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

Susan Beerman (Author), Judith Rappaport-Musson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 159102014X | ISBN-13: 978-1591020141 | Publication Date: October 2002 | Edition: 1

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Beerman and Rappaport-Musson, eldercare specialists, offer a comprehensive guide to caregiving issues, calmly presenting information readers may not have even considered. For example, the first chapter addresses how to deal directly with one's parents, what to do if the parents don't want help and how to determine if parents, in fact, need help. The authors include sample dialogues, which will be particularly helpful with parents who refuse to acknowledge they need help. The section on long-distance caregiving is also quite useful-the authors advise readers to call ahead of time to schedule appointments with everyone connected to family care, from physicians to caregivers to support agencies. They also advise having a portable folder with key contact numbers so people will have essential information at their fingertips. This excellent, comprehensive guidebook offers information on nursing homes, hospice care and home heath professionals.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Discovering that older parents need assistance because of physical illness or frailty can seem like an emergency situation to the adult children who must arrange for their care. This handy guide covers a variety of caregiving situations, including those common to other caregiving books locating services, managing medications, understanding benefits, choosing a nursing home, coping with memory loss, and hiring and handling in-home help. But social worker Beerman and Rappaport-Musson, a certified senior adviser, address important topics not often covered elsewhere making the decision to become a caregiver (or deciding not to); helping a parent who refuses help; recognizing signs of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and recognizing drug or alcohol abuse. Writing primarily for women, who shoulder most caregiving responsibilities, the authors offer much supportive advice as well as anecdotes from other caregivers showing how to counteract the physical and emotional toll that caregiving responsibilities can exact. The concise chapters can be read as needed. Unfortunately, the scanty resource list includes only major government and disease-specific web sites, and readers looking for in-depth details on specific disorders, caregiving skills, or benefit programs will need to consult Linda Colvin Rhodes's The Complete Idiot's Guide to Caring for Aging Parents, American Medical Association Guide to Home Caregiving, or Consumer Reports Guide to Health Services for Seniors. Nevertheless, this is a good addition to larger senior health collections. Karen McNally Bensing, Benjamin Rose Lib., Cleveland
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 450 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books; 1 edition (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159102014X
• ISBN-13: 978-1591020141
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #838,345 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for caregivers, April 23, 2003

By 

Keith Nichols (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eldercare 911: The Caregiver's Complete Handbook for Making Decisions (Paperback)

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 resources that exist to help them with information and hands-on help. The idea that taking on the responsibility for an ailing or aging parent means that the caregiving offspring do everything by themselves, while simultaneously continuing to meet the demands of their own lives and families, is shown to be destructive to the caregiver as well as in many instances impractical.

One element in successful eldercare is keeping up with exactly what is happening with the elderly person and how to cope with the problems it may present. Thorough documentation of everything is stressed, such as physical conditions and medications, prescriptions, diet, etc. Forms are presented to simplify this, along with checklists of things to do in various situations.

A liberal inclusion of anecdotes from caregivers around the U.S. reveals the many difficulties and rewards experienced by those engaged in looking after their elders. Web sites and addresses are given for various agencies, as well as the authors of the book.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At long last, a realistic and practical guide for caregivers, November 8, 2002

By 

AJ (Queens, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eldercare 911: The Caregiver's Complete Handbook for Making Decisions (Paperback)

As a health care professional in the field of aging for the past 17 years, I found "Eldercare 911" to be concise, clear and most of all, realistic about the area of caring for an aging parent or relative. I believe the authors have an excellent sense of what really goes on between adult children and their parents--the good and the bad. They are also not afraid to tackle the area of resistance--what should you actually do when your loved one says "No! I don't want that home care worker!" or, "What do you mean you want me to stop driving?" This book offers real solutions for the real world. I would recommend this book for caregivers and professionals in the field of aging. It is an invaluable resource

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Caregivers!, November 4, 2002

By 

L. M. Sallot "Ph.D." (Athens, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eldercare 911: The Caregiver's Complete Handbook for Making Decisions (Paperback)

If you are giving care to an elder or you are contemplating taking on this task, you must read this book. If you know anyone caring for an elder, do them a BIG favor and tell them about this book, or better yet, give them a copy. Even in the best of times, caregiving can be overwhelming. This book is full of information vital for improving quality of life for both the elder and her/his caregiver. Another great contribution is the COMFORT the book offers caregivers -- reading it is as good as getting a hug from the authors, who are obviously experts who care.