In her book, Gaccetta discusses diversions in One Caregiver’s Journey through detailed considerations of many matters.
When you were tiny, Mom and Dad likely got some exercise chasing you around. But as seniors get older, it can become harder to get the physical activity they need, about 30 minutes a day, five days a week, according to the National Council on Aging. Today, we going to discuss diversions in One Caregiver’s Journey, a book that talks about a daughter who dedicated her time to take care of her elderly parent.
If you are caring for elderly parents, you should know that regular exercise can help them keep chronic illnesses at bay, including heart disease, diabetes, and the general tiredness of aging. The problem is activities your parents once enjoyed are more challenging when they approach their 60s and beyond. That does not mean the exercise has to end as the golden years begin; however, it just means the activities change slightly. Indeed, with a bit of creativity and a thirst for fun, those five-day-a-week exercises are manageable. Remember that they should consult their doctors before starting a new exercise regimen.
As such, Eleanor’s guidebook for caregivers conveys that one needs to be “in tune not only to your future but to that of your loved one as well.” That person, after all, will become an extension of your own life and, understandably, your responsibility.
About The Book
One Caregiver’s Journey by Eleanor Gaccetta highlights virtually every aspect of being a caregiver, delivering everything within its pages with wit, empathy, and an immeasurable amount of compassion. On its surface, the book is a memoir – an autobiography written by and about a woman who devoted her life to her family. At its core, this book is a guide for caregivers in the same or similar situations (and those who may be in the future). There is so much information that is provided it should be a staple reference for even those who work in the care industry, may it be how to care and even the fun and healthy activities for older people.
Further, if you are a caregiver or about to become a caregiver, “One Caregiver’s Journey” is a MUST read. This personal memoir will make you laugh or tug at your heart as the author shares her experiences providing 24/7 care to her mother for 9 ½ years until her mother’s death at age 102. The book is an easy read, honestly written, and provides suggestions and information that all caregivers can utilize. The author wrote the book over a long period, and it is a snapshot of the reality of the stages, changes, and many challenges caregivers face over time. It is a caregiver’s blueprint. Reading this book, you will feel like you are in the author’s living room, and she is telling her story and offering great advice and information.
About The Author
Eleanor (Ellie) Gaccetta, MBA, is an author, speaker, and home cook/baker. She was a legislative and policy analyst for the State of Colorado, the City, and the County of Broomfield, and after leaving government services, she was a private contractor. Ellie’s almost forty-year career ceased when her mother fell and broke her hip at age 92. Thus began Ellie’s journey of being a 24/7 sole caregiver for her mother for the next nine and one-half years. During that time, her book One Caregiver’s Journey was born with personal memories, insight, and advice for caregivers. The book is a snapshot of caregiving’s realities, changes, and challenges. During the six months after her mother’s passing at age 102, Ellie journaled about her reintegration back into the world. “The biggest challenge to reintegration after nearly ten years of isolation has been not to be an outsider looking into the world that passed you by.”
Now a senior, Ellie spends 90 minutes four times a week in her local gym going through a routine created by her physician. She incorporates weight and strength training with cardio. On alternate days she walks 2-3 miles. If someone is a caregiver, they can ask their physician for suggestions to incorporate exercise into their caregiving routine for their loved one. The benefits of exercise at any age outweighs being a couch potato.
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