You may remember last month’s post-Preserving Memories With a Loved One—Questions to Ask Before it’s Too Late a guest post written by Stacy Monson. Well, this month I’m back with a review of her latest book Open Circle. Open Circle is a lovely story. Here is the Amazon description here:

Determined not to lose the only family they have, their tug-of-war impacts an entire community. Mindy Lee “Minnie” Carlson’s dream job has dropped into her hands, but there’s a catch. She has four months to revive Open Circle, the town’s only Senior Adult Day Center, or the doors will close, leaving her beloved seniors stranded, and eliminating the only job she’s ever wanted. Globe-trotting photographer Jackson Young documents the forgotten people of the world, focusing on the poor and elderly. After decades on the road, he’s stunned to learn his beloved Grandma Em is still alive in the small town he’d had to leave decades earlier. Overjoyed, Jackson races back into town to reconnect with her and discovers she’s been Minnie’s adopted grandma for the past twenty years. When Grandma Em has a stroke, his ideas about her care pit him against Minnie’s determination and expertise. For Grandma Em’s sake, and the future of Open Circle, they’ll need to do the impossible—find a way to work together.

Since I’ve read this book I’ve moved my mother into two different nursing homes in less than 6 weeks. It’s really my first experience with turning over the reins for someone else to do the full-time caregiving while stepping into the role of “overseer”. It’s truly terrifying and the first one that my mother was put into was the stuff nightmares are made of.

Unexplained injuries, neglect, you name it we’ve dealt with it. That’s why this story was so touching to me. I wish that I could find that kind of love and support for my mother.  Learning to trust professional caregivers is hard, but once you find the right place then the caregivers seem like family. I’m thankful that I’ve finally found that place.

This is a lovely read and a story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Minnie is a loving, tough as nails caregiver who ALWAYS puts those she cares for above all else. The world desperately needs more Minnie’s!