A Caregiver's Guide: Not Parenting Your Parent: Caregiver Relationship Contract

The idea of a caregiver relationship contract is genius and helps the reader to understand that what's happening really is a sort of contract and that both people can work together to make that relationship easier even in the face of life-changing circumstances. I learned that not everything is about banking or finances - you also need to know who your loved one's favorite plumber and handyman, which are things people never think of. There were great tips on not parenting your parent and how to broach conversations that may be very tough for the person who is losing their independence. Caregivers go through so many emotions and the author shares that it's normal to have feelings of guilt, fear, anger, etc and this doesn't make them bad people. The reader comes away realizing that there are positive and constructive ways to work through these feelings and care for themselves as well as their loved ones.

In this guidebook, the author discusses how caregiving changes the everyday lives of the career, the caregiver, and their circle of loved ones. She uses examples from her own life, as well as many of her clients, to help you work through your elderly parents' expectations, how to set caregiver boundaries, the need to structure hard conversations with mom and dad, and how to pull together a support network for caregiver self-care. Her book aims to bolster these ever-changing roles and provide guidance in navigating the caregiver contract.