Synopses & Reviews
The best and bestselling book of its kind. Originally published in 1995,
How to Care for Aging Parents, with 220,000 copies in print, won a Books for a Better Life Award and was praised as "an indispensable book" (AARP) and "a compassionate guide of encyclopedic proportion" (
The Washington Post). It also catapulted its author, Virginia Morris, to national prominence as a recognized eldercare authority on
Oprah,
Good Morning America, CNN, CBS, and other media.
Nine years later, and the need for the book is mushrooming: the number of adult children caring for a parent has increased from 4 million to 19.5 million, with roughly 80% of the nation's elderly cared for at home. Virginia Morris responds with a completely revised, up-to-date new edition. Expanded from 450 to over 650 pages, it covers all the emotional, legal, financial, medical, and logistical issues in caring for the elderly. There are new sections on expanded housing options, alternative therapies, balancing career and caregiving, and dealing with difficult parents. It covers the biggest change in caregiving--the newfound independence of seniors and benefits of healthy aging--and the reverse: three chapters are dedicated to caring for parents with Alzheimers. At the end of the book is an invaluable 100-page "Yellow Pages" guide to all the resources and services of the enormous eldercare industry.
Review
"A work of great value, written with sensitivity and wisdom...It fulfills an obvious need better than anything I've seen."
—Sherwin B. Nuland, M.D.
Review
"A compassionate guide of encyclopedic proportion."
--The Washington Post
Review
andquot;A compassionate guide of encyclopedic proportion.andquot;
and#8212;The Washington Post
Review
Review
"An excellent guide for dealing with the financial, legal, medical, and psychological issues facing women and men as they care for their aging parents...An invaluable resource [that] offers an up-to-date guide to hard-to-find services and subsidies."
--Robert N. Butler, M.D., Founder, National Institute on Aging
Review
"This guide, aimed at the "Sandwich Generation," provides a road map to assist adult children in caring for their aging parents. Combining personal experience with expertise in healthcare and social and political issues, Morris has produced a thoroughly researched, well-organized, and comprehensive manual. Chapters follow in logical progression, yet they can stand alone and be read on an "as-needed" basis. The topics covered include the concrete, practical areas such as home care, finances, nursing homes/hospitals, legal issues, and medical/safety concerns as well as the psychosocial areas of handling emotions, dealing with death and dying, sibling conflicts, and spiritual needs. In her discussions, Morris adds useful details such as a suggested list of things to pack for the hospital. Support for the caregiver as well as to the elderly person is covered. Sprinkled throughout the text are agencies, phone numbers, and other reference information."
Review
"This is a tremendous work... truly excellent. It will be a great help to many people."
--Ronald Miller, M.D., medical director, geriatric assessment center at Yale- New Haven Hospital
Review
Review
"A must-read ... [Morris] thoroughly addresses the subject, covering most topics imaginable from standards such as exercise and healthy diet to uncomfortable ones such as STDs, Alzheimer's, and delusions and hallucinations.... Her frank approach manages to be both compassionate and direct making the most awkward or devastating topics manageable."
--Publishers Weekly, starred review
Synopsis
Featured on
Oprah and
Good Morning America, winner of the Books for a Better Life Award, and hailed as an "excellent resource" by the Family Caregiver Alliance,
How To Care For Aging Parents is completely revised, updated, and expanded, with nearly 300 pages of new material. Compassionate and thorough, it is a caregiver's bible.
When love is not enough—and, regrettably, it never is—this is an essential guide. Now more than ever.
About the Author
Virginia Morris lectures on the topic of aging parents around the country and has been featured on a host of national media. She testified about eldercare issues before the U.S. Joint Economic Committee and is also the author of Talking About Death. Ms. Morris lives with her husband and two children in Sag Harbor, New York.
Table of Contents
Get Ready, Get Set (1) Talking with Your Parent, Gathering Essential Documents, Researching the Options, Organizing Your Own Life, When You Can't Be There
Your Parent and You
Adapting to New Roles, Knowing When to Intervene, Defusing Old Struggles, Managing Day-to-Day, the Difficult Parent
Caring for the Caregiver
Setting Limits, The Male Caregiver, Emotional Minefields: Guilt, Anger, Grief, Depression, Support Groups, When One Parent is Well, 12 Steps to a Healthy Mind-Set
Healthy Aging
Pumping Iron: finding the Right Exercise Program, The ABCs of Diet, The Liquor Cabinet, Up in Smoke
Heart, Mind, and Soul (83)
Staying Involved, Family and Friends, Spirituality, Creativity, Volunteering, Expanding the Mind, Dating, Sex, and Marriage
Tips for Daily Living (102)
Safety First, Preventing Falls, Bathing and Dressing, Eating Right, The Question of Driving, Useful Gadgets and Gizmos
More Help, at Home (152)
Home Health Care, Nurses, Therapists, and Aides, The Hiring Process, Managing the Troops, Respite Care
The Inner Circle (169)
Sharing the Care with Siblings, A Family Meeting, Spouses, The Sandwich Generation: Aging Parents and Young Children, Balancing Career and Caregiving
Doctor Do's and Don'ts(193)
Rx for the Elderly, A Good Doctor, A Geriatric Checkup, Being an Informed Advocate, Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The Body Imperfect: Part I (214)
On the Lookout for Symptoms, Overseeing Medications, Vision and Hearing, Insomnia, Dehydration, TLC for Skin, Legs, and Feet, Dental Care
The Body Imperfect Part II (254)
Osteoporosis and Arthritis, Incontinence, Constipation, Other Digestive Disorders
Matters of the Mind (280)
Depression: Diagnosis and Treatments, Anxiety Disorders, Delirium
On the Fifth Floor (294)
Entering the Hospital, Tests, Surgery, and Treatments, Dealing with Staff, Your Role as Advocate, Comfort on the Fifth Floor, When You are Far Away, Preparing for Discharge, Bills
Paying the Way (322)
Talking about Money, Financial Planning and Budgets, Benefits and Discounts, Homes as Collateral, Tax Tips, Using Your Own Funds, Financial and Legal Counsel, Frauds and Scams
Paying for Healthcare (346)
What Medicare Really Covers, Prescription Drugs, Medigap Plans, Medicaid, Long-Term Care Insurance
Legal Issues (376)
Wills, Power of Attorney, Advance Directives, Trusts, Reducig Estate Taxes, Probate, Guardianship, Legal Help
Home Away from Home (402)
Is it Time to Move?, Sharing Your Home with Your