Next of Kin

A compassionate guide to navigating the complex, emotional and challenging world of care

When someone you love becomes seriously ill, disabled, or starts to decline with age, knowing what to do can feel overwhelming. Next of Kin is a heartfelt and practical guide to navigating the complicated world of care. Written by journalist and health communicator Casey Beros, this book offers clear, empathetic advice for tackling the medical, legal, physical and emotional challenges of caring for someone close to you. When it can be hard to see a clear way forward, Beros delivers what every carer needs: guidance, reassurance, and real-life tools.

She shares everything she learned on her journey as her father's carer, as well as insights from other patients and carers she met along the way and learnings from over two decades of interviewing medical professionals. Beros unpacks advice from world-leading experts in care, loss and grief, reflecting on the best way forward in one of the most challenging times any of us will ever face. Next of Kin shines a bright light into a dark experience and gives readers a hand to hold along the way.

Inside, you'll find:

• Tools to navigate the medical system and advocate on behalf of yourself or someone you care for
• Techniques for talking about uncomfortable topics, like illness, death and loss, with children and adults
• Advice to navigate loss, grief and the transformation of relationships affected by illness and death
• Strategies for much-needed self-care when you're devoted to caring for someone else
• Key legal considerations, including important details about wills, powers of attorney, guardianship and what it means to be the executor of an estate

Whether you're currently caring for someone, or you are expecting to in the future, Next of Kin is the practical, compassionate resource you need. This essential guide will show you how to move forward with kindness and strength – for others and yourself – and will inspire you to step up to the plate when someone you love needs you.

Introduction: Ducks on Drugs xiii

Part I Medical Care 1

1 Pull the rug 3

2 This is going to hurt 17

3 Getting better, getting worse 31

4 In the pocket 49

Part II Physical Care 67

5 Go team 69

6 Harriet Potter, the stone and the buoy 81

7 Spoongate 89

8 Deadlines 99

Part III Legal and Financial Care 107

9 Hats 109

10 Paper cuts 117

11 Dollars and sensitivity 127

Part IV Emotional Care 141

12 Homecoming 143

13 Low tide 159

14 Flowers 179

15 The After Party 197

16 Places 205

Epilogue: Air 213

Acknowledgements 221

Resources 227

References 239

CASEY BEROS @CASEYBEROS is an award-winning journalist, keynote speaker and author of The ‘Bad’ Girl’s Guide to Better. She has written for Australia’s leading digital platforms including Body & Soul, Women’s Health and Mamamia and hosted TV shows for the ABC and Channel 10. She lives on Whadjuk boodja with her favourite people and knows the words to more pop songs than is probably normal.

A compassionate guide to the world of care

When someone you love becomes seriously ill, disabled, or begins to decline with age, knowing what to do next can feel overwhelming. Next of Kin is a heartfelt companion and practical guide that covers what you need to know and do when you become a caregiver.

From health journalist Casey Beros, this book offers a light in the dark when tackling the medical, legal, physical and emotional challenges of care. Drawing on her experiences caring for her treasured father as well as advice from world-leading experts, Casey delivers what every carer deserves: clarity, reassurance and a hand to hold along the way.

Inside, you’ll find:

• tools for navigating the healthcare maze
• techniques for having tough conversations
• guidance on loss and grief
• strategies for self-care when you’re devoted to caring for someone else
• legal considerations, as well as tips on advocacy and executorship.

Whether you’re already caring for someone, preparing to, or supporting someone who is, Next of Kin is the guide every carer needs — dripping with empathy, wit and warmth.