The Real Road Home

Highly recommended reading for anyone who is currently in a caring role or may find themselves in one in the future. The author experienced the successive illnesses of several close family members and writes candidly about both the emotional and physical demands of caregiving, as well as the many challenges that come with it. I found the author’s letter to her mother, who had dementia, particularly poignant. It provided a powerful way for her to express and release her emotions. Throughout the book, she also shares numerous practical tips on self-compassion and self-care. One of the book’s greatest strengths is its honesty. I finished it with a reassuring sense that feelings of inadequacy, guilt, frustration and exhaustion are normal experiences for many carers. It is both a compassionate and insightful guide for anyone navigating the complexities of caring for a loved one.

This is a compelling story of a young woman suddenly and without warning thrown into the role of family carer. With no experience of caring and finding little or no assistance or advice available from any official body it was a minefield.. Firstly with a husband's aggressive cancer then a Mother with increasing dementia, Kim struggled to cope. As time went on with no respite she began a destructive downward spiral into despair and self doubt and finally began to question her own sanity. Fortunately, out of the blue she discovered a group of people similarly affected and with their help found ways of restoring her own health and was even able to start helping other people. Today, Kim is a life coach and is in the forefront of helping people to cope with family problems. Family carers should not feel alone, neglected and short of advice. The Real Road Home is a must read for them as it addresses all of those subjects.