Eldercare 911: The Caregiver's Complete Handbook for Making Decisions

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.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 hospitalization is necessary; detecting and dealing with abuse; working with eldercare professionals; setting up home care; making decisions and arrangements for alternate housing. The authors also examine rarely discussed, sensitive issues that affect family communication and relationships like parents' sexual behavior, dating and remarriage, and death and dying.