Finding Rosa
Book Review
Recently Melanie Sawatzky, a dementia care training consultant with the Alzheimer Society of Calgary, read and reviewed Finding Rosa.
Caterina Edwards' work "Finding Rosa" explores the relationship between a mother and daughter, and how it changes as Alzheimer's disease becomes a reality for the family. Edwards does not sugar coat her relationship with her mother, Rosa. They love each other but struggle throughout their lives to understand one another. It is only when Rosa is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease that Edwards begins to delve into her mother's past to try to more fully understand her.
The book also explores the changes Rosa experiences because of the disease process and how Edwards reacts to these changes. It is an insightful look into caregiver stress and how depression, guilt and burnout can be as insidious as the disease itself. It is easy for the readers to see but much more difficult for the person immersed in providing care to recognize.
As adult child caregivers it's sometimes easy to overlook the fact our parents have had experiences that we do not know about or completely understand. Edwards understood her mother much better after researching her family and cultural history - this also gave her a sense of peace in their relationship. At the Alzheimer Society of Calgary, the life story is a key component to providing care for persons with dementia. Life stories make it possible to understand that there are no cookie cutter answers to dementia care, that the disease, symptoms and behaviours are as unique as each person.
Edwards gives an unabashed look into the life of a full-time caregiver, parent, wife and professional. The sandwich generation is becoming increasingly strained with the demands of home, work and aging parents. Readers may take away the importance of self-care as an absolute imperative to caregivers' health and well-being from Edwards' story. As a person-centred organization, we look at the needs of the individual with dementia and the needs of caregivers, family and friends.
Please contact the Alzheimer Society of Calgary for more information on the programs and services available.
About the Author
CATERINA EDWARDS was born in England of an English father and an Italian mother. She holds a master's degree in creative writing from the University of Alberta and has taught Canadian literature and creative writing at post-secondary institutions in Edmonton, where she currently lives.