Caregivers Book Journey

Eleanor (Ellie) Gaccetta, MBA is an author, speaker, and passionate home cook and baker. Formerly a legislative and policy analyst for the State of Colorado and the City and County of Broomfield, Ellie also worked as a private contractor after leaving government service. Her nearly 40-year professional career came to an unexpected pause when her mother fell and broke her hip at age 92.

That life-changing moment marked the beginning of Ellie’s personal journey as a 24/7 sole caregiver for the next nine and a half years. From this experience came her first book, One Caregiver’s Book Journey filled with heartfelt memories, personal insights, and practical advice for caregivers. The memoir offers a raw and authentic snapshot of the changes, challenges, and emotional truths that define long-term caregiving. Following her mother’s passing at age 102, Ellie spent six months journaling her reintegration into society. She reflects, “The biggest challenge to reintegration after nearly 10 years of isolation has been to not be an outsider looking into the world that passed you by.”

Her second book, Generations of Good Food, was not part of her original plan but became a labor of love during the COVID-19 lockdown. Blending cherished recipes, cultural stories, and anecdotes from six generations of her Italian heritage, the cookbook caters to both novice and seasoned home cooks.

Today, Ellie lives in a suburb west of Denver where she enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, gardening, cooking, and baking. Committed to staying healthy and active, she embraced fitness during the pandemic and now walks 2–3 miles daily—proudly embracing her identity as a “gym shark.”