A Bend in the Road – The Caregiver Journey

Caregiving doesn’t usually begin with a grand announcement.
It begins quietly… with a phone call, a fall, a diagnosis, a small concern that becomes a big reality.

And suddenly, you’re not just a daughter, a son, a spouse, or a friend anymore.

You’re the one keeping track of medications.
You’re the one making the appointments.
You’re the one trying to stay calm while everyone else is falling apart.
You’re the one carrying the weight of love and responsibility at the same time.

A Bend in the Road – The Caregiver Journey was written for that person.

This book is part guide, part companion, and part place to land. It walks you through the real-life caregiving experience—emotionally, practically, and personally—while helping you hold onto the most important thing of all: your humanity.

Inside, you’ll find supportive insights, honest truths, and gentle reminders that you are not failing because this is hard… it’s hard because it matters.

You’ll also find workbook-style pages designed to help you:

understand what you’re feeling (even when you can’t explain it)

prepare for the responsibilities that come with caregiving

communicate better with family, doctors, and care teams

protect the dignity of the person you love

navigate guilt, grief, burnout, and the invisible pressure to “do it perfectly”

create boundaries that don’t feel cruel, but feel healthy

remember that you still deserve care, too

This isn’t a book written from a distance.
It’s written from the trenches—with compassion, respect, and a clear understanding of what caregiving really demands.

Whether you’re at the beginning of the journey, knee-deep in it, or trying to find your footing after a hard season, A Bend in the Road – The Caregiver Journey will remind you:

You are not alone.
You are not crazy.
And you are doing one of the most human things a person can do.

Welcome to the road.
I’ll walk it with you.

— Sondra “Sam” Cradduck