Who’s next on my North of the Border guest blog series? Today we have Rick Lauber, author of Caregiver's Guide for Canadians and The Successful Caregiver's Guide.
Where does Rick get his inspiration? How is Canada part of his inspiration? Read on and see...
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Canada’s majestic Rocky Mountains stretch between Alberta and British Columbia. Their snow-capped peaks, seemingly, touch the sky. My family visited these mountains and hiked their trails often when I was younger.
I have fond memories of these trips. Our little group must have been a sight to see … Dad would lead, my two sisters and I would follow, and Mom would bring up the rear. Mom’s standard excuse for lagging behind was that she wanted to admire the wildflowers; however, I suspect now she followed us to corral any of her stray children. Among our many hiking destinations were Lake O’Hara, Mt. Edith Cavell Meadows, the Lake Agnes Tea House Trail, and Crypt Lake (a full-day hike including a tunnel through a mountain wall).
Granted, it’s been a long time since our family hiked together. Mom and Dad have passed away. Leukemia took my mother and Dad, in his later years, was stricken with Alzheimer’s disease and could not even remember the mountain trails, the current day of the week, his career, nor even me as his own son. Both Mom and Dad lost a great deal of personal strength and stamina. Tackling a steep trail became out of the question; they could barely walk a few blocks without tiring.
In their final years, I became a co-caregiver for both of my parents. Working with my two sisters, I helped move them; shuttled them to and from doctor’s appointments; served as their banker; and, in due course, was appointed the jobs of Joint Guardian and Alternate Trustee for Dad.
Caregiving can be similar to hiking … you may have a destination you wish to reach; however, which trail you take, how long you take to reach that destination, and who you choose to bring along on your trip can vary. Some caregiving trails are flat, smooth, and easy to travel on (this will depend on the level of your own caregiving experience, your loved one’s health condition, your readiness to ask for help and delegate work to others, your relationships with others, your personal strengths and weaknesses, your recognizing the importance of your own self-care, and so on). Other caregiving trails can be long, steep, and rocky – thus making navigating them time-extensive and difficult. The latter trails can be physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting – when you finally reach your end goal, you may breathe a sigh of relief and satisfaction following your achievement.
While I did not completely recognize it until after my parents’ deaths, I found my own caregiving trail quite rewarding and I enjoyed my view from the top. Not only did I did learn more about my parents, I strengthened my bond with my sisters, I became more self-confident with what I could do. Caregiving also increased my interest in writing as I used this as a coping mechanism when the trail got tough.
Since my parents’ deaths, I have returned to Banff and/or Jasper to hike the same trails I did as a youngster. With doing so, I frequently recall our own family processions and smile.
Comment below for a chance to win an e-copy of one of Rick's books (winner may select the Canadian or American title): Caregiver's Guide for Canadians or The Successful Caregiver's Guide.
As a former co-caregiver, Rick Lauber helped and supported his own aging parents (his mother had Parkinson's and Leukemia and his father had Alzheimer's). Rick learned that caregiving is challenging and used writing to personally cope. His stories became two books, Caregiver's Guide for Canadians (found at https://tinyurl.com/y3cnsb2a and in Chapters – Indigo bookstores) and The Successful Caregiver's Guide (found at https://tinyurl.com/y22ntrmg and in Barnes & Noble bookstores).
Both of Rick’s books offer support for prospective, new, and current caregivers and discuss what to expect as a caregiver, highlight relevant issues, and identify resources where caregivers can find help.
From Trails to Trials - by Rick Lauber
I have fond memories of these trips. Our little group must have been a sight to see … Dad would lead, my two sisters and I would follow, and Mom would bring up the rear. Mom’s standard excuse for lagging behind was that she wanted to admire the wildflowers; however, I suspect now she followed us to corral any of her stray children. Among our many hiking destinations were Lake O’Hara, Mt. Edith Cavell Meadows, the Lake Agnes Tea House Trail, and Crypt Lake (a full-day hike including a tunnel through a mountain wall).
Granted, it’s been a long time since our family hiked together. Mom and Dad have passed away. Leukemia took my mother and Dad, in his later years, was stricken with Alzheimer’s disease and could not even remember the mountain trails, the current day of the week, his career, nor even me as his own son. Both Mom and Dad lost a great deal of personal strength and stamina. Tackling a steep trail became out of the question; they could barely walk a few blocks without tiring.
In their final years, I became a co-caregiver for both of my parents. Working with my two sisters, I helped move them; shuttled them to and from doctor’s appointments; served as their banker; and, in due course, was appointed the jobs of Joint Guardian and Alternate Trustee for Dad.
Caregiving can be similar to hiking … you may have a destination you wish to reach; however, which trail you take, how long you take to reach that destination, and who you choose to bring along on your trip can vary. Some caregiving trails are flat, smooth, and easy to travel on (this will depend on the level of your own caregiving experience, your loved one’s health condition, your readiness to ask for help and delegate work to others, your relationships with others, your personal strengths and weaknesses, your recognizing the importance of your own self-care, and so on). Other caregiving trails can be long, steep, and rocky – thus making navigating them time-extensive and difficult. The latter trails can be physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting – when you finally reach your end goal, you may breathe a sigh of relief and satisfaction following your achievement.
While I did not completely recognize it until after my parents’ deaths, I found my own caregiving trail quite rewarding and I enjoyed my view from the top. Not only did I did learn more about my parents, I strengthened my bond with my sisters, I became more self-confident with what I could do. Caregiving also increased my interest in writing as I used this as a coping mechanism when the trail got tough.
Since my parents’ deaths, I have returned to Banff and/or Jasper to hike the same trails I did as a youngster. With doing so, I frequently recall our own family processions and smile.
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Book Giveaway
Comment below for a chance to win an e-copy of one of Rick's books (winner may select the Canadian or American title): Caregiver's Guide for Canadians or The Successful Caregiver's Guide.
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Both of Rick’s books offer support for prospective, new, and current caregivers and discuss what to expect as a caregiver, highlight relevant issues, and identify resources where caregivers can find help.
Learn more about Rick and correspond with him via...
Website: www.ricklauber.com
Facebook: facebook.com/CaregiversGuideForCanadians
Twitter: twitter.com/cdncaregiver
~ All pictures (except for the 1st) are supplied by today’s guest with their assurance of usage rights.