes sense." Sheehy achieves her goal ably, providing a steady beacon during a time of great sadness and overwhelming responsibility.
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Publishers Weekly

As a longtime champion for family caregivers, I am delighted that Gail Sheehy has brought this passage vividly to life from her own long experience and that of many others’. This is one of those rare books that can drastically lighten even the heaviest of loads.” — Rosalynn Carter, president of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving

“I expect Passages in Caregiving to be the manual for caregivers for generations to come. Gail Sheehy has addressed every possible situation in an engaging, timely, and easy-to-follow manner.” — Gary Small, MD, UCLA Professor of Psychiatry and Aging

“In this insightful book that combines a moving firsthand account of her own journey and valuable strategies for navigating the labyrinth of care-giving, Gail Sheehy takes the mystery out of what can be a baffling, heart-rending experience. A must-read for anyone who gets the Call.” — Hugh Delehanty, Editor in Chief of AARP Publications

“No longer will you have to blindly navigate the murky corridors of caregiving. You have an easy-to-read roadmap right here.” — Judith Orloff, MD

“More and more people are left to deal with late stage healthcare on their own. Gail Sheehy’s masterfully researched and written book comes at a perfect time, when people need it most.” — Robert N. Butler, MD, Founding Director of National Institute on Aging

“Trust me: there is no better guide to caregiving.” — Bill Moyers

From the Publisher

More and more people are left to deal with late stage healthcare on their own. Gail Sheehy’s masterfully researched and written book comes at a perfect time, when people need it most.

Robert N. Butler

In this insightful book that combines a moving firsthand account of her own journey and valuable strategies for navigating the labyrinth of care-giving, Gail Sheehy takes the mystery out of what can be a baffling, heart-rending experience. A must-read for anyone who gets the Call.

Hugh Delehanty

I expect Passages in Caregiving to be the manual for caregivers for generations to come. Gail Sheehy has addressed every possible situation in an engaging, timely, and easy-to-follow manner.

Gary Small

No longer will you have to blindly navigate the murky corridors of caregiving. You have an easy-to-read roadmap right here.

Judith Orloff

Trust me: there is no better guide to caregiving.

Bill Moyers

As a longtime champion for family caregivers, I am delighted that Gail Sheehy has brought this passage vividly to life from her own long experience and that of many others’. This is one of those rare books that can drastically lighten even the heaviest of loads.

Rosalynn Carter