Reading Doing the Right Thing felt like someone finally handed me a flashlight in a pitch-black tunnel. I’m a full-time caregiver for both of my elderly parents. Dad’s mobility is limited, and Mom has early-stage dementia. I’ve been making it up as I go, bouncing between doctor appointments, financial headaches, and late-night worry spirals. This book didn’t just speak to me, it practically grabbed me by the shoulders and said, “Here’s what you need to know, and you’re not crazy for feeling overwhelmed.”

I appreciated how Debbie Miller lays it all out. Just clear, compassionate guidance. She covers everything from selling the family home to choosing between assisted living and aging in place, and she even dives into sensitive topics like wills, end-of-life planning, and grief. I found myself nodding, underlining, even laughing in a few spots, especially the parts where she talks about how stubborn parents can be when it’s time to downsize. Yes. Been there. Still there. Every chapter felt like it was written by someone who gets it.

This isn’t a “just think positive” kind of book. It’s honest. Some of the information is hard to take in, especially when you’re already stretched thin emotionally. But I needed that. I didn’t need another person telling me to “just enjoy this time.” I needed someone to tell me how to manage Medicaid paperwork, how to talk to my brother who lives five states away and still thinks our parents are “fine,” and how to keep from losing myself in all of it. Debbie did that.

If you’re caring for aging parents, especially if you’re doing it alone or with little help, Doing the Right Thing is a godsend. It’s part guidebook, part pep talk, part reality check. I keep it on the kitchen counter, next to the pile of prescription refills and to-do lists. It belongs there. I wish I’d read it a year ago, but I’m glad I have it now. And if you’re in the middle of this journey too, you’ll be glad to have it too.

Pages: 195 | ASIN : B0D7K72Y4S