Nanette J. Davis' Blog

Inspiration from Fellow Authors

2012-01-29T17:51:00.000-08:00

Nanette is continuing to work on her lastest project, Love's Last Measure: Caregiving Our Elders at the End of Life. She was especially inspired after meeting with a group of local authors this week. One member pronounced her excerpt, "the best thing she's ever written."

Love's Last Measure began as a second edition of Blessed is She: Women's Stories of Choice, Challenge and Commitment. However, Love's Last Measure has become a true re-vision, with considerably more memoir elements, colored by Nanette's study of literary nonfiction writing. She is looking forward to sharing more of her story and that of the 60 interview subjects with readers everywhere.

Nanette is also in the process of creating The Little Book of Caregiving, a handy how-to.

Blessed is She Garners Honorable Mention

2010-05-13T18:06:00.001-07:00

Blessed is She recently garnered an honorable mention from the 2010 Eric Hoffer Book Awards in the self-help/spiritual category. The Eric Hoffer Book Awards recognizes excellence in independent publishing.

Nanette appreciates the recognition and is currently working on a second edition of the book.

Western Student Shares Her Thoughts on Blessed is She

2009-12-08T13:16:00.000-08:00

"I learned after reading Blessed is She that although the disadvantages of care giving are certainly present, caring for a sick person can be 'incredibly fulfilling' (and this is huge, given our fear of age and mortality) and one can become 'at ease with illness and death.' Davis describes this as being 'a tremendous gift that could only be learned by participating in the mystery.'

I couldn’t put this book down, it kept drawing me in and making me aware of the negatives, but was complete in its aspiration to identify and help the female care giver. ...The practical advice and intrinsic need for this book is overwhelming, and I will go so far [as] to say it should be required reading for care givers and their families.

Additionally, I applaud the author’s choice of titles for her book; she is gender-specific for a good reason, and it is a tribute to the feminine population. Davis’ passion in her writing symbolizes her struggle with the demands of her own experience in caring for her critically ill husband.

Blessed is She offers practical insight into how the female caretaker can alter or 'tweak' her role to better protect her boundaries and human limitations, which ultimately makes her a better caretaker, and heightens the caretaking experience. I have passed Blessed is She on to my mother to help assist her in her caretaking roles, as well as [sent] a copy to my aunt in Portland to help her with her husband, who has Parkinson’s disease. I know I will hear from my aunt, as she is an avid reader and I know she will appreciate this great informational guide on caretaking."

...Candace Severson, Student, Western Washington University

Local Psychologist on Blessed is She

2009-12-08T13:08:00.000-08:00

"I am a psychologist in Bellingham. A client of mine has been struggling with caretaking her husband, who has Parkinson's. For a long time, I was trying to help her individuate, and we worked on ideas like getting her husband into a care facility. My client wanted this but it really just could not work out. She is a retired Ph.D. herself, and a good Catholic. One day last spring she came in with your book. From that day, our outlook and strategy changed completely. Your book provided a powerful validation for her role as caregiver. Our sessions have taken a much more positive tone and she feels a relieving sense of purpose, acceptance and respect for her role with her husband. I can't thank you enough."

... Dr. Chris Portman, www.chrisportman.net

Feedback from a Recent Workshop Participant

2009-12-04T17:03:00.000-08:00

"Thank you so much. You were wonderful! Sorry I had to leave early but glad you autographed my book when you did. I will be buying more copies ASAP. Peace and gratitude."

... Joan M.

Nanette on Being a Writer

2009-12-04T16:52:00.000-08:00

Nanette shares how she came to be an author.

Why am I a writer? Let me count the ways...

My initial experience with writing was through journaling in my late adolescence, learning to choose exactly the right word to express what I perceived as my unique emotional states. I secretly harbored the idea that I would write the next generation’s great American novel after exposure to such luminaries as Thomas Wolfe and Saul Bellow in college literature courses.

Then reality stepped in and my nascent writing career was quickly eclipsed by marriage and motherhood. Still, I pursued my dream through omnivorous reading, formidable titles supplied by my highly educated husband, who modeled the list on the 100 Great Books Series.

At last, my chance came. My husband, Jim, decided to abandon his bureaucratic career in Washington, D.C., and took a job at a four-year college in Minnesota, where I could once again pick up my degree-focused education to better prepare myself for writing. Three years later I had that cherished baccalaureate, majoring in English and Social Science. Now, my writing career will take off, I thought to myself.

Alas, I was wrong. With five children and college bills to pay off, I reluctantly signed up to teach middle school children English grammar and history. Despite my wholehearted efforts to throw myself into this very first career of my life, it quickly devolved into the year from hell. Without administrative support, I struggled with unruly (kind word) boys, learning-indifferent girls, and over-extended parents in a farming community that was experiencing an economic melt-down.

After I was fired (for contacting parents whose children were openly fighting in the classroom), I gave careful consideration to alternative careers (other than teaching, of course). I tried a stint in the mental health field and corrections, neither of which ignited my intellect or enthusiasm. When my husband recommended graduate school, I leaped at the chance, and promptly signed up for two summer sessions in Sociology. Why Sociology? I needed topical material. What does a mother have to say about the world? Or about life, for that matter? I was far too consumed with the practical aspects of homemaking and childcare to even think about creative writing.

Sociology offered an incredible array of fascinating topics: social class, gender, social problems, social structure, urban life and the intricacies of institutional behavior. I quickly became a devotee, absorbing new knowledge and social understandings. Women’s issues offered the greatest appeal, and because the field was under investigated, I chose prostitution as my master’s topic. I interviewed 30 working prostitutes, all of whom I discovered had complicated lives unrelated to their notorious profession. After that, the grind of thesis writing. A creative outburst? Forget it. I wrote an entire thesis—all from the heart—but the would-be masterpiece was rejected by the committee (not enough sociology; too personal; what about validity; etc.). I learned the hard way to write in a different genre: sociologese, otherwise known as academic sociology (a writing style I am still struggling to overcome).

Teaching college full-time managed to pay the bills, but provided little time for the writing career I had promised myself, especially with mounting pressure from administrators to pursue ongoing professional development. Fortunately, academic journals welcomed my early writings on prostitution and other social problems. It seemed logical to move forward into a Ph.D. program, following my esteemed scholar-husband into the academy.

Pursuing a traditional academic track, I took advanced courses for three years (plenty of term paper writing here), followed by a dissertation, this time on the newly emerging issue of abortion. Here, I continued to engage in my favorite research techniques: scholarly exegesis and live interviews. After writing a 400-page dissertation (I’m still not sure anybody read the entire piece), I received a department commendation, a Ph.D. and was sent on my way.

Now the work really began. From the sheltered academic milieu, I shifted into the competitive academic marketplace with its latent, but ever present motto: Publish or Perish. I soon discovered two standards existed: one for women—publish or risk your job; and the other for men—if you don’t publish, we’ll send you upstairs (administration) with a large increase in pay, or maybe give you departmental jobs that will keep you busy enough. So much for equality. In fact, within the first few years of my tenure-track job, I was involved in a sticky class-action suit involving gender equity.

To write—even to survive—I needed to leave most of the nonsense behind: office politics, legal discord, coffee and after-hours cocktails with colleagues. I suppose I became the department drudge, but I began a writing program that eventually produced eight books and more than 100 scholarly articles over the next two decades. I rarely stayed long with a subject. My favorite way of working was to identify a topic that spoke to me—say, domestic violence, homeless girls, international prostitution, youth or aging—and research it for a year or so. Delving ever deeper into the field, I sought to identify the critical issues, and explore them more completely in academic papers, articles, and eventually, books on some of the topics. I found I could actually "crank out" the words, and once familiar with the computer, generate a chapter draft within days. Writing in this way was my new high; like a drug, I craved those moments I could return to my keyboard.

But nothing lasts forever, does it? My greatest booster, editor and friend, Jim, began his slow decline after two heart attacks and a series of strokes. Both of us battled his illness, but to no avail. The medical term was heart failure; the human meaning was disastrous: loss of self; loss of intellect, personality, mental acuity and capacity for self-care. While caring for Jim in and out of institutions for four years, I learned a new mode of being: slow observation, patience, generosity of spirit and returning to my writing origins: the ever-faithful journal. I became the total caregiver, living for his needs, but taking stock in a conscious way of what was happening both to him and to me.

A year after Jim passed, I began my interviews—ultimately talking to more than 60 caregivers—and with it my healing and restoration. Blessed is She… Elder Care: Women’s Stories of Choice, Challenge and Commitment was not only the title of my ninth book, but also pointed the way to an entirely different mode of thinking and writing. Empathy and intuition became my new tools to unearth meanings and seek the truth of experience by having lived through it. And such support I had for this book from two of my daughters, Susan and Patti, gifted writers and editors!

Still, for some, Blessed is She has too many traces of the academic model: too many statistics and not enough soul. I’ve now decided to move forward with another writing venture: "The Little Book of Elder Caregiving," which will incorporate highlights from the book, but also, greater focus on the rewards and gifts of caregiving. And it will really be a small book, perhaps only three by five inches and a mere 25 pages.

I believe I have come full-circle, but not quite the original circle I had in mind. I propose that writing non-fiction can be just as creative, illuminating and evocative as fiction, especially when you keep the story line clear, and recognize the mysteries of life that continue to unfold.

(This essay was originally published in the November issue of the WWP newsletter.)

Thank You!

2009-12-02T17:06:00.001-08:00

Thank you to all who came out to Nanette's appearances in October and November. It was a busy time, with presentations at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Sudden Valley Women's Club, both in Bellingham, and St. Michael Parish in Olympia.

"Caring for the Caregiver" at St. Mike's drew quite a crowd. Here's Nanette fielding questions from the audience. At right, attendees are listening to some of Nanette's helpful strategies for reaching out and lifting up those who look after the oldest among us.

Nanette looks forward to seeing more of you in the coming months.

Blessed is She is a National Best Book Finalist

2009-10-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

Blessed is She... Elder Care: Women’s Stories of Choice, Challenge and Commitment was recognized as a Finalist in the Health: Aging/50+ Category of the National Best Books 2009 Awards, sponsored by USA Book News.

Nanette to Discuss Caregiving at Sacred Heart Church on October 28

2009-10-20T15:40:00.000-07:00

On October 28th at 7:00 p.m., Nanette will be discussing helpful strategies for elder caregivers at a lecture sponsored by Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Sacred Heart is located at 1110 14th Street on Bellingham's beautiful Southside. For questions or to confirm your attendance, please call (360) 734-2850.

Nanette to Appear at SiWC Book Fair on October 24th

2009-10-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

Nanette will be appearing at the Surrey International Writers' Conference Book Fair from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on October 24th. This year, the SiWC is being held at the downtown Sheraton. She looks forward to signing your copy of Blessed is She and answer your questions about elder caregiving. For more information, please visit www.siwc.ca.

Nanette to Discuss Caregiving at Sudden Valley Women's Club Luncheon

2009-09-28T17:05:00.000-07:00

Nanette will be discussing women and caregiving with the Sudden Valley Women's Club on October 14th at Noon. The luncheon will be at Tino's, 2275 Lake Whatcom Blvd. in Bellingham. Space is limited, so please RSVP early to Carolyn Leeper at (360) 714-8901.

Nanette to Appear at Orca Books in Olympia

2009-07-27T18:20:00.000-07:00

Nanette invites you to join her for "The Gifts of Caregiving" at Orca Books in Olympia on October 16th at 6:00 p.m. Nanette was orginally scheduled to appear in July, but the event was post-poned due to hot weather. She'll be discussing not only the challenges of the caregiving experience, but also its many blessings. Orca Books is located at 509 E. 4th Ave. If you have any questions about the event, please call (360) 352-0123.

Nanette to Appear at Seattle East West Bookshop

2009-07-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

Nanette invites you to join her for "The Gifts of Caregiving" at the Seattle East West Bookshop on Tuesday, July 21st at 7:00 p.m. The store is located at 6500 Roosevelt Way NE. She'll be exploring how the caregiving experience is not only a journey, but also a unique opportunity for healing and personal growth. If you have any questions about the event, please call (206) 523-3726. She looks forward to seeing you there!

Speaker & Facilitator Susan Ouellette on Blessed is She

2009-07-09T16:11:00.000-07:00

"As a Psychiatric, Adult and Family Nurse Practitioner with more than 30 years of experience in diverse health care settings, I continually encounter the physical, emotional and spiritual tolls on elderly care receivers, care partners and other family members. Cheers for Blessed Is She...An effective and essential “advocacy manual” for a complex personal and societal issue. Dr. Davis authoritatively and even-handedly captures the challenging, agonizing realities of caregiving, opportunities for spiritual growth and the positive aspects and inadequacies of our health care system. A must-read for everyone this subject touches."

...Susan Ouellette, CRNP, CSP, APRN-PMH, RN

Nanette to Appear at Barkley Author Spotlight on July 14th

2009-06-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

Please join Nanette as she reads from Blessed is She at the Barkley Author Spotlight on July 14th at 7:00 p.m. She'll also answer questions about elder caregiving and sign copies of her book. Refreshments will be provided. The Barkley branch of the Bellingham Public Library is located at 3111 Newmarket Street, Suite 103. For more information, please call 360-778-7290.

See Nanette at The Tattered Page in Mount Vernon

2009-06-18T17:00:00.000-07:00

Nanette invites you to her reading at The Tattered Page in Mount Vernon on June 27th at 2 p.m. She'll also be answering questions about aging and elder care. The bookstore is located at 514 1st Street. For more information about this event, please call (360) 419-7278.

Women and Caregiving

2009-06-18T16:47:00.000-07:00

Are you one of the millions of women providing informal care for a loved one? Did you know that the value of that care in the U.S. alone is estimated at $148 to $188 billion annually? If you're interested in finding out more about women and caregiving, please check out the Family Caregiver Alliance website. The Older Women's Network is also an outstanding resource for women in midlife and beyond.

Nanette to Speak at Ashley Gardens in Mount Vernon, WA

2009-05-09T15:01:00.001-07:00

Nanette is scheduled to speak at Ashley Gardens Memory Care Community in Mount Vernon, WA on May 21st at 2:00 p.m. She'll be presenting "When Compassion Isn't Enough: Affirmations, Advocacy & Outreach for Elder Caregivers" to an audience that includes inter-denominational clergy from across the region.

Nanette's Latest Paper Gets Published

2009-05-08T15:44:00.000-07:00

Nanette's paper, "Big Boom: The Upcoming Crisis in Elder Caregiving in America," which she presented in Greece last year, has been published in Sociology in a Changing World: Challenges and Perspectives (2009). For more information about this title, please visit ATINER's website.

Nanette is Now on Facebook

2009-04-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

Nanette is now on Facebook. She invites you to join her friends list and share your thoughts on Blessed is She.

Nanette Recognized as Fulbright Specialists Candidate

2009-04-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

In recognition for her outstanding body of work, Nanette was recently approved as a Fulbright Specialists candidate. The award, sponsored by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB), Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State (ECA) and the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), is bestowed to further international scholarly exchanges.

Article on Being Prepared Before Your Aging Parent Needs Medical Care

2009-04-15T10:44:00.000-07:00

The Altoona Mirror recently published an article on being prepared before your aging parent needs medical care. Click here to read it. Nanette hopes you find it helpful.

Strategies for Joyful Living

2009-04-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

Nanette invites you to consider her Strategies for Joyful Living...

1. Understand your situation.
2. Think smart… let go of control.
3. Speak positively.
4. Do the right thing… be kind to yourself.
5. Find a job that lets you be a better caregiver.
6. Point your energies in the right direction.
7. Raise your level of awareness… when you’re tired, pause.
8. Free yourself from worry so you can open yourself to compassion.

…from Chapter 12 of Blessed is She

The Mindquest Review of Books on Blessed is She

2009-04-01T10:50:00.000-07:00

"...The book is a valuable resource, from A-Z, for all caregivers. Additionally, the book's spiritual affirmations provide vital support for caregivers, including hospital, nursing home and assisted living workers."

...The Mindquest Review of Books, Spring 2009 Issue

Advocating for Your Elder

2009-04-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

Nanette recommends the following if your elder is in a care facility...

1. Diligently watch staff.
2. Immediately intervene when inappropriate or poor treatment occurs.
3. Agitate to social workers and supervisory staff for conscious, compassionate care, rather than careless and indifferent treatment.
4. Collect information to better advise hands-on staff on the details of care;
5. Defend your loved one’s patient’s rights.
6. Inquire about other patients’ experiences through family members to find out whether you’re dealing with an isolated situation or a widespread institutional problem.
7. Connect with your loved one’s physician and Hospice, to spell out the problem areas.
… from Chapter 9 of Blessed is She

WWU Professor & Caregiver on Blessed is She

2009-03-17T14:39:00.000-07:00

"Dr. Davis has authored an outstanding resource for caregivers from multiple perspectives. It is based on sound social science theory, the author's personal life experience, and the input of many who volunteered for interviews by the author. The result is an amalgam of sound advice, information and and inspiration. Any caregiver will benefit from a reading of this very approachable book."

...Larry S. Richardson, Ph.D., Professor, Western Washington University and Caregiver

Nanette is Now on LinkedIn

2009-03-14T16:22:00.001-07:00

Feel free to visit linkedin.com for more information about Nanette's background, as well as see a PowerPoint presentation about Blessed is She.

A Warm Thank You from Nanette

2009-03-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

Nanette wishes to thank all of you that came out to see her this past week at the local Caregivers Support Group, Village Books and the Elder Service Providers Conference.

She looks forward to meeting more readers in April!

Caregiver Support Group Facilitator on Nanette's Recent Presentation

2009-03-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

"I want to thank you so very much for your presentation at our caregiver support group. It was excellent. You spoke honestly about your caregiving experience and people could really identify with you and what you were feeling. I was so thankful that you spoke of the need to care for yourself in the midst of caring for your loved one. You showed such compassion and understanding. I hope many will read your book; several had and told me how grateful they were for it...."

...Mary Lynn Palmer, Facilitator, Bellingham Caregiver Support Group and Care Manager, St. Joseph Hospital Adult Day Health Program

Midwest Book Review on Blessed is She

2009-03-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

"Caring for an elder is not an easy job. Blessed is She...Elder Care: Women's Stories of Choice, Challenge, and Commitment is a collection... [that includes] more than sixty different women who reflect on the daily challenges that come with caring for an elderly relative. The daily struggle of mourning alongside someone who wishes they didn't need the help, the tragedy of failure and the price one must pay. Blessed is She is a unique and moving collection of triumph and tragedy."

...The Midwest Book Review, March 2009 Issue

See Nanette on March 10th at St. Joe's South Campus

2009-03-01T17:02:00.000-08:00

Nanette invites past and present family caregivers to join her at the March 10th meeting of Bellingham's Caregiver Support Group. Nanette will speak and lead a facilitated discussion at the gathering, sponsored by St. Joseph Hospital. The group meets every second and fourth Tuesday from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. at the South Campus Rehab Conference Room, located at 809 E. Chestnut Street. For more information about the free event, please call (360) 788-6410.

See Nanette on March 11th at Village Books

2009-02-25T12:04:00.000-08:00

Nanette invites you to her book launch at Village Books in Bellingham's historic Fairhaven District on March 11th at 7:00 p.m. She'll be reading passages from Blessed is She, as well as answering questions about elder care issue. Refreshments, including dessert and coffee, will also be served. She looks forward to seeing you there.

Alzheimer Society's Josselyn Winslow on Blessed is She

2009-02-20T12:10:00.000-08:00

"Nanette Davis, Ph.D., has combined her knowledge as an educator and her personal experience as a caregiver for her former husband to write a book to help other caregivers have better insight into their own caregiving experiences. She describes how people become caregivers. She talks about the impact of caregiving. Some caregivers have difficulty in balancing the role of caregiving... in staying in charge of their own lives.

Some faced financial burdens. Some have lost relationships and friends. Other caregivers managed to build social networks and to find supportive family members. Davis discusses the role of the caregiver when the care shifts from being hands-on to having the care receiver move to a care facility... and the change to becoming a care advocate... to be a strong spokesperson for that person’s needs. She completes the book with a checklist for caregivers and includes strategies for 'The Ingenious Caregiver.'

Blessed Is She provides a wide range of situations to help caregivers evaluate their own experiences and suggestions to help them take better care of themselves while they are taking care of someone else."

...Josselyn Winslow, Executive Director, Alzheimer Society of Washington

Louise Morman on Blessed is She

2009-02-18T15:16:00.000-08:00

"In her book, it is clear that Nanette Davis 'gets it.' When veteran family caregivers meet, they quickly bond because they share a special connection. Blessed is She brings these intimate insights to everyone. The stories reveal the secret known to seasoned caregivers...the challenging experience also provides joy, rewards and profound transformational learning. A must-read for all Baby Boomers."

…Louise M. Morman, Executive Coach/Speaker and Founder, www.EldercareLearnings.com

John Hopkins' Nurse Coordinator on Blessed is She

2009-02-06T11:58:00.000-08:00

"Nanette J. Davis, Ph.D. has written a comprehensive and well-researched book on caregiving. Armed with the current statistics that clearly define caregivers within our nation, this text draws attention to the plight of the 34 million caregivers in our nation, their challenges and their needs. The caregiver narratives provide a humanistic snapshot of this under-appreciated group. Dr. Davis’ personal reflections and spiritual wisdom make this book a must-read for caregivers, as well as medical professionals and health policy experts."

...Becky Dunlop, Nurse Coordinator, The Johns Hopkins Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center

The Bookmonger Reviews Blessed is She

2009-02-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

Don't miss The Bookmonger's review of Blessed is She, which appeared recently in such Northwest newspapers as The Bellingham Herald and The Kitsap Sun.

Martha A. Nance MD on Blessed is She

2009-01-16T11:43:00.000-08:00

"As a long-time sociologist, researcher, and caregiver herself, Nanette Davis could have just written a how-to book about caregiving, and it would have been good. But what makes Blessed is She an excellent book, is that she lets the voices of the 60 women caregivers whose stories form the basis of the work, ring out. Any woman who has been a caregiver will find herself resonating with someone else's words somewhere in the book. By letting us hear from her interviewees in their own words, Dr. Davis acknowledges their wide range of feelings and challenges. At the same time, she is able to organize these disparate thoughts and experiences into groups and patterns, and then provide caregivers with a structure and suggestions on how to understand a difficult situation and improve upon it. This is a book which should be read by caregivers as well as health care providers and other professionals whose work impacts on elders with sickness and disabilities."

...Dr. Martha A. Nance, Medical Director, Struthers Parkinson's Center

See Nanette on March 13th

2009-01-09T14:40:00.000-08:00

Nanette will be appearing at the 14th Annual Caregiver Conference on Friday, March 13th, which will be held at Christ the King Church in Bellingham, Washington. For more information or to pre-register, please visit www.elderserviceproviders.org.

Aging Deliberately's Liz Taylor on Blessed is She

2008-11-17T11:35:00.000-08:00

"Having worked over 30 years in the aging field, I'm convinced courage is essential for a good old age, whether we're old ourselves, a caregiver or both. Nanette's book, Blessed is She, inspires us by showing how varied yet courageous the caregivers she interviewed are, and how their bravery transforms them."

...Liz Taylor, Former Seattle Times Columnist and Founder, www.AgingDeliberately.com

Fellow Caregiver on Blessed is She

2008-11-17T11:34:00.000-08:00

"I think Blessed is She is a really good book: informative, touching, thought-provoking…I hope it gets broad exposure because it deals so insightfully with an issue that many, many of us face at one time or another."

...Lynda Edwards, caregiver and author of The Life You Want Begins With You (forthcoming)

Author Jennifer Lois on Blessed is She

2008-11-05T14:39:00.000-08:00

"From poignant stories of immense suffering to inspirational lessons of transcending the burden, Davis artfully uncovers the stark realities of elder caregiving. Blessed Is She gives the reader a framework for understanding the emotional complexities involved in care work and provides essential, practical advice for coping with the stress to maintain physical and psychological health. It is indispensable reading for anyone giving care to a loved one."

...Jennifer Lois, author of Heroic Efforts: The Emotional Culture of Search and Rescue Volunteers

Nanette on the Virtues of Caregiving

2008-10-29T17:55:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the remarkable virtues I learned from caregiving...

1. Count Your Blessings
2. Love
3. Spirituality
4. Faith
5. Acceptance
6. Wisdom

... and you can, too.

University of Washington Professor Nancy R. Hooyman on Blessed is She

2008-10-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

"Blessed is She is a sensitively and creatively crafted combination of the existing evidence-based caregiving literature, narratives with 60 women caregivers and the author’s personal insights and reflection on topics, such as overlapping circles of interdependency, costs of altruism and caregiver co-dependency. Among the underlying themes: moving away from caregiving as burden to caregiving as opportunity, through spirituality, ingenious care strategies, spirituality and advocacy to change health and long-term settings."

...Nancy R. Hooyman, co-author of Social Gerontology: A Multi-Disciplinary Perspective

Author Maria Dancing Heart Hoaglund on Blessed is She

2008-10-29T17:46:00.000-07:00

“So often, caregivers in our society are neglected and forgotten while involved in some of the most challenging and spiritually transformative work of a lifetime. In Blessed Is She, Nanette Davis has done a remarkable job. Not only has she compiled heartfelt stories of her own as well as many other caregivers, but she has also included an up-to-date national picture of caregiving, complete with definitions, statistics and caregiver snapshots. This is a book of depth and breadth, allowing the reader to become more fully aware of the need to honor and uphold the many quietly suffering, generous caregivers in our midst. I especially love the spiritual thread Nanette weaves throughout the tapestry of her book!”

…Rev. Maria Dancing Heart Hoaglund, author of The Last Adventure of Life

Spiritual Psychotherapist on Blessed is She

2008-10-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

“Blessed is She is an important book, one that should be a must-read for all of us involved in caregiving to the elderly. Dr. Davis does a masterful job of interweaving the cold, hard facts of this complex problem with the often poignant and heart-wrenching stories of some of these dedicated women caregivers. In courageously sharing her own story, she skillfully moves the reader towards her 'ingenious' strategies for accessing the wisdom of the heart; thus providing some very viable solutions. As individuals, we may not think we have the power to change the system, but we do have the power to change ourselves.”

...Gloria Harrison, Spiritual Psychotherapist

College of William & Mary Chancellor Professor Kathleen F. Slevin on Blessed is She

2008-10-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

"Nanette J. Davis’ book, Blessed is She, is a treasure trove for those who currently are caregivers and for the rest of us who, as women, likely will one day become caregivers or receivers. This book—as much a personal and spiritual journey as it is an academic analysis—takes us inside the gendered world of caregivers. In it we learn first-hand how profound are the physical, mental and emotional challenges of caregiving. We hear the voices of the caregivers, all women, and we gain a deep appreciation for their sacrifices, their love, their spirituality, their commitment and their determination to do what is right by their loved ones. Students of aging, and of religion, should find it compelling reading."

...Kathleen F. Slevin, co-author of Age Matters: Realigning Feminist Thinking

Rev. Barbara Gilday Shares Her Thoughts on the Book

2008-10-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

“Elder care is not sexy, so it’s not attractive to many researchers or funders. Dr. Nanette Davis addresses it both as a professional, experienced in assessing sociological issues, and as a person whose own heart has been broken by the demise of her own husband in a broken system. Her book is thorough and compassionate. As someone once said to me... ‘Even in the middle of the night, when I am awake and all my friends and family are sleeping, I can pick the book up and find a friend... someone who understands where I am.’ I recommend this book for those anywhere along this path – as personal or professional caregiver.”

...Rev. Barbara Gilday, Chaplain and Community Minister

"Caregiving" Author Beth Witrogen McLeod on Blessed is She

2008-10-08T14:31:00.000-07:00

"Family caregiving has long been considered 'women's work' and thus unworthy of due respect and support; Dr. Nanette Davis' fine work now shows us the folly of that stereotype. This is a most comprehensive and deeply spiritual examination of the broader aspects of caregiving, leading us to understand its inherent potential for bringing to full fruition the creative, joyful energy that it is to be a woman. Kudos for Blessed Is She: This book gives voice to every woman who feels guilty and burdened in this role, along with a brilliant roadmap for the healing that elder care promises."

...Beth Witrogen (McLeod), author of Caregiving: The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss, and Renewal

Renowned Author Marsha Sinetar on Blessed is She

2008-10-07T14:12:00.000-07:00

"Even a quick review of Blessed is She might give today's caregivers and those who care for them hope, and lend support and information for their lives. The book is full of very human stories revealing very human, positive ideas about 'retooling' thinking along common sense and networking and prayerful lines."

...Marsha Sinetar, Ph.D., author of Don't Call Me Old, I'm Just Awakening

Welcome to My Blog!

2008-09-20T14:06:00.000-07:00

You can now purchase or read an excerpt of my latest book, Blessed is She... Elder Care: Women's Stories of Choice, Challenge and Commitment.

Drawing its title from Psalm 41—“Blessed is she who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers her in times of trouble” —Blessed is She takes you into the lives of more than 60 women who provide care for elderly loved ones. This work is an invaluable resource for those who face the daunting and heartbreaking task of looking after beloved parents, spouses, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and friends.

Part scholarly analysis, part memoir, Blessed is She is the most meaningful work of my career. I received my Ph.D. from Michigan State University and completed my post-doctorate studies at Stanford University. I bring more than three decades experience as author, educator, advocate, researcher and lecturer. My scholarly work includes eight other books and more than 100 articles, encyclopedia entries, research reports, book chapters and reviews. I am a past Fulbright Senior Scholar, and currently teach Sociology of Aging, among other courses, at Western Washington University.

To learn more about my work, feel free to check out my website, nanettejdavis.com.

If you live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, you can see me at the Alzheimer's Society of Washington's 22nd Annual Fall Conference on Friday, October 17th, 2008. For more information or to register, please visit http://www.alzsociety.org/fallconference.html.

Stay tuned... I'll be posting dates for upcoming book signings and appearances in the coming days. You'll also be able to find out what readers like you are saying about Blessed is She.

Thanks for visiting. I welcome your questions and comments.