Most of us are untrained in caring for a family member. Toni Gitles draws from her experience as a caregiver and caregiving consultant. Caregiving should be considered a life event like getting married, having children, establishing a career, and planning for retirement.

Whether you are currently a caregiver or not, chances are you will likely be a caregiver someday. Even if you have planned carefully and have siblings, the reality is that one person has the burden of caregiving, which can be overwhelming. While every person's situation is different, the combination of frustration, stress, worry, and a steep learning curve is common. Caregiving, whether short-term or long-term, interferes with work and family commitments and relationships, forces you to rearrange priorities and leisure time, may cause financial hardship and can result in health issues and even death for the caregiver.

Over 53 million people in the United States are caregiving ("Caregiving in the U.S. 2020" by AARP and The National Alliance for Caregiving). Everyone needs to prepare for and learn about the caregiving journey so that when the crisis occurs, whether you or a family member, a loved one is prepared to step in and advocate, support, and bring essential information to the situation. There is no reason to see life as over; you can still be happy and celebrate.

In this book, you will learn 21 common mistakes caregivers make and the solutions and strategies that will save the family caregiver time, energy, and heartache. You will learn about principles and practices that will transform the caregiving journey into an experience of connection, confidence, and discovery.

Mistakes include:

• Not having health information before a crisis
• Not cultivating a positive mindset about caregiving
• Not asking for help from family and friends
• Not creating a supportive community
• Not prioritizing self-care
• Putting happiness on hold
• Abandoning a spiritual or religious practice
• Undervaluing love in the relationship

Caring for a parent, spouse, or family member may be the most difficult thing you do. The information in this book may be overwhelming at first. By accepting your circumstances, keeping a positive mindset, asking for help, taking one day at a time, and following the suggestions in this book, you can experience greater ease, less overwhelm and stress, and increased confidence and happiness in your caregiving journey. It is my hope that you will be open to receiving the help and support offered in this book.