Learning to Sit in the Silence: A Journal of Caretaking

by Elaine Marcus Starkman

The author shares her experiences caring for her elderly mother-in-law, and describes the impact of home care on the entire family

159 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1993

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is the story of one family's efforts to provide love and support for an aging parent. Written in journal entry form, it documents the progress of a daughter-in-law's (and by extension the rest of the family's) responses over time as her mother-in-law ages, and comes to live with the family, then goes into assisted living.

In some ways, this was a real insight into the conflicting emotions that accompany an older relative's descend into old age and helplessness. In other ways, I thought it was facile, skimming the surface. I don't know that I came away with any new revelations.

[Bert · Rating 1 out of 5]

Woman tends to her mother-in-law for a couple of years then visits her occasionally at a nursing home. Grouses constantly.