The Caregiver’s Companion: Caring for Your Loved One Medically, Financially and Emotionally While Caring for Yourself
Paperback – January 27, 2015 —Harlequin Book Publishers
New Hardcover October 10, 2016 —Thorndike Press
LCCN Permalink:Library Of Congress, Washington D.C.
by Excerpt page 173
My Story
After going through the journey and heartache of being the family caregiver for my father for twelve years, and then enduring the pain of legal conflicts with my siblings, I ultimately asked myself a key question: What would I do differently if I could do it all over again?
My answer was simple: I would take better care of myself.
Looking back, I do not regret my decision to be my father’s caregiver. I did it for love. It was rewarding to have the opportunity to give of myself to my father in his time of need, as he had given so much to me. Even so, it was exhausting. It took a very real physical toll on my body. The moral of my story: to be an effective caregiver, you must also take care of yourself. I’ve found that exercise and meditation help me to relax, and now I wish I had known to take some time to nurture myself better while I was on the journey with my father.
While interviewing more than fifteen hundred caregivers nationwide, I was amazed that they all gave responses that were similar to mine when I asked them the question, “What would you do differently?” We’re so busy caring for our loved ones that we forget how important our own self-care is. As a result, caregivers end up with all sorts of physical ailments, such as back and neck problems. We even end up in the hospital.
When I asked one woman if there was something she’d do differently if she could do the caregiving all over again, she, too, remarked, “I didn’t give consideration to 
my own health, and I should have.” She then confessed that she’d had so much love for her mother that even though she herself had diabetes and hypertension, when she was at her mother’s bedside in the hospital, her eating habits fell apart. Matters came to a head one day, when she thought she was having a heart attack. She couldn’t make it from her chair in the living room to her dining room table without feeling like she was going to fall down. She went to see the doctor and was told she had severe anemia. And like many other caregivers, who somehow manage to keep themselves going with adrenaline when in a crisis mode, in the transition period when she was grieving her mom’s death, the woman fell apart. Caregivers are notoriously run-down. A common thread in all my conversations with the caregivers I have met across the country is how beaten up they feel. They’re trying to help someone they love and they’re falling to pieces in the process. At my company, Grandpa’s Dream, we’ve established a national Caregiver’s Appreciation Day to give people a chance to show family caregivers their support. For more DETAILED information and Learn More Visit Amazon’s Carolyn A. Brent Page
Carolyn A. Brent 1st place 🏆 NPC 2016 Women’s Figure Age 60 Category 🌎 with Interview
The Journey
Patricia Valenti, is an IFBB Pro Athlete – Age 52
Sandi Jackson, Life fitness wellness coach – Age 49
Sandi Jackson, Life fitness wellness coach: Click photo for WEBSITE
Dr. Josephina Monsterio, Life coach, weight-loss expert, & female bodybuilding champion—Age 70
Dr. Brenda White, Author of “Let Food Be Your Medicine & Medicine Your Food” — Click photo for WEBSITE
Dr. Brenda White, Author of “Let Food Be Your Medicine & Medicine Your Food” — Age 68
Jocelyn Jean, IFBB Pro bodybuilding champion, bodybuilding coach at FitRx— Age 45
Owner: At FitRx we’re passionate about health and fitness and we need your help to spread the word to the local community. Stay tuned for upcoming incentives for new and current members. LIKE OUR PAGE (not the post) and share our posts and you automatically register to win our new monthly member appreciation swag bag. If someone you share with likes the FitRx page you will receive an additional entry into the monthly drawing. Swag bags will include gift certificates to local restaurants and retailers as well as gym products and services.
UPDATE: Just ten days left to register for the inaugural SWAGBAG Drawing. The current drawing includes the following: Dinner for two, Two tickets to the Comedy Club, a FitRx T-shirt, an Itunes card, a coffee giftcard, a complimentary one-on-one session with a FitRx Master Trainer, a 30 minute phone consultation with a Nutritional Expert, a Complimentary Fitness Assessment and Injury Evaluation with the FitRx Training Director, a one week Complimentary Trial of FitRx Platinum (coming soon). A $675 value. Thank you and Good Luck
View More About Jocelyn Jean
Ages 83, 59 & 81
SUA Certified Personal Trainer — Jeff Jansz, 81 year old kickboxing Expert—Call for an appointment 561- 445-4038
Carol Stabb, & Roni Lewis “Across All Ages” on NTV ABC , Join Carolyn A. Brent Monthly Every Third Tuesday at 10:30AM EST 
David & Shaun Fitness coach & consultant’s at Nunes pro fitness— “ 56 With A 6 Pack (Fitness)” —2012
Andrew Mondia, Embrace Your Uniqueness, and Board Member
Dedication
To my dad, Pastor William L. Brent, Th.D.
I will be forever grateful to have been blessed with him, the most wonderful and amazing parent I could have ever hoped or asked for.
And a special dedication and thanks to the unsung caregivers throughout the world.
Acknowledgments
TV & Media Production
Carol Stabb, & Roni Lewis “Across All Ages” on NTV ABC
Publishers & Books
Harlequin Book Publishers
Thorndike Press (Large Print Mini-Collections) & Gale Learning
Library Of Congress, Washington D.C.
The Caregiver’s Companion: Caring for Your Loved One Medically, Financially and Emotionally While Caring for Yourself
Why Wait, The Baby Boomer’s Guide to Preparing Emotionally, Financially and Legally…
Body Building Champions
Val Jaentschke, Master of Ceremony NPC Shows
Jocelyn Jean, IFBB Pro bodybuilding champion, bodybuilding coach at FitRx
NPC Dayana Cadeau Classic 2016
Carla Dunlap-Kaan, American female bodybuilding champion
Sandi Jackson, Life fitness wellness coach
David & Shaun Fitness coach & consultant’s at Nunes pro fitness
Dr. Josephina Monsterio, Life coach, weight-loss expert, & female bodybuilding champion
Jeff Jansz, 81 year old kickboxing and personal trainer
Ernestine Sheppard, American bodybuilder who is best known for being, at one point, the oldest competitive female bodybuilder in the world
Medical Health & Wellness
Delia Weiss, MD, ZenMedMd.com
John Webster, Orthopedic Surgeon
Perry Bard, Chiropractor
Jessa Carter, PA-C, Neurosurgeon
Elevated Nutrition & Fitness
Crystal Schuhle
John Morgan
Cathy Vazquez
Joshua Vazquez
Kate Atkins
2015 NPC Show Orlando, FL
Patricia Valenti, is an IFBB Pro Athlete
Roody Exantus, Chest-Out Fitness
Ian Beason, Chest-Out Fitness
Beauty Stylist
Mel Peters, Make-up Artist
Lysia’s Hair Studio
Thia Phan, Lush Beauty Bar
Fitness Apparel
CJ’s Elite Custom Competition Suits
Dianne Nater, Be Fit Workout Appeal
Spiritual Prayer Partners
Angela James, 3Roots Ministries
Ben Courson, The Hope Generation Ministries
Gail Olsone, Victory Ministries
Dr. Brenda White, Author of “Let Food Be Your Medicine & Medicine Your Food”
Martin Brew, Carolyn A. Brent‘s son from Ghana, Africa
Carolyn A. Brent, MBA founder of CareGiverStory Inc.
CareGiverStory Inc. | Grandpa’s Dream Production
Carolyn Brent, also known as Carolyn A. Brent, is an American author, bodybuilder and elder-care legislation advocate
Andrew Mondia, Embrace Your Uniqueness, and Board Member
Additional Books By Carolyn
The Caregiver’s Emotional Survival’s Guide: Navigated The Healthcare System
The Caregiver’s Financial Survival’s Guide: Navigated The Healthcare System
The Caregiver’s Legal Survival’s Guide: Navigated The Healthcare System
Media Production
Jesse Stein of Stein-O-Mite Media
Mel Peter’s Photography
NPC North America.com
Grandpa’s Dream Production
