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Breadcrumbs: From Home Care to Care Homes—A Family’s Guide through the Eldercare Journey

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Your road map to creating your own Eldercare plan and navigating caregiving with ease.Navigating Eldercare is a maze of decisions, emotions, and unfamiliar territory.

As your parents age, adult children and newly appointed caregivers often find themselves unprepared for the complexities of senior care. Understanding the complex world of health-care systems, financial planning, and emotional challenges is overwhelming without the right guidance. You need a way to find the right path for you and your loved ones as you go through the sheer volume of choices—in-home care to retirement communities to long-term care facilities.

Renowned senior-care expert Amy Friesen offers a compassionate guide through the intricate landscape of senior living. Drawing on her vast experience and cautionary stories, Friesen provides practical strategies to approach Eldercare with confidence. Readers will gain invaluable insights into long-term care planning, resolutions for family conflicts, communication with your loved one, and tailored care solutions.

In Breadcrumbs, you’ll to initiate crucial care conversations with confidence and compassion.The full-picture view of the financial aspects of senior care, including government subsidies and private-pay options.A solid grasp of senior-living options with our insider’s guide to retirement communities, long-term acute care, and modern aging-in-place solutions.Transformative approaches tailored by experts to enrich the lives of seniors with dementia.Ways to safeguard your well-being with proven techniques to prevent caregiver burnout and reignite your passion for caregiving.
Breadcrumbs equips you with the knowledge to make informed decisions and create a personalized Eldercare plan for your senior’s changing needs. Whether you’re just starting to consider long-term care planning or you’re deep in the caregiving role, this book is your essential companion. Arm yourself with expert guidance and face the Eldercare journey with assurance. Get Breadcrumbs today and take the first step toward compassionate caregiving

191 pages, Paperback

Published October 17, 2024

2 people are currently reading
2666 people want to read

About the author

Amy Friesen

8 books11 followers
Amy Friesen is a renowned expert in senior living, celebrated for her innovative approach to Eldercare and her tireless advocacy for seniors and their families. With over 20 years of experience in the senior-housing industry, Friesen has established herself as a trusted voice in navigating the complexities of aging and care.
As the founder of Tea & Toast, Amy’s mission is to simplify the often-overwhelming process of finding suitable senior-living options. Her unique methodology offers personalized guidance tailored to each family’s specific needs, ensuring that seniors receive the most-appropriate care while alleviating the stress on their loved ones. Amy’s holistic approach prioritizes both immediate well-being and long-term planning, empowering families to make confident decisions throughout the Eldercare journey.
Amy’s expertise has earned her widespread recognition, including the 2018 Businesswoman of the Year Award and the Ottawa Business Journal’s 2019 Forty Under 40 award, both acknowledged by the House of Commons. Her educational background in psychology from the University of Ottawa and business marketing from Algonquin College provides a solid foundation for her work. As a sought-after speaker and media guest, Amy frequently shares her insights on senior living and Eldercare planning through news interviews and podcasts.
Currently residing in Ottawa, Ontario, Amy balances her professional commitments with family life. She shares her home with her husband, Mike, daughter, Eva, and their beloved pets: dogs Sigmund and Ruby, and cats Mabel and Brad. This personal experience of juggling family responsibilities adds depth to her understanding of the challenges faced by the sandwich generation.
For those seeking expert guidance in navigating the complexities of Eldercare, visit www.amyfriesen.com to learn how Amy can provide invaluable support during this critical life phase.

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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
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4,794 reviews338 followers
February 6, 2025
Homes” by Amy Friesen is an essential guide for families who are navigating through the complexities of elder care. As life expectancy is increasing, eldercare resources are now more necessary than ever. Many families have to manage the dual responsibilities of caring for their children and aging parents while still trying to work full-time. The author utilizes her extensive knowledge and experience to offer a compassionate roadmap that will empower caregivers by providing them with the knowledge and strategies that they need to make informed decisions long before they are faced with a crisis.

The book is divided into two parts: New and Unfamiliar Territory and Preplanning. In the first section, Friesen adeptly organizes the numerous issues families face and presents them in a manageable format that will help reduce the overwhelming nature of this journey. This approach will be beneficial to caregivers who are feeling lost while trying to handle both the emotional and strategic challenges that will present themselves while caring for declining loved ones.

In Preplanning, Friesen delves into the various senior living options available. This will help equip readers with information and vital questions to ask as they research housing alternatives. She addresses important factors such as pricing, quality of care, and the continuum of care that can range from independent living to fully assisted living. This thorough review will aid families in making proactive rather than reactive decisions. This in turn will help alleviate a great deal of stress on both the caregiver and the loved one.

What makes “Breadcrumbs” especially poignant is its relatability. Most readers will resonate with the examples of real-life situations that are provided throughout the topics. I appreciate that she includes a Where are They Now section to follow up on the families discussed. The emotional weight of this journey is palpable. Readers will see that they are not alone in trying to navigate through these difficult times. Friesen’s insights into the intricacies of caregiving are invaluable. She also offers a section that addresses caregiver burnout. This is critical reading. We need to know how to take care of ourselves and set healthy boundaries. In addition to raising awareness of this issue, it will help alleviate feelings of guilt from those of us who are feeling bad about having negative thoughts arise.

This book serves as a reminder that in addition to caregiving, family members must also advocate for their loved ones to ensure that they receive the best possible care. Although it is tailored for a Canadian audience, its principles are universally applicable, which makes it an important resource for anyone dealing with aging relatives.

As someone who is currently grappling with similar challenges, I recommend “Breadcrumbs,” by Amy Friesen to all adults with aging family members. I wish I had this information years ago because I spent a lot of time learning things the hard way. It’s never too early to prepare, and this valuable resource offers a blend of empathy, practicality, and wisdom that will help ease the burden for readers facing these issues.
Profile Image for Jamie Holloway.
566 reviews27 followers
March 11, 2025
Wonderful treasure to help people navigate the perils of being a caregiver for aging parents, adult children, or children who need care. I recommend this book. I will share this book.
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