Mom Fell, Now What?
Field Notes from the Frontline of Caregiving
Field Notes from the Frontline of Caregiving
When the phone rings and your world tilts—Mom fell—you’re thrust into a role you never trained for: caregiver, advocate, project manager, and emotional anchor. This powerful, story-driven guide walks readers through the unpredictable terrain of aging parent care, offering both practical strategies and heartfelt validation for those navigating the chaos, grief, and grace of eldercare.
Blending personal narrative with actionable advice, each chapter explores a pivotal moment in the caregiving journey.
About the Book
If you’re searching for guidance, chances are you’ve already gotten the call in one form or another. An aging loved one needs your help. When I got the call that my mom had fallen, I was launched into an adrenaline‑fueled panic. I couldn’t get to St. Louis fast enough.
My life shifted in an instant. One moment I was focused on my husband and two sons; the next, I was suddenly part of the sandwich generation—caring for my children while stepping in for my mother. Overnight, I became the project manager of her life, instinctively drawing on the skills I’d honed throughout my career: collaboration, communication, resource planning, negotiation. All of it now had a new, deeply personal purpose.
Whether your relationship with your loved one is warm and close or marked by tension and complexity, stepping into a caregiving role can feel overwhelming. My hope is simple: that you know you’re not alone. Others have walked this path before you, and many are walking it beside you now.
Mom Fell, Now What? Field Notes from the Frontline of Caregiving is here to offer comfort, support, and practical guidance as you navigate the twists and turns of caregiving. May it help you feel more grounded, more prepared, and more connected as you move forward.
Our nation is heading toward a gray tsunami.
Jonathan Vespa, senior demographer for the U.S. Census Bureau
Meet the Author
Kathleen Rawlings is a seasoned leader with more than three decades of experience in corporate learning, content development, and organizational effectiveness. She has deep expertise in the realities of behavioral change and process improvement, having designed and delivered over 500 courses throughout her career.
A graduate of the University of Missouri–Columbia with degrees in English and Education, Kathleen is known for her “there’s got to be a better way” approach — a blend of determination, clarity, and purposeful leadership that guides her work and her writing.
