Changing Places: A Journey With My Parents into Their Old Age

Rating:
Summary: Difficult job well done
Review: A sensitive writer tracks the passage of her parents into decline and death. Most of the material was seen by them, which may have taken away some rough edges, but what remains is enhanced by that ethical and psychological process. Most of us addressing this stage of relationships--as middle aged children or aging parents--will benefit from Judy Kramer's contribution.

Rating:
Summary: Difficult job well done
Review: A sensitive writer tracks the passage of her parents into decline and death. Most of the material was seen by them, which may have taken away some rough edges, but what remains is enhanced by that ethical and psychological process. Most of us addressing this stage of relationships--as middle aged children or aging parents--will benefit from Judy Kramer's contribution.

Rating:
Summary: Heart work
Review: After seeing Judy Kramer on the Today Show, I immediately bought her book. Her experience touched my heart and opened the flood gates of tears as I remembered walking a similar path with my own mother less than 2 years ago. She paints an accurate picture of the shift from child role to caretaker role, of the balance between wanting someone you love deeply to live on, and courageously acknowledging that it is time to die. Her sharing of the months after her parents death is especially poignant as the shock waves of realization continue on for the one who has experienced loss long after the rest of the world resumes their routines.

I highly recommend this for someone who has experienced a parental or significant loss as well as those who are anticipating and facing difficult end of life decisions.

Rating:
Summary: Heart work
Review: After seeing Judy Kramer on the Today Show, I immediately bought her book. Her experience touched my heart and opened the flood gates of tears as I remembered walking a similar path with my own mother less than 2 years ago. She paints an accurate picture of the shift from child role to caretaker role, of the balance between wanting someone you love deeply to live on, and courageously acknowledging that it is time to die. Her sharing of the months after her parents death is especially poignant as the shock waves of realization continue on for the one who has experienced loss long after the rest of the world resumes their routines.

I highly recommend this for someone who has experienced a parental or significant loss as well as those who are anticipating and facing difficult end of life decisions.

Rating:
Summary: CHANGING PLACES
Review: This book is beautifully written with a tender and sensitive record of how a loving daughter eases the transition for her parents from housekeeping to their life in a nursing home and all that follows. This should be read by every family with elderly parents that may soon have to make decisons for their future care. Two thumbs up. I couldn't put the book down.

Rating:
Summary: CHANGING PLACES
Review: This book is beautifully written with a tender and sensitive record of how a loving daughter eases the transition for her parents from housekeeping to their life in a nursing home and all that follows. This should be read by every family with elderly parents that may soon have to make decisons for their future care. Two thumbs up. I couldn't put the book down.

Rating:
Summary: Sharing Places
Review: When I saw Judy Kramer on the Today Show discussing this book, I knew I had to read it. I have just gone through an experience remarkably similar to the one she writes about. We lost my mother in May and have gradually "lost" my father to dementia though he is still living. Ms. Kramer's description of her experiences parenting her parents and finally letting them go struck emotionally close to home. To know that others share the huge continuum of emotions that accompanies this type of journey is reassuringly helpful. While the book was at times difficult to read (or to put down), it gave me insight and understanding into myself and my relationship with my parents and siblings.

I encourage anyone facing a journey into old age, whether themselves or with their parents, to read this book. Prepare yourself -- it's deep, emotional and sometimes disturbing to discover the universality of feelings about the life and death of one's parents. We sometimes feel we are going through things like this alone but "Changing Places : A Journey With My Parents into Their Old Age" shows us that we are not.