Fans of caregiver advocate and author Christopher-Charles Chaney’s Mama Peaches books will be thrilled that Mr. Chaney has penned a new volume for caregivers of loved ones with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Mr. Chaney is right about a lot of things, but first among those is that Mama Peaches was a very funny and wise person. Reading all 165 of Mama Peaches’ best one-liners, I was reminded of Justin Halpern’s hilarious and sometimes touching Sh*t My Dad Says.
So, by the time I turned the page to Mr. Chaney’s section 2 of caregiving knowledge, I felt I knew Mama Peaches. I really liked her, but I was a bit afraid of her too – this is one mother who demanded Sunday school behavior from her children 24/7.
Here’s a small sample of Mama Peaches’ wit and wisdom:
“Boy, I am responsible for what I say, not what you understand.”
“It’s not what’s in your pocket, but what’s in your heart that counts.”
“You don’t fall to the top of the mountain, you climb.”
And one of my personal favorites – “You can’t have a positive life with a negative mind.”
It’s clear that Mr. Chaney loved his mother and it’s easy to see why – she was strict but lovable and often hilarious. Imagining the decline of such a vibrant personality, I felt like part of the family as a reader. And I was curious to know what lessons Mr. Chaney had for others who walk the path of dementia care. Here are just a few lessons learned that the author elaborates on in later chapters:
“I wish I’d had the Caregiving conversation earlier, I wish I’d been more inquisitive, I wish I’d had Mama spies, I wish I’d had a better filing system, I wish I had pushed the doctors more, I wish I'd known that dementia causes anger, rudeness, and unpredictable behavior, and I wish I’d sought out support groups earlier.”
Next, Mr. Chaney offers us a Prayer Toolbox. There are prayers about banishing guilt, being filled with love, kindness, and patience and there are prayers for acceptance of loss. I wish there had been more prayers that relate directly to the author’s caregiving knowledge – prayers to remember who the personwas even when they’re ravaged by dementia, for example.
Finally, there’s a comprehensive list of national (USA) caregiver resources.This is a highly readable, uplifting book for caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. And for fans of Mama Peaches, there are two bonus chapters from his future book release as a treat at the end. I recommend this charming and informative book to anyone who cares for a senior with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
Released on Oct. 1, Hot Slices is currently among the top sellers in three book categories. It’s clear that this new book will be an important resource that belongs in the hands of all caregivers. The Mama Peaches books are now available at www.amazon.com.
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Donna Thomson is the Canadian author of The Four Walls of My Freedom, an account of how life was forever changed when her son Nicholas was born with cerebral palsy. A former actress, director, and teacher, Donna is a devoted caregiver, disability activist, author, consultant, and blogger. Thomson is also the creator of the Caregiver’s Living Room Blog.