MSI Press Blog

  Caregivers often occupy the quiet spaces of heroism. You prepare the medication, catch the subtle signs of decline, hold the stories that others forget. But this vocation, born of love and necessity, can slowly erode the self if not tenderly tended. Self-care isn't retreat from caregiving—it’s its foundation. 🧭 Redefining Self-Care Forget the spa clichés. Caregiver self-care is about: Permission : To feel deeply, to rest fully, to say “not today.” Protection : Of boundaries, of time, of emotional bandwidth. Presence : With oneself—not just being available for others. Self-care is the practice of safeguarding your own sacred ground. 🕯 Daily Practices with Depth Body Listening : Before you serve, pause to ask: What does my body need today? Stretching, silence, sustenance? Emotional Debriefing : Journal your truths. Not to analyze, but to exhale. Care requires emotional breathwork. Spiritual Anchoring : Whether prayer, poetry, or porch sitting—create a ritual that remi...

  Now available from Kindle: audiobook edition of Survival of the Caregiver by Janice Snyder. Book Description:  Survival of the Caregiver" is the result of all the author's ins and outs, ups and downs of caring for her husband for 20 years when he had Parkinson's Disease, followed by Dementia. This book is written from the heart. It is as personal as it is informative. The author chose to use an alphabetical list of topics so that a busy caregiver can refer to a special need quickly. It is the author's hope that this book will aid other caregivers in their sad, but meaningful journey with their loved one. Read more posts about Janice and her book HERE .    To purchase copies of this book at 25% discount, use code FF25 at  MSI Press webstore . Want to buy this book and not have to pay for it? Ask your local library to purchase and shelve it. Sign up for the MSI Press LLC monthly newsletter (recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top 100 list,...

  Excerpt from Survival of the Caregiver by Janice Snyder -  B BACKS are the mainstay of our bodies when they're in. When they go out on us, we are in big trouble as caregivers. The first time I pulled a muscle in my back, I was miserable for a week. Then I forgot all about it and lifted something incorrectly again. Two weeks of misery followed. There are rules to live by when lifting something or someone: Always bend the knees and use the leg muscles, not the back. For better leverage, get as close to the object or person as possible. Leaning into the patient's torso minimizes back strain when helping to lift the patient to a sitting position or out of the bed. A slant board enables you to slide a person from and to a bed or chair with less lifting involved. If the dependent is a heavy person, try getting a medical lift that does most of the work. There are special fabric braces made now that give excellent support for your back. They wrap around the waist and are easily at...

  Excerpt from Survival of the Caregiver Prologue This is not a technical book. If your loved one has Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Heart Failure, Diabetes, Cerebral Palsy, or has experienced depression, a stroke, spinal injuries or any number of other debilitating catastrophic illnesses, there are many books in the library that describe all the problems, treatments, and prognoses of each of these conditions. Doctors and scholars who have specialized in these illnesses write these books. There is valuable information to be found in these accounts, and you should avail yourself to the ones pertaining to the particular problems of your loved one. This is a book devoted to the caregivers of those with tragic illnesses. My twenty years of experience as a caregiver have given me many insights into coping with and surviving the problems that come with caring for an ill person. This book gives encouragement, along with valuable information I learned th...

  ANGER needs to be verbalized and needs an outlet. Show me a caregiver who says he or she never gets angry, and I’ll show you a liar or a saint.  Once, a patient who was 75 years old came into my office. She had been caring for her 97-year-old mother for ten years. I told her I was a caregiver, too, and remarked that I thought caring for someone else when you were 75 must be most difficult. With a sheepish look on her face she said, “You know, I’m ashamed to tell you this, but sometimes I get very angry." I responded, “Of course you do; that’s only natural. I get angry, too.”  She looked astonished. “You do?” she said, “I thought I was the only one.” I couldn’t believe my ears. I assured her that most caregivers experience this strong emotion more often than they would like to admit. She was very happy and relieved to hear that.  There is no way you can keep from feeling angry about seeing your loved one suffering and about having acquired such tremend...