Janet
Last week I attended a presentation in Concord MA discussing how to care for aging parents. The trials of hospitalization, Alzheimer's, home elder care agencies, financial planning, power of attorney documents, managing family dynamics with siblings, spouses, and children - author Jan Simpson covered the gamut! Her book, "Don't Give Up on Me!" is an inspiring and sometimes humorous memoir and I recommend it to adult children who are entering a phase that may require extended care for seniors or other elder loved ones.
Ms. Simpson is an engaging speaker and easily illustrates many of her points with personal stories that are insightful and revealing on the one hand, without being over-indulgent or self-pitying on the other. For people who have traveled the road she describes with her parents, the drama and sadness can be overwhelming; one senses that at many times it must have felt that way for her, but the story is not about the drama per se, so much as about what that drama reveals about this passage of life.
Readers of the book will especially benefit from the advice she gives at the end of each section. From the practical to the strategic, she helps to identify specific steps a family may take that will prepare them better for the road ahead. Oftentimes, writers of memoirs on this topic stop with their stories and observations, but in this case, the lessons learned are valuable and actionable. This is a real contribution to the field.
Ms Simpson speaks in the Boston and Metrowest Boston areas frequently. I recommend taking advantage of the chance to hear her speak if you can.
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