Share the Care: How to Organize a Group to Care for Someone Who Is Seriously Ill » (Revised)

Share The Care was born when twelve people — including Sheila Warnock and the late Cappy Capossela — came together to help their terminally ill friend and stayed together caring for her for three and a half years. The authors documented the systems developed during that period for others to follow. Tragically, in 2002, Sheila spearheaded a group for Cappy when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Following Cappy's death, Sheila created a website and a nonprofit organization in Cappy's memory dedicated to bringing the Share The Care model to caregivers everywhere.

Share The Care was born when twelve people — including Sheila Warnock and the late Cappy Capossela — came together to help their terminally ill friend and stayed together caring for her for three and a half years. The authors documented the systems developed during that period for others to follow. Tragically, in 2002, Sheila spearheaded a group for Cappy when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Following Cappy's death, Sheila created a website and a nonprofit organization in Cappy's memory dedicated to bringing the Share The Care model to caregivers everywhere.

You Don't Have to Do It Alone

Whether you're prepared for it or not, chances are you'll take on the role of caregiver when a family member or friend is affected by a serious illness or injury, or when you find your elderly parent needs help. As you'll soon discover, the range of tasks and responsibilities involved are overwhelming. Share The Care offers a sensible and loving solution: a unique group approach that can turn a circle of ordinary people into a powerful caregiving team. Share The Care shows you how to:

• Create a caregiver "family" from friends, real family members, neighbors, coworkers, and acquaintances.
• Hold a meeting to organize your group, and introduce members to the Share The Care systems that guarantee every job will be done and no one person will have to do too much.
• Discover the hidden talents within the group, make the most of their resources, cope with group issues, and stay together in the face of adversity.

Included here are valuable guidelines, compassionate suggestions, and a simple-to-use workbook section that together offer support to free the patient from worry and the caregivers from burnout. Share The Care offers friends and family the best answer ever to the frequently asked question "What can I do?"

Library Journal

Taking on responsibility for short or long-term care for the seriously ill can be overwhelming and confusing. Detailing their personal experience with a dying friend, the authors demonstrate how the aphorism "many hands make light work" holds true. By developing "caring networks," the work is spread among friends, neighbors, and family members, alleviating stress on the primary caregiver and providing peace of mind to the patient. Part case study, part how-to, this book includes sample forms and checklists, allowing readers to use it as a springboard to create their own group and providing practical advice and reassurance. Recommended for popular medical collections.-Anne C. Tomlin, Auburn Memorial Hosp. Lib., N.Y.