Today's Wednesday Wonders features Todd F. Cope, RN, and his book,
The
Caregiver’s Journey: Compassionate and Informed Care For A Loved One.
About
the book
Are you a caregiver for an aging loved one? If not, you
probably know someone who is. It is estimated that more the 65 million
Americans find themselves as caregivers who spend, on average, 20 hours a week
providing care. This is in addition to personal and professional
responsibilities. Most caregivers end up facing these new experiences with
little preparation. Though most caregivers desire some kind of guidance, their
time constraints make it difficult to obtain.
The
Caregiver’s Journey: Compassionate and Informed Care For A Loved One is the
source of that much needed guidance. It provides help and offers hope to
inexperienced and/or overwhelmed caregivers in a compact, yet inclusive format.
Many of the basic aspects of caregiving come naturally, but there are always
unexpected facets of care as well as challenges that new caregivers will face.
By identifying these issues and offering practical ways of dealing with them, The Caregiver’s Journey prepares
caregivers for what to expect as well as offering explanations for things they
may have already experienced.
No other book addresses the joys and challenges of
caregiving in such a concise, yet fittingly detailed manner. Even with the
broad range of topics covered, The
Caregiver’s Journey can be read by even the most frazzled caregiver in
about an hour and a half. Whether just getting started, or well into the
caregiving journey, this book will change lives.
Q &
A
Q: What prompted you to write the book?
A: I spent twelve years as Director of Nursing at a large
assisted living facility and the most common question from family members of
our residents was, “Where can get more information about how to do this?” I
realized that most books on the subject were too long and too detailed, so I
compiled all of the advice I’d been giving for many years into an information
packed, concise resource for caregivers.
Q: Were any human interest stories involved in your
research?
A: All of my research involved more than 25 years of
personal experience. I honestly feel that everything I learned and continue to
learn, is the result of one great human interest story. That’s the nature of
caring for the elderly.
Q: How has writing this book touched you?
A: Putting my years of experience into words helped me to
realize what a joy it is to be a caregiver. After so long, things tend to
become routine, but reflecting on my experiences as I wrote,
reminded me what it’s really all about.
Q: What is the book’s intended audience?
A: Simply put, the book is for anyone with aging parents or
loved ones. Every one of us, if we are not already caregivers, is likely to
become one at some point in our lives.
Q: What are your future plans for writing?
A: I have to be honest and say, I’m not sure. Though this is
my 5th book, it is my first non-fiction. I never intended to write
anything but fiction, so that is what my list of ideas focuses on. But now, who
knows?
About
the Author
Todd F. Cope grew up in a family of thirteen children. As
the youngest, he quickly learned that service was the best way to get along
with others. After graduating from high school, Todd traveled to Western
Australia to work as a missionary. It was there that he met a missionary from
New Zealand who would later become his wife.
Todd and Denise were married in New Zealand, where they
lived for two years before returning to the United States so he could continue
his education. Together they raised four children and are now experiencing the
joys of being grandparents.
It was his desire to help others that led Todd to pursue a
career in nursing. As a Registered Nurse for more than 25 years, he has had the
opportunity of working in a variety of settings, but the majority of his career
has involved caring for the elderly. In his spare time, Todd enjoys running,
gardening and spending time with his family.
Todd's love for writing dates back to the fourth grade when
he won a poetry writing contest. He continued to be honored for his essays,
poetry and prose throughout his school career. Todd has published many articles
on a variety of subjects in several forums including the Ensign and New Era
magazines. Prior to writing The
Caregiver’s Journey, he authored four published novels, most notably The Shift, a self-published work that
inspired the CBS Television movie The
Last Dance, starring Maureen O'Hara.
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