About the Book
Unseen, Overburdened, and Undervalued is a powerful, unflinching look at the emotional toll, systemic failures, and silent battle faced by family caregivers everywhere.
Drawing on both lived experience and deep professional experiences, Julia exposes the toxic dynamics caregivers are forced to navigate - from poor communication and lack of trust, to institutional micromanagement, discrimination, and more. With clarity and compassion, she names what caregivers are afraid to say: they are being crushed by the very things that are meant to support them.
But this is more than a critique - it's a call to action. Each chapters provides practical strategies for caregivers, professionals, organizations, and policy makers to shift the landscape of caregiving and create real, lasting change.
About the Author :
Julia Huckle is a nurse, executive coach, speaker, educator, and caregiver advocate with a career spanning healthcare, education, and organizational leadership. She has led teams, developed programs, and built businesses that help people thrive in challenging environments, combining practical expertise with visionary guidance.Her advocacy for caregivers comes from both professional insight and personal experience. Julia understands the emotional, logistical, and systemic challenges of caring for a loved one and brings that perspective to her writing, coaching, and speaking engagements.Her work centres on creating clarity, confidence, and sustainable solutions for individuals, teams, and organizations navigating burnout, caregiving pressures, and complex systems. She is passionate about equipping others with tools, strategies, and support to make meaningful change, both personally and systemically.Above all, Julia is a proud adoptive mum and caregiver to her son, Brandon. Unseen, Overburdened, and Undervalued is her debut book - reflecting her commitment to illuminating the invisible labour of caregiving and reimagining the support caregivers deserve.
Review :
Luminary Publishing New Voices Contest Honorable Mention (3rd Place) Winner
Reviews:
"There are missing pieces to our healthcare system and the biggest missing piece is for the caregiver, One of the things that caregivers struggle with is lack of communication from the professionals that are caring for their loved ones. Caregivers are juggling appointments, at home care their own jobs and their own families, when communication with their doctors and other practioners fall through the cracks this can have disastrous ramifications. This book provides a look into what families go through and continues to conversation on how we can work to improve the lives of caregivers so that they can work to improve the wellbeing fo their loved ones" N Howson
"This isn't a sugar-coated take on caregiving. It's a raw, honest look at what so many people are living through behind closed doors. I've worked with and supported caregivers over the years and seen the quiet exhaustion in their eyes - the kind of tiredness that runs deeper than sleep. Julia captures that experience with incredible clarity and compassion.The chapter on "Lack of Support" really stood out to me. She describes how caregivers are often praised for being strong and selfless - but when they ask for real help, they're either ignored, put on a waitlist, or made to feel like a burden. Reading some of the examples broke my heart, but I also found myself nodding along. This is the reality for so many.Another powerful section was on "Unhealthy Competition." You explain how systems create division between caregivers, forcing them to "prove" their need for help and downplay others just to get a slice of support. It's a toxic setup that leaves everyone feeling isolated, guilty, and inadequate.But what I admire most is that this isn't just a book about problems - it's full of solutions. Each chapter ends with practical recommendations for caregivers, professionals, organisations, and policymakers. It's a roadmap for change.I feel that If you or someone you love is a caregiver or works in a system that touches these lives, I honestly can't recommend this book enough. It's a wake-up call - and one that's long overdue.
This will help so many people, Julia. Great job!" K Long
"As an exhausted family caregiver, I found Unseen, Overburdened, and Undervalued: Navigating the Toxic Landscape of Family Caregiving to be both informative and validating. Family caregiver and RN Julia Huckle has written a book that contains stories and practical recommendations for caregivers, professionals, organizations, and policy makers. It is heartening to read about other people's experiences and to know I'm not alone in navigating the world of family caregiving. Brava to Huckle for sharing her wisdom to create a book that makes me feel seen." -Sue Robins, speaker, health care advocate and author of Bird's Eye View: Stories of a life lived in health care and Ducks in a Row: Health Care Reimagined.
