This article was downloaded by: [Stony Brook University]On: 29 October 2014, At: 14:55Publisher: RoutledgeInforma Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH,UK

Educational GerontologyPublication details, including instructions forauthors and subscription information:http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/uedg20

CARING FOR THE CAREGIVER:8 TRUTHS TO PROLONG YOURCAREERReviewed by Rona J. Karasik aa Professor of Community Studies Director,Gerontology Graduate Programs Department ofCommunity Studies, College of Social Sciences St.Cloud State University , St. Cloud, MNPublished online: 11 Jun 2007.

To cite this article: Reviewed by Rona J. Karasik (2007) CARING FOR THE CAREGIVER:8 TRUTHS TO PROLONG YOUR CAREER, Educational Gerontology, 33:7, 609-610

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03601270701411122

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environments; psychological aspects of the mobility and activities of older people; differences

between urban and nonurban areas; and age and gender differences. In addition, a new model

of mobility is suggested, and the relationship between mobility and quality of life is analyzed.

Each of the research team members (Heidrun Mollenkopf, Fiorella Marcellini, Isto Ruoppila,

Zsuzsa Szeman, and Mart Tacken) focused on one or more topics and was responsible for one

or more of the 14 chapters in this book.

Chapter 1 contains information on the significance of out-of-home mobility in modern

society; it discusses mobility as a component of quality of life in older adults, background

and goals of the MOBILATE Project, and works toward a comprehensive understanding of

mobility. Chapter 2 describes the background conditions for outdoor mobility in Finland,

Germany, Hungary, Italy, and the Netherlands with specific attention to driver license regu-

lation and traffic accidents. Chapter 3 focuses on methodology; it includes methods and

research instruments, the MOBILATE survey questionnaire, and the MOBILATE diary of

out-of-home mobility.

Chapters 4–13 includes comprehensive information on the following topics: physical health

and mobility; transport behavior and realized journeys and trips; health and leisure activities;

psychological aspects of outdoor mobility in later life; social relations and mobility; mobility

and the built-up environment; main issues of older people’s out-of-home mobility; a new

concept of out-of-home mobility; mobility and the quality of life; and the mobility rich and

mobility poor. Chapter 14 contains the summary and conclusions followed by appendices

and author index.

Enhancing Mobility in Later Life offers the comprehensive research information needed to

appreciate the comparative European project ‘‘MOBILATE – Enhancing outdoor mobility in

later life: personal coping, environmental resources, and technical support.’’ It also serves as

a valuable reference tool for understanding mobility and safety for people in later life living

in Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and the Netherlands. This substantive textbook is both

informative and useful; I recommend it to those who are interested in promoting health,

mobility and well-being for older adults.

CARING FOR THE CAREGIVER: 8 TRUTHS TO PROLONG YOUR CAREERBy Michael A. Sherbun (with Nina East)Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett #2006145 pages, $29.95 (paperback)ISBN 0-7637-3080-7Reviewed by Rona J. KarasikProfessor of Community StudiesDirector, Gerontology Graduate ProgramsDepartment of Community Studies, College of Social SciencesSt. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN

In Caring for the Caregiver: 8 Truths to Prolong your Career, Michael Sherbun addresses the

daily challenges health care professionals face and offers techniques for managing some of

the stresses inherent in working in the field. Written in a conversational, feel-good style,

Caring for the Caregiver is an approachable self-help manual. Indeed, Sherbun professes to

‘‘reconnect you to your career and yourself, and in the end you will be happier’’ (p.1). While

the book specifically targets ‘‘nurses and other health care professionals,’’ the text offers guid-

ance that is likely to resonate with students in these areas as well. Students and new profes-

sionals, in fact, may find themselves more open to Sherbun’s techniques than those already

in the throes of burnout.

Learning Resources 609

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Instead of traditional chapters, Sherbun divides the text into eight ‘‘truths’’ and a ‘‘Where

Do We Go From Here’’ closing section. Each section provides some background on the topic

or ‘‘truth’’ at hand, along with opportunities for self-reflection. For example, Truth #1,

‘‘Understanding Your Reality: What Your Peers are Saying About Being a Nurse or Health

Care Worker Today,’’ briefly examines the up and coming nursing shortage and its likely

impact on nurses and job satisfaction in the health care field. Truth #2, ‘‘Determining

Who You Are: Identifying Your Circle of Control,’’ provides background on three concepts

Sherbun contends are within our control—personality style, external support systems, and

self-worth. He instructs readers in how to evaluate themselves, their situations, and others

in each of these areas.

Truths #3–#8 build upon these earlier evaluative sections, blending stories and techniques

to achieve various goals such as ‘‘achieving success with every conversation,’’ ‘‘caring for diffi-

cult people,’’ ‘‘managing difficult coworkers and supervisors,’’ ‘‘avoiding burnout,’’ ‘‘creating

great teams and great managers,’’ and, finally, creating ‘‘a wonderful career and life.’’

Caring for the Caregiver is optimistic and encouraging, providing readers (especially nurses)

with the feeling that they are not alone in their experiences. Not surprisingly, much of the wis-

dom proffered is intuitive rather than innovative—take care of yourself, change what you can,

reframe what you cannot. While this guidance is not new, it certainly has merit. In all, Caring

for the Caregiver takes common sense career advice and places it in context for nurses and other

health care professionals.

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