The Unofficial Guide to Eldercare

By Christine A. Adamec

Just when working families thought they had enough on their plates, many of them are now faced with having to make decisions regarding the health and well-being of their aging parents. Do they need care? Should they be in a nursing home? What does it cost? Is it clean? Is it safe? What if they don't want to go? And what other options are available? The Unofficial Guide to Eldercare meets these complex issues head-on, offering friendly, unbiased advice on this sensitive topic. It shows them how to wade through the anxiety and conflict to make informed decisions about their parents' needs; the elements of caregiving; living wills and other legal elements; how to balance their own lives in terms of work, family and caregiving; and how to get emotional support their families so desperately need.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0028624564
• ISBN13: 9780028624563
• Release Date: June 1999
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Length: 354 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.3" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

A reliable and clearly-written guide for eldercare givers

This book is a lifesaver. I've been providing eldercare for several months, and I've looked for books to help me deal with a range of caregiving issues. Many books treat the reader like an moron. This one treats you like an intelligent adult. It starts with an overview of eldercare, then deals with organizing finances and records, different options for where your elder can live, and legal and social issues. What I liked best, though, was all the human elements it discussed. I've been able to get the legal information elsewhere. But only here have I seen a really helpful discussion of how tricky it is to deal with exhaustion, anger, and stress, and especially how to deal with other family members! Eldercare is not just about the caregiver and elder--there are a lot of personalities involved, and by reading this book, I realized someone else out there understood this and was willing to give good advice. I've recommended the book to friends who are facing what I'm going through--that's the highest praise I can give.