The Nana Elaine Chronicles

Book excerpt: If you are, were, or might ever be a caregiver, the Nana Elaine Chronicles was written for you. In it, Jodi Walsh shares the highs and lows of being a caregiver for her grandmother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, as her nana moves from living in her own home, to assisted living, and finally to long term care. Heartfelt, realistic, and also inspirational, this book shares nuggets of valuable information about how to interact with loved ones who have Alzheimer’s and how to survive and even thrive as a caregiver. Even more importantly, it reminds us that life can be messy, no one is perfect, and that there is power in just showing up with love. Although built around posts that the author originally shared on a Facebook group, Jodi also takes time to document and celebrate the woman her nana was before Alzheimer’s. This makes the story deeply personal, and allows us to see how Nana Elaine’s strength, humor, and grace remain even as the condition ravages her memory. These revelations remind us that despite the heartaches along the way, a caregiving journey can be joyful. The Nana Elaine Chronicles also covers what happens when it is time to say good-bye to a loved one and the caregiver’s role ends. Openly and honestly, Jodi shares the importance of self-care and dealing with pent-up emotions and the steps she took to move forward and embrace the next stage of her life post-caregiving.