"Mothering Mother" Caregiver's Book by Carol D. O'Dell

Both pain and humor are part of award winning author Carol D. O'Dell"s book Mothering Mother . She was adopted at the age of four to southern, fundamentalist parents in their mid-fifties. I read the book excerpt at the website and I loved it. As an adult Carol found herself caregiving for her mother, who had Alzheimer's among other health conditions. She tells the story with humor and love, but the stress and exhaustion of a caregiver's path are part of the tale also.

Carol will be appearing on CNN on October 11 to discuss her caregiving experience, the book
Mothering Mother, and useful information for caregivers. You can read an excerpt from her book at the website. At the website you can also listen to a radio interview with Carol on the subject "Coping with Caregiving" and read an interview.

Carol's blog, also available at the website, had a recent post titled "Tell Your Stories - Ward Off Dementia" about one of her writing workshops. She teaches Journaling and Writing Memoirs at colleges, universities and community centers. She has also been a children's minister for fifteen years.

Carol's schedule is posted at the website and includes many media appearances and workshops so you can catch her on the television, radio or in person.

Finding Local Support for Family Caregivers

When family caregivers are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted there are support groups locally and on the internet that provide shared experiences, advice, and information. The isolation of caregivers is part of the "Caregiver Syndrome" as discussed in a CNN article recently, and joining a group can reduce the stress and loneliness that caregivers often experience.

To search your local area on the internet use your town followed by the words caregiver support. You can also call your local ombudsman, search for a senior consultant, call the local Area Agency on Aging, or browse through the yellow pages.

There's a support group for every condition these days, and from the other group members you can get informal personalized guidance for the issues you are facing. There's nothing like talking things over with another person who has had a similar experience to relieve stresses. When your regular friends are not able to relate to the stresses you are feeling from caregiving then a support group is a place to meet friends you can talk to who will understand.

Caregiver blogs are popular on the internet and caregiver forums provide a place to interact with others.