Next of Kin: What to Expect When You're Expecting to Care for Someone You Love

‘An honest, compassionate and vital roadmap every family needs.’ ― Dr Norman Swan

‘An important, compassionate and practical guide that we are all likely to need at some stage given the inevitability of losing someone we love.’ ― Dr Preeya Alexander, GP

‘Next of Kin doesn’t sugarcoat it. You’ll feel less alone―and walk away with straight-up, practical ways to make the most of the time you’ve got, and hold on tight to the memories when that time’s up. Nothing can replace that.’ ― Ryan Bowles, Good Grief

‘An excellent guide to the unique challenges we face when we need to step up as Next of Kin. I wish I had this book before my father became ill and died. Next of Kin offers crucial life skills wrapped up in a warm and touching story of Casey’s own life experience. A great read and so valuable.’ ― Karen Carey, Consumer advocate

‘Both tender and fearless, Next of Kin is a lighthouse in the storm of care, loss and grief―steady, human, honest, and impossibly kind. The chaos, the heartbreak, the absurd moments; it holds your hand through it all.’ ― Dr Gina Cleo, PhD, founding director, Habit Change Institute

‘This is a rare find. There is no rule book when it comes to caring for a loved one, but Next of Kin is the guide that every carer should have. It’s a lifeline that offers not only knowledge, but comfort, humanity and a sense of community in a time where most feel very alone. A must-read.’ ― Ellie Cole, AM

‘As someone who has seen firsthand the immense challenges and emotional weight that come with caregiving, I cannot overstate how important Next of Kin is for those navigating the complex and often overwhelming health care systems. Casey’s deeply personal journey with her father’s illness speaks to a universal truth― carers are the unsung heroes of society. This book not only provides practical advice, but it also offers the compassion, understanding, and guidance that every carer needs to feel empowered, supported, and less alone. Next of Kin is a must-read for anyone juggling the responsibilities of caring for an aging parent while balancing their own life. Casey’s approach is both empathetic and insightful, giving readers the tools to advocate for themselves and their loved ones with dignity. This is the resource I wish I had when my own family faced difficult health challenges. I am proud to support Casey and her incredible work in sharing this vital resource with the world.’ ― Barry Du Bois, TV legend

‘This book is a must read for anyone caring for a loved one, or anyone dealing with grief and loss. Which makes it a book for all of us. I felt reading this as if I were being enveloped in a big warm hug by a friend helping me navigate the inevitable pain that life brings. Absolutely dripping with empathy and understanding as well as practical and sound advice. A wonderful book about something very difficult. Thank you Casey for writing it, and for caring for your Dad with such grace and humility.’ ― Dr Sonia Henry, GP

‘Casey is a thoughtful and compassionate interviewer and these same values leap off of every page in this book. If only I had this much needed guide when I was losing my beautiful Mumma. In true Casey form she reminds us we can do hard things while also understanding the need to fall apart. I have no doubt this will help so many others through loss and life.’ ― Samantha Jade, singing superstar

‘I needed this book 2 years ago, I need it now and I am certainly going to need it in the future. We all will. I have watched Casey navigate this topic as she cared for my dear friend and her father, Jack. She is brave and stoic at the same time as human and enormously generous. This book takes all that experience and emotion and delivers it to us in an approachable and companionly way. It’s a generous work and I am grateful to Casey for living it so well and sharing it with us.’ ― Luc Longley AM, NBA Superstar

‘Next of Kin invites you into one of life’s hardest but most beautiful chapters. With equal parts humour and humanity, this book goes where so few dare to, even traversing the financial, emotional and spiritual costs of care. It’s like The Barefoot Investor for carers, every house needs a copy.’ ― Lisa Messenger, CEO, Collective Hub

‘We don’t talk about death enough. Or grief. This book gives us the language to tackle the stuff we’d prefer to avoid. Casey writes with guts, humour and honesty―and reminds us we’re not alone in the hard stuff.’ ― Turia Pitt, runner, mum, coach, and occasional Hard Quiz answer

‘Although we, as a society, have become a bit better about talking about ‘not being OK’, discussions about death and dying and all that comes with it are still few and far between. It’s not surprising we avoid difficult conversations, but thankfully Casey has now given us all a roadmap to navigate these distressing periods in life. Next of Kin is powerful and practical, and I’ve no doubt it will be beneficial to many, many people.’ ― Dr Tim Sharp, The Happiness Institute

‘This book will have you laughing, crying and deeply contemplating life’s most pivotal and challenging moments all at once. Through the perfect mix of lived experience and practical advice, this candid, informative and insightful work will hold your hand through the loneliest of roads. This is a book everyone needs to read, not just for themselves but for those they love.’ ― Dr Michela Sorensen, GP

‘Part permission slip, part prayer, part instruction manual. I’ll be pressing this into friends’ hands for years.’ ― Sean Szeps, Digital Dad

‘In Next of Kin, Casey Beros has created something rare and vital―a brutally honest, tender, and deeply human guide for what it means to walk alongside someone you love at the end of their life. With equal parts grit, grace, and humour, she offers not just practical wisdom, but emotional companionship―the kind you crave when the ground falls out from under you. This book is a light in the dark, a steady hand on your back, and a reminder that while the path of caregiving and grief may be messy and painful, we don’t have to walk it alone.’ ― Dr Shoshana Ungerleider, medical doctor, founder of End Well

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.