cover image And Thou Shalt Honor: A Caregiver's Companion

And Thou Shalt Honor: A Caregiver's Companion

. Rodale Press, $24.95 (445pp) ISBN 978-1-57954-558-1

It's no news that as American life expectancy increases, the fate of our elderly is in our hands. In her latest volume, editor McLeod, who was nominated for a Pulitzer for her Caregiving: The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss and Renewal, makes a strong case that caregiving also resides in our souls. The encyclopedic companion to the PBS special And Thou Shalt Honor reinforces Mcleod's positive theme: ""Caregiving truly is a spiritual practice, a nonlinear path with heart""; ""Caregiving has heart and meaning because it changes us for the better""; and ""caring for a loved one ennobles every life it touches."" Throughout this comprehensive and compassionate but unsentimental resource book, actual caregivers tell their stories, acknowledging their vast range of experiences and emotional reactions alongside a gamut of action plans, checklists, as well as medical and support networking information. More than 54 million Americans are caring for loved ones; they need look no further than McCleod's manual for openhearted encouragement and a plethora of practical information.