As Parents Age: A Psychological and Practical Guide (Paperback)

~ (Author) "A certain degree of decline in physiological and psychological functioning is normal as a person ages..." (more)
Key Phrases: care recipient, advance directives, United States, Area Agency, Selected Resources (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

• Guidance on how to talk with parents about the future, and to be prepared for what may lie ahead

• Useful personal charts, checklists, surveys
• Self-help Book of the Year (ForeWord Magazine)
• Author a guest twice on Today Show

Written from the perspective of a working family therapist, educator, and adult child of aging parents, this book is full of anecdotes and relevant facts about aging as well as guidance for people whose parents are starting to show or are already showing their age.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Vanderwyk & Burnham; 1 edition (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1889242055
• ISBN-13: 978-1889242057
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,086,266 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must read" for every adult child with aging parents., July 17, 1999

By	Lenore Hirsch (Novato, California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book should be read by every adult child with a healthy parent over seventy. How do you know when a parent needs help? When it's time for a nursing home, how do you find a quality facility? Joseph Ilardo provides all of the guidance needed to help parents through the stages of needing assistance at home, moving into an institution , and preparing for the end of life. Beyond the specific practical advice, the book explains the psychological processes involved for the aging parent and for the adult child. I have just assisted my parents with moving my ailing father to a nursing home. As a result of my using this book, my father made the transition to a quality facility with good will, and the entire family was involved in a positive, supportive fashion.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As Parents Age, December 28, 1999

By A Customer

Book is aimed at creating an understanding of the psychological impact to aging parent and family unit. Provides insight into how the family must act together and what pitfalls to avoid. Works on preserving the dignity of the parent, and finding ways to help the parent and still allow family members to maintain lives of their own.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A VERY HELPFUL BOOK!, August 18, 2001

By A Customer

This book really helped me understand the aging process, hold onto my empathy and compassion, balance my life better (I was starting to lose myself), and gave me a sense of calm because I have the knowledge of how to manage it all so much better. You'll gain so much insight from this book. My entire family noticed the difference in my attitude after I read it, calmed me down so much and gave me specifics of how to cope. "Elder Rage" is the other book I recommend for coping with aging parents, particularly if you have one who is real difficult to manage.