The Soul Of Caregiving Revised Edition A Caregivers Guide To Healing And Transformation

Download or read book The Soul of Caregiving (Revised Edition): A Caregiver's Guide to Healing and Transformation written by Edward M. Smink and published by Wise Media Group. This book was released on 2021-10-28 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 2022 Revised Edition Who are the caregivers? We all are, for at the heart of being human is the capacity to care, to reach out to others and explore the relationships we build. The Soul of Caregiving is about us, and how we, as caregivers, serve, even sacrifice, for those in need. I invite you to explore with me how we can partake in a kind of sacred journey exploring our experiences as caregivers. Who will be your guide on this journey? Unlike other pilgrims who have a guide assigned to them, you will soon discover it is your own Soul guiding you. We may be professionally skilled to meet the needs of others, but we must also learn to stop and rest. It is not a waste of time, but rather, a necessity. We need time to ponder, reflect, and grow from our experiences. Not an easy endeavor amid a whirlwind of activity. We, as caregivers, experience vulnerability, helplessness, fears, and pain over the traumatic events we experience because we care. We care about those whom we are called to serve. Compassion fatigue arises because we care. Overview of the Chapters Chapter 1 begins by outlying the tension most caregivers experience: the tension their own needs and the needs of those they care for. I call this tension the Dance of Caregiving. Chapter 2 discusses the importance of discovering interior strengths and values where one discovers Soul. Chapter 3 emphasizes caregivers do not care in a vacuum, as there are broad cultural boundaries and expectations which affect them and shape their behaviors. Chapter 4 describes The Archetype of Caregiving, both its strengths and shadow sides. This archetype also relates to several other leadership archetypes, which are also discussed. Chapter 5 discusses hospitality. This chapter positions the caregiver as the host who experiences three different dimensions of hospitality: to host the stranger, to listen to the stories of the guest, and to reflect on their reactions and experiences. Chapter 6 address the frailty of humankind and the notion that we are wounded healers. Chapter 7 addresses the art of reflection as a fundamental skill for caregivers. Chapter 8 argues that the essential actions of a caregiver are spiritual. Chapter 9 explores how the ordinary becomes spiritual as inner strengths and values give birth to meaning, insight, and transformation. Chapter 10 explores compassion fatigue and its two sisters, secondary traumatic stress disorder and burnout. In this chapter, we learn how to recover from compassion fatigue and burnout by building compassion resilience. At the end of each chapter, the reader is invited to ponder and reflect. Your insights are the gold hidden beneath the sands of confusion. Mining these insights will lead to a greater understanding of your strengths and values. The questions at the end of each chapter help facilitate this process.

Download or read book The Hospice Doctor's Widow written by Jennifer O'Brien and published by Et Alia Press. This book was released on 2020-02-11 with total page 86 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Everyone facing death--their own or a loved one's--benefits from this love story and practical guide in one. As a hospice doctor, Bob cared daily for dying patients. At home, his wife, Jen, listened to the stories of patients and families, layering her understanding of death with the early losses of her own brother and mother. Then, the man who had spent a 40-year career caregiving was diagnosed with advanced, metastatic cancer. An insightful blend of art and compassion, patience and endearing honesty, this book comprises Jen's digital art journal, which chronicles this time in their marriage. What began as a visceral, self-care compulsion within days of diagnosis became notes, collages, and images revealing the raw, luminescent reflections of a caregiver-turned-widow. Beyond the practical guidance and solace offered by an insider, Jen's journal reminds us how to live presently during our darkest hours, honor grief, and discover--even after devastating loss--ways to forge forward.

Download or read book Trauma Stewardship written by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky and published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers. This book was released on 2009-05-08 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This beloved bestseller—over 180,000 copies sold—has helped caregivers worldwide keep themselves emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, and physically healthy in the face of the sometimes overwhelming traumas they confront every day. A longtime trauma worker, Laura van Dernoot Lipsky offers a deep and empathetic survey of the often-unrecognized toll taken on those working to make the world a better place. We may feel tired, cynical, or numb or like we can never do enough. These, and other symptoms, affect us individually and collectively, sapping the energy and effectiveness we so desperately need if we are to benefit humankind, other living things, and the planet itself. In Trauma Stewardship, we are called to meet these challenges in an intentional way. Lipsky offers a variety of simple and profound practices, drawn from modern psychology and a range of spiritual traditions, that enable us to look carefully at our reactions and motivations and discover new sources of energy and renewal. She includes interviews with successful trauma stewards from different walks of life and even uses New Yorker cartoons to illustrate her points. “We can do meaningful work in a way that works for us and for those we serve,” Lipsky writes. “Taking care of ourselves while taking care of others allows us to contribute to our societies with such impact that we will leave a legacy informed by our deepest wisdom and greatest gifts instead of burdened by our struggles and despair.”

Download or read book Extreme Measures written by Dr. Jessica Nutik Zitter, M.D. and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2021-08-24 with total page 353 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For readers of Being Mortal and Modern Death, an ICU and Palliative Care specialist offers a framework for a better way to exit life that will change our medical culture at the deepest level In medical school, no one teaches you how to let a patient die. Jessica Zitter became a doctor because she wanted to be a hero. She elected to specialize in critical care—to become an ICU physician—and imagined herself swooping in to rescue patients from the brink of death. But then during her first code she found herself cracking the ribs of a patient so old and frail it was unimaginable he would ever come back to life. She began to question her choice. Extreme Measures charts Zitter’s journey from wanting to be one kind of hero to becoming another—a doctor who prioritizes the patient’s values and preferences in an environment where the default choice is the extreme use of technology. In our current medical culture, the old and the ill are put on what she terms the End-of-Life Conveyor belt. They are intubated, catheterized, and even shelved away in care facilities to suffer their final days alone, confused, and often in pain. In her work Zitter has learned what patients fear more than death itself: the prospect of dying badly. She builds bridges between patients and caregivers, formulates plans to allay patients’ pain and anxiety, and enlists the support of loved ones so that life can end well, even beautifully. Filled with rich patient stories that make a compelling medical narrative, Extreme Measures enlarges the national conversation as it thoughtfully and compassionately examines an experience that defines being human.

Download or read book The Soul of Caregiving written by Edward M Smink and published by . This book was released on 2018-06-28 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Who are the caregivers? We all are, for at the heart of being human is the capacity to care, to reach out to others and explore the relationships we build. The Soul of Caregiving is about us and how we, as caregivers, serve, even sacrifice, for those in need. I invite you to explore with me how we have the opportunities to partake in a kind of pilgrimage along the path of our experiences as caregivers. Who will be your guide on this journey? Unlike other pilgrims who have a guide assigned to them, you will soon discover it is your own Soul guiding you. Professionally skilled as we may be to meet the needs of others, a fundamental core component of our busy lives as caregivers, is the necessity to stop and rest. It is not a waste of time, but rather a luxury of time, to ponder, reflect, and grow from our experiences. Not an easy endeavor in the midst of a whirlwind of activity. We, as caregivers, experience vulnerability, helplessness, fears, and pain over the traumatic events we experience because we care. We care about those whom we are called to serve. Compassion fatigue comes about because we care. In Chapter One, I call this tension between activity and reflection, "the Dance of Caregiving," a dance between the caregiver's needs and those of the one in need. The chapter is an introduction to exploring something we do every day: to reflect on our experiences. Chapter Two, "Reclaiming Soul," asks the question, "What is Soul?" and how is the caregiver empowered and sustained. Discovering Soul implies going deeper into the inner caverns of our being and listening to the inner beats of our heart where insight and wisdom abide. "Once Upon a Time in the Land of OZ," Chapter Three, explores the universal underpinnings of the role of caregiving, as each profession exists in the broader mythic and archetypal realm of a culture. In Chapter Four, "Truce or Consequences," both the mythos and logos of caregiving are explored. Each relates to faithless science and unscientific faith, leading to a unity of the left and right brain functions. "The Ins and Outs of Hospitality," in Chapter Five, discusses how the caregiver, as host, experiences three different dimensions of hospitality: the caregiver who hosts the stranger, the caregiver who hosts his or her reactions and experiences, and thirdly, the caregiver who welcomes the stories of the guests they host. Chapter Six, "Love is a Wounded Healer," addresses an ancient question of the frailty of humankind. There is within each of us a space that seeks wholeness and transformation, an area of woundedness which often shows its face in the midst of our caregiving. "Cultivating the Soul's Garden," Chapter Seven, addresses the art of reflection as a fundamental skill for caregivers. An understanding of Soul implies allowing the moment to take root and to reflect on how to nourish and sustain ourselves as caregivers. Chapter Eight focuses on "Spirituality: The Sinew of Human Experience" where imagination helps one discover meaning, arguing that the essential actions of a caregiver are spiritual. In Chapter Nine "Practice, Practice, Practice" I explore what a practice is and how caregiving is a spiritual practice. The ordinary becomes spiritual, as inner strengths and values give birth to meaning, insight, and transformation. The Soul of Caregiving concludes with Chapter Ten, "Warning: Our Tank is Almost Empty" which explores compassion fatigue and its two sisters, secondary traumatic stress and burnout. We experience compassion fatigue because we care. We look at how to recognize the warning signs, take action to avoid them, and learn how to recover from them in building compassion resilience.

Download or read book When Your Aging Parent Needs Help written by Leslie Kernisan, MD and published by . This book was released on 2021-02-11 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It's scary and stressful when it happens ... noticing changes in your parent and becoming increasingly worried about their health and safety. Maybe it's Mom leaving the stove on, Dad getting lost on his way home, or unpaid bills that trigger this realization. Or perhaps there have been falls or emergency room visits. Whatever it is, you know something's wrong. You wonder about a diagnosis. And you want your aging parent to accept help, or perhaps move. Helping an older parent can be gratifying. But it's especially hard if they're blowing off your concerns, refusing to make changes, or otherwise resisting your efforts. You want them to listen, but they get upset or withdraw when you try to talk about this. What to do? You don't have to remain stuck in conflict with your parent (or other family members). You don't have to keep getting the runaround from doctors or feel stumped about next steps. Instead, use an expert's clear plan on how to help your aging parent. In this practical, step-by-step guide, geriatrician Leslie Kernisan, MD, walks you through what to do and what to say in order to offer respectful assistance and intervention to a declining elderly parent. Full of actionable advice and insider tips, When Your Aging Parent Needs Help provides practical and flexible steps that move concerned families toward effective elder care action, while respecting a parent's dignity and autonomy. You'll discover: How to communicate with your aging parent to reduce conflicts and enhance cooperation The A-B-C-D-E assessment framework for Alzheimer or other dementia concerns, safety issues, or independent living - and steps to implement change Strategies to overcome parental resistance, health provider reluctance to share information, and family disagreement How to get a medical evaluation for memory loss and, if applicable, a diagnosis for Alzheimer's or another dementia What to know about possible mental "incompetence," powers of attorney, HIPAA, and other options for gaining legal authority as a caregiver How to find geriatric care managers and other eldercare professionals to assist Downloadable worksheets, symptom checkers, and checklists to bring to doctor visits "What this looks like" family stories that show you what these action steps look like in real-world situations Transform good intentions into workable solutions and improved relationships. If you're concerned about an aging parent's health, wellbeing, or safety, you'll find encouragement and direction for this next life stage in When Your Aging Parent Needs Help.

Download or read book Stillpoint written by Sheila K. Collins and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "My radio audience filled with caregivers from all walks of life will treasure each page."-Joel Markel, host of Preferred Company, President and Founder of Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services "What a delightful, comprehensive guide, reminding us all about the critical importance of self-care. The authors invite us to rethink -- perhaps redefine ­-- the concept of caregiver, transforming it into 'caresharer.' Take some time with this book, practicing its precious gems, and notice from the inside out the impact it makes on your ability to be present with yourself and all your relations."-Jamie McHugh, Somatic Movement Therapist and artist "If you are weary from caring for others and humbled by what it takes, open this book. Sheila K. Collins and her co-author Christine Gautreaux both walk this walk. Sheila is a national leader in the dance of wise caregiving for self and others. Phil Porter and I, the cofounders of InterPlay, are indebted to her for her contributions to our system. We know her backward and forward as an artist, therapist, and teacher. She's the real deal. Tested, tenacious, tender and true, a wise elder and creative guide for getting through life's hard stuff."-Cynthia Winton-Henry, InterPlay co-founder, and authorof Move: What the Body Wants and Dance: the Sacred Art "In this comprehensive guide, the Stillpoint authors creatively address a neglected component of professional social work education -- self-care! As we teach students the best practices to meet the needs of clients, we often fail to provide evidence-based tools to assist students and young professionals in maintaining a strong and vibrant self. Stillpoint could be a helpful textbook for social workers serving others in what turns out to be a hazardous occupation."-Lynn Coghill, LCSW, Director of University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work MSW Program, retired