Donna Thomson and Zachary White, Ph.D Untangle The Unexpected Journey of Caring

Donna Thomson and Dr. Zachary White are co-authors of The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation of Loved One to Caregiver (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019). Donna Thomson is a caregiver, author, and activist. The mother of two grown children, one who has severe cerebral palsy and medical complexity, she also helped care for her mother who lived with dementia until she passed away in the summer of 2018 at the age of 96. She is also the author of The Four Walls of My Freedom: Lessons I've Learned from a Life of Caregiving (McArthur and Co., 2010 and The House of Anansi Press, 2014), and blogs regularly at The Caregivers' Living Room. She is a board director of the Kids Brain Health Network and is a leader and instructor in family engagement in health research. She also teaches families how to advocate for care at The Advocacy School and at Huddol.com. Dr. Zachary White Zachary began living, researching, and exploring the caregiver experience in 2002 during his mother's diagnosis with brain cancer. His research and teaching focus on helping people manage meaning and communicate life experiences amidst high levels of uncertainty and stress. He is the founder of the award-winning blog and resource for caregivers called "The Unprepared Caregiver." In this episode, we discuss the delicate relationship between caregiver and care receiver, the multiple roles caregivers fulfill, authenticity in caregiving, and the value of silence. Read Thomson and White’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2020/02/04/unexpected-journey-caring-thomson-white/ Start reading The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation from Loved One to Caregiver now! Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales. Connect with Donna Thomson Blog: The Caregivers' Living Room Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donnathomsonauthor  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thomsod Connect with Zachary White Blog: The Unprepared Caregiver Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZMWhite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unpreparedcaregiver/ About the Podcast AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please donate here. Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here. Thanks for listening. We are a Whole Care Network Featured Podcast Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network Find us on The World Podcast Network and babyboomer.org Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know Shop our Store Join our book club