The unenviable decision to place a loved one into nursing care often solely falls upon the shoulders of one person--the caretaker relative. Logistics often prevent family members from being a part of the day-to-day care of the sick relative. Short visits home often do not provide sufficient time for family members to observe the declining health of their loved one. Additionally, because they are not present to see the decline, mindsets are often not willing to admit there is a problem.

In Swimming Solo: A Daughter’s Memoir of Her Parents, His Parents, and Alzheimer’s Disease, Susan Rava paints a detailed picture of the toll that the ensuing emotional rollercoaster takes on a family who is caring for a sick loved one. Beginning with what they thought were simply senile moments in her father-in-law's life, Rava chronicles the ensuing fourteen year period that followed his being diagnosed with alzheimer's disease.

Full of raw passion--often expressed in colorful language--Rava journals the decline of her husband's father as he progresses through each stage of alzheimers until his death. Shortly after, the disease hits her mother-in-law and then both of her parents.

It's easy to sit in judgement of another's situation. We may think we could have done it better. Perhaps we judge and are quick to disdain a caretaker's angry attitude toward our loved one. Rava's book, Swimming Solo will open your eyes to the reality of a caretake's life.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who has, or who ever will, be faced with the decision to care for a loved on or to place them into a nursing facility.





Swimming Solo is available from online retailers such as www.amazon.com

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Disclaimer: This book was provided for review, free of charge, by the publisher in exchange for a fair review. Monetary compensation was not exchanged