Compassionate Caregiving: Practical Help and Spiritual Encouragement

by Lois D. Knutson

Book Overview

Includes expert advice, practical tips, and encouragement for those caring for aging loved ones, as well as ways to care for themselves.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764203711
• ISBN13: 9780764203718
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Hands-on Guidebook for Caregiving

In "Compassionate Caregiving" author Lois D. Knutson offers workable solutions, tips, encouragement, and invaluable information important to family caregivers. Sensitive to the spiritual nature and call of caregiving, Lois includes a scripture passage and prayer within each chapter specifically related to the material covered. I found the suggested affirmations, one for each day of the month, to be especially valuable for spiritual encouragement and keeping a perspective on personal self worth. Knutson includes guidelines for nurture, both spiritual and psychological, as well has practical issues like equipment needed in the home, celebrating holidays, evaluating nursing homes, assisted-living, and other caregiving facilities. Lois has given me insight into caregiving as a spiritual calling. Readers will find the chapters on how to deal with the death of a loved one important, comforting, and compassionate. A comprehensive appendix is filled with forms, a spiritual journey exercise, suggested Bible passages for caregivers, and a list of helpful web sites. The end notes listed by chapter give evidence of thorough, well documented, research. Lois Knutson, herself a caregiver, has served as a hospital chaplain, is trained in geriatric pastoral care, and is a national speaker on older adult ministry. "Compassionate Caregiving" is an important and timely book. Although written specifically for the family caregiver, this is a valuable resource tool for pastors, lay counselors, hospital chaplains, and seminary students. This is a book to be read again and again.