By Rayna Neises
I was blessed to be able to share my family’s story of journeying through Alzheimer’s Disease in No Regrets: Hope for Your Caregiving Season. I have the story no one wants to have; I lost both of my parents to the disease 20 years apart. My mom was diagnosed when I was just 16, living 12 years with the disease. My dad lived 14 years with the disease being diagnosed just 6 years after her passing.
After burying my dad in 2018 I reflected on the season of caring for him in his home with family members, paid caregivers and myself providing 24-hour care for the last 4.5 years of his life and realized I was honored, proud and thankful that I walked him all the way home, still lived a life that I loved, and had no regrets.
So, I set out on the adventure of writing a book to encourage others: to explore what would truly be best for all of their family, to invest in learning what the best self-care for them looks like, and to build a team that works together for the good of all involved.
By sharing authentically raw stories of our journey, practical tips and guidance as well as the tools I used for my self-care I think I did just what I was hoping to. I have been told that when you read No Regrets: Hope for Your Caregiving Season you will feel that we are siting at your kitchen table having a cup of coffee and talking about this difficult, but joy-filled season of my life.
By writing this book, I offer you the benefit of hearing what worked for us and some of our biggest struggles. I was challenged to care for my parents in a way that ensured they were happy and healthy as long as possible. Learning to view medical decisions, where they lived and who helped care for them through this lens made all the difference for me and I think it will help you too.
Though there are many changes in our loved ones as they walk their final days with this life changing disease, I hold fast to the belief that you can see glimpses of who they were throughout the journey. Staying in the moment, assuring them of my love, and focusing on the things that brought them joy made it possible. From the ornery smiles to the lovely melodies, they were always my mom and dad and I am thankful for the time I had with them. I know you will enjoy meeting them in the pages of No Regrets.
Bio
Rayna Neises understands the joys and challenges that come from a season of caring. She helped care for both of her parents during their separate battles with Alzheimer’s over a thirty-year span. She is able to look back on those days now with no regrets – and she wishes the same for everyone caring for aging parents.
To help others through this challenging season of life, Rayna has written No Regrets: Hope for Your Caregiving Season, a book filled with her own heart-warming stories and practical suggestions for journeying through a caregiving season.
Rayna is an ICF Associate Certified Coach with certifications in both Life and Leadership Coaching from the Professional Christian Coaching Institute. She is the host of “A Season of Caring Podcast” and a passion speaker.
Rayna lives on a farm in southeast Kansas with her husband, Ron, and small pack of adorable dogs. She is the baby of her family, but most would never guess that. She is a former teacher and enjoys crafts of all kinds and spending time with her grandkids most of all.
Social Media
Facebook.com/ASeasonofCaringRaynaNeises
https://twitter.com/raynaneises
