The intricacies of elder care-giving duties and responsibilities can be overwhelming, especially because adult children of ageing parents do not know the ins and outs of the medical and social service systems, let alone how to cope with the emotional burdens of providing care for their ailing parents. They desperately wish for a single resource that answers their questions with "how to" information that restores their feelings of competence and control. "Eldercare 911" is that resource. With the steady growth of the elderly population, it is estimated that approximately one-third of Americans will be providing care for an elderly person in the near future. This well-researched, compassionate, and comprehensive handbook will empower caregivers to be the best they can be without neglecting their own very legitimate needs. The authors use excerpts from a compilation of caregiver interviews to demonstrate the most common problems in eldercare. The book is organised into easily accessible sections and subsections: 20 chapters divided into 131 topics and then into another 77 subtopics, making it simple for readers to find exactly what they are looking for. The authors give full consideration to the time limitations and career needs of working caregivers, and the special challenges faced by women with teenage children, spouses, or significant others who may not always be sensitive to the caregiver's balancing act. Among the topics discussed are knowing when elderly people need help; how to intervene; finding and using support systems; handling burnout; managing medical, insurance, and benefits issues; overseeing medications; coping with Alzheimer's Disease and other serious illnesses; how to decide when hospitalisation is necessary; detecting and dealing with abuse; working with eldercare professionals; setting up home care; and making decisions and arrangements for alternate housing. The authors also examine rarely discussed, sensitive issues that affect family communication and relationships like parent's sexual behaviour, dating and remarriage, and death and dying.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
An essential for every caregiver:
The 2008 updated, revised edition of Eldercare 911 is an incredibly comprehensive guide to any issue you could imagine relative to caring for an aging loved one. It is well researched and full of illustrating stories that help readers apply the concepts. This guide moves past theory into the practical day to day realities of communicating with seniors, the ins and outs of caregiving, deciding when/where to move an older adult, dealing with medical issues, finding services and more. I have worked with... more info
Packed with practical information:
Very good book for anyone who is faced with the heartbreaking decline of a beloved (or not so easy to love) parent. From the first chapter entitled "You are not alone" followed by when to know when your parent needs help and practical information as to where do I go from here. Includes multiple references for geriatric social workers and elder law attorneys.
I found this book both supportive and useful.
Essential for caregivers:
This highly detailed and easily read volume seems to cover every consideration and situation that could arise in caring for an elderly person. The emphasis is on in-home maintenance of the elderly, specifically parents, although one chapter is devoted to selecting and monitoring a nursing home. The book gives the impression of being able to prepare the reader for any situation and to help him cope with whatever comes up.
The point is made throughout that caregivers need to avail themselves of the many... more info
That sounds like my story:
There were many anecdotes in the book that sounded like they were taken from my own personal experience. It was comforting to know that there are others with similar issues. I came away with many new ideas to try and make my situation more tolerable. I would recommend this book to anyone who finds themselves in a comparable situation.