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Solace in the Storm: Caring for Loved Ones of Every Generation

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Life can change in an instant. Even when the water seems calm, you can be thrown suddenly into the unfamiliar storm of caregiving.

Most people will serve as a caregiver at some point in their lives, whether to their children, their spouse, their parents, or even their grandchildren. Despite how common the experience is, it’s difficult to find quick, easy, and practical advice to help you survive the never-ending stress of caring for a loved one.

For anyone searching for support in moments of family crisis, Dr. Merle Griff’s Solace in the Storm can be your guide. Griff, a therapist who has helped families overcome the challenges of providing care at all stages of life, offers easy-to-apply solutions to common caregiving problems.

Whether it’s dealing with uninvited opinions from friends and family members, communicating with healthcare professionals, or finding time for yourself, Solace in the Storm provides the direction you need to ride out even the roughest seas. Griff provides stories from people who have been where you are now—and her own life—to help readers get through what seems like the impossible.

Caregiving can be needed at any point in your loved ones’ lives. In this book, Griff looks at caregiving throughout the human lifecycle, starting with infancy through caring for adult parents. And she gives advice on how friends and family can help, either by lending a hand or by learning what to say—and what not to say.

Solace in the Storm will serve as your lifelong resource for quick tips, resources, and words of support and encouragement—a companion you will turn to again and again.

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2023

17 people are currently reading
1096 people want to read

About the author

Merle Griff

2 books2 followers

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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Adriana.
131 reviews4 followers
October 25, 2023
"Solace in the Storm" by Dr. Merle Griff is a lighthouse in the tumultuous sea of caregiving. Dr. Griff, a therapist with a wealth of experience, navigates the challenging waters of caregiving with empathy and practicality. In a world where caregiving often comes unexpectedly and without a roadmap, this book is a much-needed lifeline. It offers easy-to-implement solutions to the common issues faced by caregivers, from handling unsolicited advice to finding time for self-care.
What makes this book truly unique is its comprehensive approach to caregiving across the entire human lifecycle. Dr. Griff's insights encompass caregiving for infants to caring for aging parents, making it a timeless resource. With a blend of real-life stories and her own experiences, she provides the guidance and encouragement that caregivers desperately need.
"Solace in the Storm" is a companion that caregivers can turn to repeatedly for support, resources, and a comforting word. Dr. Griff's wisdom and understanding of the caregiving journey make this book an invaluable asset for anyone facing the challenges of caring for a loved one at any stage of life.
Profile Image for Maria Paula Castellanos Monroy.
805 reviews19 followers
October 21, 2023
The perfect source for support you or your family!

“Solace in the Storm: Caring for Loved Ones of Every Generation” By Dr. Merle Griff is a perfect source of support and encouragement.

It’s not uncommon that caregivers have to deal with a lot of emotions, often experiencing a higher rate of anxiety and stress could be overwhelming. If you or someone close to you is having a similar experience, this book is perfect!

Care for others could be beautiful but also can be very, very hard. None of us is exempt from taking care of someone else and this book is amazing because Dr Griff explores this from multiple perspectives but overall, from the human one. I recently lost someone with a terminal illness and having the experience to see all the process not only for the patient but from the family, deeply touched my heart.

This book makes me see the caregivers as human beings, to understand that they also need someone to care for. Somehow, I felt really close to Dr. Griff. This book is one of the best resources that I found and I totally recommend this.
Profile Image for Laura.
280 reviews5 followers
October 19, 2023
Good info for caretakers of all kinds

Solace in the Storm is sort of a brief overview of all the different types of caretaker roles we might take on as we go through life. The author is a therapist who has experienced 3 caretaker roles: caretaker to her kids as a parent, caretaker to her ill spouse, and caretaker to her ill mother. So, she wrote a book sharing these experiences and what she learned along the way. I think this book is a good brief and to-the-point summary for various caretaker situations you'd find yourself in, especially the part about parenting, as it has chapters on each phase of the child's life including when they are adults and having their own kids. I imagine this book would be helpful for someone who is feeling overwhelmed as a caretaker and is looking for advice and comfort in reading about experiences others have been through. Great book, easy to read, and full of useful information. 
Profile Image for Chico's Mom.
961 reviews9 followers
October 20, 2023
Dr. Merle Griff's "Solace in the Storm" is a caregiver’s guide that would help them work through the challenges of the job. We took care of my grandfather when he got sick and it wasn't an easy job but very rewarding because we love him very much. Sometimes caregivers need time to breathe as well which I can relate to so much. There are so many ways to care for family and this book has provided a lot of ideas. Sometimes, simple gifts and cards can uplift someone’s day. This is a great book for families to prepare themselves in terms of caring for family members from babies to the grandparents, family meetings are important. I see myself smiling when the author talked about feeling squeamish because that's what we felt at the beginning when we took car of my granddad but again its only at the beginning and you make it more comfortable for the patient than yourself cause they can feel how you feel.
37 reviews1 follower
March 13, 2024
This is a great book and I highly recommend to any caregiver! I really appreciated how Merle basically gave us permission to read the chapters as they pertain to us. Not that someone couldn't do that with any book but it really made me feel understood by Merle. Self-help books are great but sometimes feel like a slog to read.

I read the whole book but with teenaged children and a father with Alzheimers I decided to be a little less vigilant with the young child and grandchildren chapters. (Hopefully neither are too near in my future.)

One of my favorite lines from the book was "Communicating about communicating is an art, but the more you practice, the better you'll get at it!" I have been trying to explain things to my sons and also how to think about someone else's side of a situation, and this rang very true to me. Kind of like the equivalent of 'show your work' with math problem.

Thank you to Goodreads as I won a copy of this book in a giveaway.
Profile Image for Susel.
555 reviews8 followers
October 21, 2023
I absolutely loved reading “Solace in the Storm”, written by wonderful author Dr. Merle Griff. I believe this is a very valuable book, especially when we are dealing with the challenges of caring for loved ones who may be elderly, ill, or in need of constant attention. As a mom, I know for my own experience, that caregiving can be a demanding and emotionally draining role. The concrete advice and guidance from this book have definitely made a significant difference in how well I can manage my responsibilities and provide support for my child. I believe “Solace in the Storm” is a great source of comfort and information for those going through the caregiving journey, like me, as it offers insights into the real-world challenges and provides practical solutions to make the process more manageable. I really recommend reading it!
33 reviews
October 21, 2023
This book explores caregiving from several angles of life. It begins with infancy, leads into adolescence, progresses into adult children, then caring for grandchildren and other family members. Each stage of life comes with its own set of challenges and hardships. This book does a wonderful job of portraying the struggles that many caregivers face. Stories within the text are very relatable, and make readers feel seen. I am a mother of three, and this book would have been more than helpful in those early years. It touches on the hardships but also offers suggestions and better methods of communication, both of which could really help you make the most of any given situation. I think caregivers of any kind could benefit from this, but I think it is best tailored to parents. Overall, this is a wonderful book and is very well written.
Profile Image for Mia C..
1,093 reviews25 followers
October 26, 2023
"Solace in the Storm" by Dr. Merle Griff is a lifeline for anyone thrust into the turbulent seas of caregiving. Dr. Griff's book stands as good support. Drawing from her extensive experience as a therapist, she offers practical, easily applicable solutions to the myriad challenges caregivers face.
The author's insights on handling unsolicited advice, navigating medical professionals, and preserving personal time are a godsend. What truly sets this book apart are the real-life stories, including Dr. Griff's personal experiences, which assure readers they are not alone in their struggles.
I'm sure this is the enduring companion every caregiver needs, offering a wealth of quick tips, resources, and unwavering encouragement. Dr. Merle Griff's wisdom and compassion shine through, making this book an indispensable source of solace and guidance in the caregiver's journey.
Profile Image for Carlos Armando.
203 reviews1 follower
October 17, 2023
"Solace in the Storm: Caring for Loved Ones of Every Generation" by Dr. Merle Griff is a compassionate and insightful guide for anyone navigating the challenges of caring for loved ones from different generations.
Dr. Griff's wealth of experience and expertise shine in the book as she offers practical advice and emotional support. The book delves into the complexities of caregiving, emphasizing the importance of understanding and respecting generational differences. What truly stands out is the empathy and warmth with which Dr. Griff writes, making it a comforting and informative read for those facing the often-daunting task of caregiving. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone in a caregiving role, as it provides solace and valuable guidance for the journey ahead.
Profile Image for ZebraDebra .
392 reviews6 followers
October 18, 2023
Solace in the Storm by Dr. Merle Griff is an uplifting guide for taking care of people of all generations. The book is quite short, which makes it a pleasure to read in a relatively brief time and there is so much information of value on every page.

The book covers everything that is essential for you to know from caring for young children and children with special needs to looking after your own parents as they grow older. I appreciate that caring for adult children and grandchildren is also covered. Self-care, which can easily be overlooked, is also explored and explained. The “takeaways” at the end of the book are an added bonus. Definitely a great guide to which I will be returning many times.
Profile Image for S Tyty.
1,276 reviews29 followers
October 21, 2023
One may think that it would never be necessary to get a book like this one, however, it proves to be really helpful to prepare ourselves for stormy times in a potential family context. Unfortunately, we will serve as a caregiver at some point in their lives, whether to our children, spouses, parents, or even grandchildren.
This book gives us the support we will eventually need and offers us ideas and tips to cope with moments of family crisis. Solace in the Storm is a practical book; one is exposed to concepts that are clearly stated so that we do not have to second guess or deduce what is intended to be transmitted when abstract ideas are mentioned. Here, we know exactly what the author wants to tell us.
Profile Image for CarlitasFox.
1,474 reviews28 followers
October 21, 2023
A necessary and practical book
If you're looking for a life-changing book, then “Solace in the Storm” is a good one. Dr. Merle Griff has penned an interesting and helpful example.
Thanks to her experience, she is able to teach readers about the importance of loving and caring for our families. In this piece of writing, she shares some stories about caregivers�� life along the process of becoming one with their ups and downs. Also, she advises those people, either young or elderly, who need daily help themselves or need to take care of others.
It’s a well-explained, inspirational, practical and useful guide that anyone should read. There are anecdotes and backup information that help readers understand the nitty-gritty of the book. In a nutshell, it’s a must read!
Profile Image for Liz.
1,390 reviews32 followers
October 21, 2023
Solace in the Storm: Caring for Loved Ones of Every Generation is an extraordinary book written by Dr. Merle Griff. In this book, the author helps people who care for a loved one, whether a child or an adult, navigate this moment. Many of us might think that this task is something simple, but it isn't really. Only people who care for a loved one know what this entails. In this sense, the author provides the reader with useful data to put into practice.
I am really amazed by this book, because I did not think it would be so practical and with such precise data necessary for life. I think there should be more books like this, where the authors support caregivers, whether they are children or adults.
Profile Image for Lucia Maranghello.
423 reviews9 followers
October 24, 2023
"Solace in the Storm: Caring for Loved Ones of Every Generation" by Dr. Merle Griff is an invaluable read for anyone thrust into the challenging world of caregiving. With a compassionate and understanding approach, Dr. Griff offers practical advice that is easy to apply in the most trying moments of family crisis. She tackles the complexities of caregiving, from dealing with unsolicited advice to communicating with healthcare professionals, with grace and wisdom. What makes this book a must have is its comprehensive view of caregiving throughout the human lifecycle, making it a lifelong resource filled with quick tips, resources, and heartfelt words of support. Dr. Griff's book is a comforting companion that you'll turn to time and again, providing solace in the storm of caregiving.
871 reviews28 followers
October 20, 2023
Solace in the Storm by author Dr. Merle Griff is a soulful guide that delves with care giving throughout the human life cycle. This is a truly helpful guide to support readers in moments of family or friends' crisis, where the person is taking care of a beloved one.
In general, I enjoyed the perspective the author had in her approach to writing the book, as it is loving and contemplative, and at the same time, it is exhaustive since each stage of life is addressed for every generation and special situation around it.
To sum up, this is an empowering self-help book that will support readers in those delicate and difficult moments.
Profile Image for Marina  Lujan .
929 reviews15 followers
October 20, 2023
Anyone facing the overwhelming journey of caring for a loved one will find Solace in the Storm to be a lifesaver. This book, written with apparent empathy and deep understanding, becomes a must-have companion on this emotional rollercoaster. It is a user-friendly manual with simple solutions to common attention issues. The advice is both practical and effective.

Solace in the Storm has been a beacon of hope for me while I navigate the challenging path of caring for my elderly mother. I think everyone would benefit from reading this book, regardless of their current caregiving duties. I can't express enough how impactful it has been for me; it was a truly remarkable find.
Profile Image for Ivan M.
838 reviews22 followers
October 21, 2023
Solace in the Storm is a book filled with hope and understanding. It serves as a guide for people who, at any stage of their life, act as a caregiver. It's a complicated but gratifying role, and being prepared is key to face it.

Dr. Merle Griff uses her expertise to help navigate life as a caregiver. It doesn´t matter if it is for elderly or children, Merle provides useful tips to ensure you have a well balanced life, making sure you don´t stop taking care of yourself, which is a very common issue.

Overall, a very productive read. It gave me many ideas and prepared me for my next role: Becoming a dad.
103 reviews2 followers
June 11, 2024
This book is for both caregivers, and family of caregivers, it details explanations on what to expect and the feelings that arise from being the caregiver. It also highlights how family can lessen the burden on the care giver. I learned a few things from reading this book about how we are handling my dads aging and how to interject when needed with my mother in law who is living independently but yet needs help some. I won this book as a Goodreads win, and I recommend this book.
Profile Image for Tony Williams.
11 reviews
July 6, 2024
Picked up this book to read on the plane and I enjoyed the book. As someone who helps take care of his mother and aging father this book opened my eyes to the possibility of creating space to weather this season.
Profile Image for Carlos mutua.
450 reviews2 followers
October 19, 2023
control stress

Found that part which stresses on how to control stress really helpful in my current life I am going through that.
650 reviews
January 25, 2024
Very well written with a great amount of advice for dealing with caring for children, siblings, grandchildren, parents.
Thanks to Goodreads and the author for my digital copy.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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