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A Long and Winding Road: A Caregiver's Tale of Life, Love and Chaos
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Sometimes reality really bites. Alzheimer’s has wrapped Mom’s brain into knots, vascular dementia has attacked Dad, and, instead of carefree retirees, we have become caregivers. Regardless, dreams die hard, and we somehow stumbled into the purchase of a forty-foot motor home. That’s when all four of us set out on this seven-week trek across sixteen U.S. states. Now, Dad st
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Start your review of A Long and Winding Road: A Caregiver's Tale of Life, Love and Chaos
Sometimes reality really bites. Life has a way of throwing you curve balls when you least expect it. What would you do if your parents were unable to take care of themselves and refused to go into a facility? Linda Brendle was faced with this exact dilemma and instead of forcing her parents into a home, she and her husband David became caregivers.
Sometimes reality really bites. Alzheimer’s has wrapped Mom’s brain into knots, vascular dementia has attacked Dad, and instead of carefree retirees, w ...more
Sometimes reality really bites. Alzheimer’s has wrapped Mom’s brain into knots, vascular dementia has attacked Dad, and instead of carefree retirees, w ...more
When I was offered an ARC of Mrs. Brendle's debut book for my BOOK NOOK REVIEWS on my blog (www.donnalmartin.com), I jumped at the chance to read it. I had viewed the trailer and knew this would be an interesting read. What I WASN'T ready for was how much it touched my heart. This debut memoir novel is written in a conversational tone and I was immediately drawn into the preparations for an extended family trip in a newly purchased motor home.
On a personal level, I could relate to living in Dall ...more
On a personal level, I could relate to living in Dall ...more
This is the first non-fiction book I've read. *GASPS* A long and winding road by Linda Brendle caught me by surprise. I'm young and have kids, but I don't care for my aging parents, not yet. So, I was not ready to be taken on a journey with her. I recommend this book to anyone with parents who are aging, but I also recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great story they can learn from.
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As a health care provider for forty-four years, I had plenty of experiences dealing with patents suffering from Alzheimer’s and Dementia. It is a heartbreaking condition that affects the family and loved ones in a devastating way, physically, mentally and spiritually. Therefore, when I heard about Linda Brendle’s story about taking her two parents—one with Alzheimers and the other with Dementia on a seven-week cross-country road trip in an RV—I wanted to understand how one person could and would
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A Long and Winding Road is an amazing story of love and bravery.
It is a story of the love for one's parents when they can no longer care for themselves.
It is also a story of bravery by two loving people who proceed on a seven week trip on a forty foot motorhome taking along their ailing parents.
Of course, there were problems and chaos, but none bigger than the love shared by those four people.
The author did a beautiful portrayal of the trip and added some much-needed humour.
The book was never bo ...more
It is a story of the love for one's parents when they can no longer care for themselves.
It is also a story of bravery by two loving people who proceed on a seven week trip on a forty foot motorhome taking along their ailing parents.
Of course, there were problems and chaos, but none bigger than the love shared by those four people.
The author did a beautiful portrayal of the trip and added some much-needed humour.
The book was never bo ...more
Linda Brendle's A Long and Winding Road: A Caregiver's Tale of Life, Love, and Chaos is an account of her time as caregiver to her parents in their later years as their health failed. It focuses especially on a long RV trip that she and her husband took with them. It is filled with accounts of moments that would test the patience of even a saint, and recounts them with both love and honesty. I especially liked the way that the story didn't flinch when describing incidents that would have most pe
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My grandfather suffered from Alzheimer's disease many years ago, so this book was of special interest to me. I couldn't imagine taking such an epic RV adventure and I wanted to know exactly how Linda did it! ;) A gripping first scene really drew me into the book, and as Linda's story unwound, my attention was kept by the switching viewpoints between present-day scenes and related scenes from long ago. I really enjoyed Linda's wit, and for me this was the best part of the book. Laughter with tear
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A Long And Winding Road by Linda Brendle is a beautiful story and was an absolute pleasure to read. From the very first chapter I was drawn in and wanted to find out what happened next. Having experienced family members with Alzheimer’s I was able to relate to some of the situations and reflect on the funny side of events. It’s wonderful to read a book that stirs emotions, to find yourself smiling and laughing out loud while at other times wiping away tears. Also, the incorporation of Linda’s fa
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The Universal Dilemma: Taking Care of Mom and Dad
As we grow older, so do our parents. For many of us there comes a time when we have to become the caregivers. This book shines a light on how to do this with grace and love, and will resonate with everyone who has ever tried. The stories are delightful and the writer's way of overcoming obstacles with her parents are a treasure. I definitely recommend this book both for it's storytelling and for it's helpfulness in dealing with stressful occasions ...more
As we grow older, so do our parents. For many of us there comes a time when we have to become the caregivers. This book shines a light on how to do this with grace and love, and will resonate with everyone who has ever tried. The stories are delightful and the writer's way of overcoming obstacles with her parents are a treasure. I definitely recommend this book both for it's storytelling and for it's helpfulness in dealing with stressful occasions ...more
What a simply charming story. The older I become, the more I think about caring for my own mother, and this book captures the laughter and the tears perfectly. Written as a first hand account, it is both witty and touching.
I only hope that when my time comes to care for my own mother that I have half the grace of Ms. Brendle.
Thank you for sharing your lovely story with the world!
I only hope that when my time comes to care for my own mother that I have half the grace of Ms. Brendle.
Thank you for sharing your lovely story with the world!
This is a very well-written book relating the humor, sadness, and inspiration of dealing with aging parents with memory problems. I also could relate to the relative simplicity of living in an RV and the joy of wanderlust.
A journal that enlightens. Linda writes a column for the local paper, which is the paper that runs my book reviews. She presented her book to our local Friends of the Library and I bought a copy.
Her book tells, of course, the caregiver's story, but also Linda's story. At the end you feel you know her, as well as her experience.
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Her book tells, of course, the caregiver's story, but also Linda's story. At the end you feel you know her, as well as her experience.
...more
You can tell that this is a story straight from the heart. Caring for a loved one is one of the greatest joys one can have while it is also your worst nightmare when parent-child roles are reversed. This book gave a very realistic look at what caring for aging parents can be.
Aug 17, 2020
T.J. Hübner
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Caregivers, carers,
As a full time caregiver for my father who had dementia I came across this book quite by accident when I decided to do research for writing a memoir myself. Linda chose a topic which showed both the drawbacks and the joys found within caring for a parent with 'Dementia' or 'Alzheimer's'. Her journey with her husband travelling state to state giving her parents a chance to see family they had long missed was a look in to the reality of a parent going through the steady mental decline caused by bo
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One wouldn’t typically think that a story about an RV roadtrip with aging parents would be a page-turning book, but that’s what I found it to be.
Linda Brendle’s account of her trip with aging parents suffering from two types of dementia (one Alzheimer’s and the other vascular dementia) isn’t filled with “edge of your seat” action (even the motorcycle accident isn’t hyped up); nor are there page-turning questions of “whodunit” or “will they survive” to propel a reader to the next chapter. It’s a ...more
Linda Brendle’s account of her trip with aging parents suffering from two types of dementia (one Alzheimer’s and the other vascular dementia) isn’t filled with “edge of your seat” action (even the motorcycle accident isn’t hyped up); nor are there page-turning questions of “whodunit” or “will they survive” to propel a reader to the next chapter. It’s a ...more
Wonderful!
A long and winding road slowly unravels in front of the reader as the author takes them through the ins and outs of a family trip in an RV.
A touching and lovely memoir to weeks spent on an interstate trip to visit family and friends, it is plain that the author loves those who she cares for. One can see that even though there are trials and tribulations, there is patience and kindness in Mrs. Brendle's descriptions of all events. She doesn't sugar-coat the less pleasant aspects about c ...more
A long and winding road slowly unravels in front of the reader as the author takes them through the ins and outs of a family trip in an RV.
A touching and lovely memoir to weeks spent on an interstate trip to visit family and friends, it is plain that the author loves those who she cares for. One can see that even though there are trials and tribulations, there is patience and kindness in Mrs. Brendle's descriptions of all events. She doesn't sugar-coat the less pleasant aspects about c ...more
Oh my, what a True Story about Real Life
Anyone who has had to be a Caregiver would thoroughly enjoy this book. I found myself constantly in sync with her trials of aging parents. The frustrations, the impatience, then the guilt, the anger....then the Love. Having concerned family members and friends does help tremendously, but learning to let go, TRUST, and have Faith in God is the lesson. This is Life, this is our Journey, this is a Must Read.
Anyone who has had to be a Caregiver would thoroughly enjoy this book. I found myself constantly in sync with her trials of aging parents. The frustrations, the impatience, then the guilt, the anger....then the Love. Having concerned family members and friends does help tremendously, but learning to let go, TRUST, and have Faith in God is the lesson. This is Life, this is our Journey, this is a Must Read.
Interesting and thought provoking
This book is an interesting and thought provoking insight into caring for close relatives with dementia. At times it is amusing and at times inspirational. The author lays herself bare in every way, admitting to human frailty and coping mechanisms. Her faith, which is obviously important to her, gives her the ability to provide an honest account of her caregiver role.
The RV journey provides an interesting backdrop to the book.
This book is an interesting and thought provoking insight into caring for close relatives with dementia. At times it is amusing and at times inspirational. The author lays herself bare in every way, admitting to human frailty and coping mechanisms. Her faith, which is obviously important to her, gives her the ability to provide an honest account of her caregiver role.
The RV journey provides an interesting backdrop to the book.
This was such a wonderful read. As Linda goes through the emotions of dealing with her elderly parents, she takes the reader on a wonderful journey through the countryside as well as their relationship.
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Readers also enjoyed
I cared for my parents, both of whom had Alzheimer's, for 15 years. I began writing not only to help maintain my own sanity but also to encourage, inspire, and amuse other caregivers. I love to travel and, since retiring, I have traveled mostly by motorcycle and RV. My husband and I live in a small East Texas town where I garden, write, and take an active part in the life of my church.
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