Book Review: Caregiver Stress and Staff Support in Illness, Dying and Bereavement

Abstract

Reviews the book, Caregiver Stress and Staff Support in Illness, Dying, and Bereavement edited by I. Renzenbrink (2011). This book aims to present the problems of caregiver stress and staff support are mirrored in all cultures and places. The editor has put together a collection of chapters by authors from around the world. The editor brings an important book that fills a gap in the field. Staff often identify with their patients. Counselors often see themselves or those they love in their clients. Teachers may see their own children in their students. Hospice workers may find themselves seeing their own families in those that they serve. Caring for an aging parent may remind one of his or her own future as an aging person. Those who care for others must constantly care for themselves to better serve others. The daily challenge is to keep the balance of meeting the needs of the patients, clients, families, staff, distressed families, patient’s pain, obstinate relatives, and others with needs to be met, and at the same time be able to manage as a professional, deal with stress, manage one's own losses and pain, remain compassionate, and maintain a life outside of work. If one want to buy the book for no other reason, the forward by Sandra Bertman and the afterward by Bill Lamers are worth the cost of the book. This is a book that is worth owning, reading, and using! the reviewers highly recommend this book. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)