I'm Harriet Hodgson, a Rochester MN Health and Wellness writer, author of thousands of articles, and 36 books. This is my 20th year as a family caregiver and I've cared for three generations of family members. My mother developed stroke-induced dementia, and I was her family caregiver for nine years. In 2007 my elder daughter, the mother of my twin grandchildren, died from the injuries she received in a car crash. Months later, the twins' father died and my husband and I were appointed as their guardians/caregivers. We did this for seven years. In 2013 my husband's aorta dissected and he had three emergency operations. During the last one he suffered a spinal cord injury that paralyzed his legs. I've been his primary caregiver for four years, with more years to come. These experiences changed the focus of my current work from general health/wellness to caregiving. I wrote a series for caregivers: The Family Caregiver's Guide: How to Care for a Loved One at Home, Affirmations for Family Caregivers, A Journal for Family Caregivers, and The Family Caregiver's Cookbook: Easy-Fix Recipes for Busy Family Caregivers. Another caregiving book, So, You're Raising Your Grandkids! is in production now, and slated for spring release. I also write for The Caregiver Space, a nonprofit website. In addition, I speak to community groups on a variety of topics, with caregiving at the top of the list.

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