Dealing with the death of a loved one is not easy, and dealing with the time leading up to that death can be even more harrowing for those who have adopted the role of caretaker to aging parents and loved ones. Author Amy C. Baker knows about the anger, frustration, exhaustion and fears - not to mention the grief - that comes with the territory of being a caretaker to a parent in their final years, and she writes with compassion, emotion, and even a bit of humor about how her own journey took her to all the extremes.

Baker recounts her experiences of losing her mother to cancer and her father to Hepatitis C for the reader, sharing what it was like for her, what worked and what didn’t, and even offering plenty of practical advice on hospice care, legal matters, estate planning and all those things you just don’t want to think about when caring for someone who is dying. Baker’s approach is very Christian, and her repeated use of Biblical verses and quotes may be off-putting to those who don’t share her faith, but there is plenty of useful and helpful information and inspiration in Slow Dancing at Death’s Door.

From the Preparing stage to the Planning stage to the Protecting and Preserving stages, the author covers a wide range of topics and offers her own advice as well as that of experts. Each chapter is designed to help caretakers walk through the stages of dealing with a dying loved one, and there are helpful resources at the end of the book including websites and recommended reading.

Watching a loved one come closer to death is hard enough, and Baker’s goal is to try to take some of the pressure, anxiety, fear and confusion out of the entire process. Not that she can make it any easier, but she can make it as easy as possible, and that makes a big difference to those who are caught up in the final dance of a loved one’s life.