Eldercare for Dummies
Cope with legal, financial, and medical issues\ Minimize anxiety and stress and make the later years golden\ Need help caring for an elderly loved one? This sensitive, reassuring guide provides strategies for assessing older persons' needs, arranging for care, ensuring their safety, and enhancing quality of life all while respecting their dignity. You'll see how to manage physical disabilities and chronic health problems, evaluate nursing homes, and help elders control their destinies.\ The...
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Cope with legal, financial, and medical issues Minimize anxiety and stress and make the later years golden Need help caring for an elderly loved one? This sensitive, reassuring guide provides strategies for assessing older persons' needs, arranging for care, ensuring their safety, and enhancing quality of life - all while respecting their dignity. You'll see how to manage physical disabilities and chronic health problems, evaluate nursing homes, and help elders control their destinies. The Dummies Way * Explanations in plain English * "Get in, get out" information * Icons and other navigational aids * Tear-out cheat sheet * Top ten lists * A dash of humor and fun
Introduction1About This Book1Conventions Used in This Book1Foolish Assumptions2How This Book Is Organized2Icons Used in This Book3Where to Go from Here4Part IEntering the World of Caregiving5Chapter 1Eldercare Basics7Recognizing the Challenges of Aging7Making Difficult End-of-Life Decisions10Acknowledging That Help Is Needed10Understanding Your Options12Enhancing the Quality of Life15Chapter 2The Elderly Are Like Vintage Computers17Understanding Slower, Older Models17Managing with Less Memory26Making the Most Out of What You've Got!29Preserving Dignity35Chapter 3Old Age Is a Family Affair: Deciding Who, What, Where, and When37Surviving Caregiving37Recognizing the Pitfalls of Providing Care38Ensuring Care When the Caregiver Lives in Another City or State40Rotating Care When Necessary42Determining When You Need a Family Conference44Asking Family Members to "Chip In"47Keeping the Elderly Person in His or Her Own Home49Moving Your Elder in with Adult Children52Chapter 4Where to Turn When Your Elder Needs a New Home55Understanding the Differences Between Housing Options for Seniors55Being in the Know about Nursing Home Care59Watching Out for Abuse and Neglect70Part IIMastering Everyday Challenges73Chapter 5Sleeping Well Means Doing Well75Setting the Stage for the Sandman75Napping or Not, That Is the Question77When Staying Asleep Is Easier Said Than Done78Remaining Wide-Eyed and Miserable All Night78Bona Fide Sleeping Disorders79Chapter 6Helping Finicky Eaters81Refusing Food81Stimulating the Appetite When All Else Fails83Swallowing Difficulties84Spoon-Feeding with Dignity87Caring for the Never-Thirsty Elderly89Chapter 7Helping Elderly People Be All That They Can Be91Bathing Made Easy92Dressing Challenges93Keeping Smiles Bright and Mouths Healthy94Keeping an Old Brain "Young at Heart"95Exercising96Giving a Hug a Day Keeps the Doctor Away100Chapter 8Sharing the Caring103Identifying Caregiver Burnout103Helping Hands Are Welcome Hands109Hiring Help Wisely115Coping When the Help Doesn't Show Up121Chapter 9Growing Closer and Dearer: Improving Relationships123Working on the Relationship123Understanding How Resentment Happens127Accepting the Relationship as It Is128Part IIIKeeping Elderly Folks Safe and Sound131Chapter 10Living Well with Chronic Medical Conditions133Understanding Chronic Disease134Being Observant Can Save a Precious Life151Communicating with the Doctor153Chapter 11Just Say "Yes" to Health-Giving Drugs157Making the Most of Medications158Recognizing and Preventing Adverse Drug Reactions163Cutting Costs167Using Over-the-Counter Drugs168Considering Alternative and Complementary Treatments169Steering Clear of Treatment Scams171Chapter 12Protective Doohickeys and Thingamajigs173Elder-Proofing the Home174Creating Safe Surroundings for a Live-Alone Older Person178Creating Safe Surroundings for the Older Person Who Lives with You180Finding the Right Assistive Devices181Preventing Falls186Caring for Delicate Skin189Chapter 13Dealing with Leaky Plumbing and Other Incontinence Problems191Coping with Urinary Incontinence191Dealing with Bowel Incontinence195Saying Goodbye to Embarrassment201Obtaining Incontinence Supplies and Equipment202Maintaining Health and Cleanliness203Chapter 14Getting Out and About205Planning Goes a Long Way205Traveling208Discovering Senior Discounts and Freebies216Part IVThe Blues, the "Good Old Days," and Other Senior Moments219Chapter 15When the Clouds Roll In: Dealing with Depression221The Blues221Grief222Clinical Depression224Chapter 16Managing Anxiety231Recognizing an Anxiety Disorder231Calming Down233Seeking Professional Help234Chapter 17All About Alzheimer's Disease237Understanding Alzheimer's Disease237Recognizing the Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease238Becoming Familiar with the Alzheimer's Disease Stages240Getting a Diagnosis242Considering Treatment244Planning for the Future246Chapter 18Managing the Distressing Behavior and Emotions of Confused Elderly249Coping with Difficult Behavior249Understanding Your Elder's Emotions262Part VMaking the Final Years Golden265Chapter 19When "The Apple of Your Eye" Needs a Peer267Long-Lost Friends267Old Friends268New Friends269Phone Partners, Pen Pals, and E-Mail Buddies271Online Communities271Chapter 20Keeping Your Elder at the Helm275Promoting Choice275Making Last Wishes Come True with Estate Planning276Considering Funeral Preplanning283Creating a Living Legacy284Chapter 21Keeping the Bill Collector from the Door287Paying for Health Care287Taking Advantage of Retirement and Income Benefits291Getting Those Pesky Bills Paid295Understanding the Ins and Outs of Conservatorship296Chapter 22Helping Spiritual and Religious Elderly "Keep the Faith"301Bringing the Church Home301Revisiting Religious Roots302Praying and Meditating303Growing Spiritually304Chapter 23Ensuring a Good Death307Dying with Dignity307Speaking About the Unspeakable308Engaging Hospice Care310Witnessing the Final Hours313Taking Charge When a Loved One Dies316Facing Life Without Your Elder323Part VIThe Part of Tens325Chapter 24Ten Tests to Help You Assess a Nursing Home327The Respect and Dignity Test328The "Is It Just a Job or Do They Really Care?" Test328The Rhythm of Life Test329The Good Neighbor Test330The Administrator Test330The Safety Test331The Sniff Test331The Taste Test331The Cozy Test332The Location Test332Chapter 25Ten Ways (More or Less) That Elders Hide Their Feelings333Denying the Truth334Complaining of Aches and Pains334Displaying False Bravado334Exaggerating Helplessness334Doing Busywork335Digging in Their Heels335Remembering Selectively335Idealizing336Misdirecting Anger336Index337
