The Risk of a Fall

by T.W. Vanderneck

The Risk of a Fall is a 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist and received Global eBook Awards Honorable Mention.Lorna thought she was ready to be a caretaker for her 96-year-old grandmother, Ireene. But she wasn’t prepared for the anger and paranoia levied at her after Ireene underwent hip surgery. From sharing what they thought were Ireene’s last moments, to Ireene trying to have Lorna charged with a felony, the pair has a roller-coaster year. The Risk of a Fall is a family chronicle that exposes the unfortunate fact that love isn’t always enough.Told with a bit of humor and levity, The Risk of a Fall is a raw and poignant story of the love that families share and the damage they can inflict. It glimpses into the mind of a person afflicted with Dementia and it shows the family destroyed in its wake. This book will resonate with anyone who has seen a loved one deteriorate with age.

126 pages, paperback, kindle

First published June 12, 2012

Reviews

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ninety six year old Ireene trusts her granddaughter Lorna to take care of her if something should happen medically and take care of the estate when she dies. Neither are prepared for the consequences of Ireene breaking her hip when she falls. This is a tale of the pain families suffer when an elderly person becomes incapacitated, first through the fall and then through mini-strokes. As Lorna struggles to do what is best for her grandmother per medical recommendations, she has to fight charges of mismanagement, theft, and imprisonment from the court appointed lawyer. This story lays bare the disintegration of relationships through stress, misinformation and misplaced advice or interference from others.

Heartbreaking story of elder care responsibilities.

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this short book had been based, even loosely, on fact, I would have given it 5+ stars. It was totally engrossing - I read it in one sitting. I laughed and cried with each character. I felt their frustration, love and anger. I was still reading through tears when I realized that there was no mention of the author having any formal education or practical experience with the subject. I was left wondering whether I could trust the author's perceptions of each point of view. This is, as advertised, a work of fiction. I so much wanted it to be based on actual experiences or extensive research.

[Jean Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written through the many voices of relatives who care for an elderly family member.