You may be among the tens of millions of Americans who provide care for your parent - or you may be among the ten of millions who will.
So many children are caught unprepared when physical and mental health declines in aging parents. Life cannot readily prepare you to furnish excellent eldercare while balancing the demands on your time. This book provides practical tips, realistic guidance, encouragement and insight into the time ahead.
Among other things, it answers:
How do you decide when your parent stays at home or moves to
assisted living?
What should you expect when caring for your elderly parents?
Who should you ask for help?
How do you balance caregiving responsibilities with your personal life?
The Successful Caregiver's Guide includes extensive explanations of your options and checklists for differing types of eldercare to help you choose the best care possible for your loved one.
Introduction xv1 Defining Caregiving 11. The Different Types of Caregivers 32. What Type of Caregiver Are You? 52.1 Independent caregiver 62.2 Sharing caregiver 82.3 Collaborative caregiver 92.4 Coordinating caregiver 92.5 Delegating caregiver 112 Caring from a Distance 131. The Challenges of Long-Distance Caregiving 141.1 Communication 151.2 Frequent travel 201.3 Traveling without your parent 211.4 Traveling with your parent 231.5 Finding accommodations 25Contentsvi The Successful Caregiver's Guide2. What to Do When You Get There 263. Find the Necessary Information and Documents 284. Check the Safety of Your Parent's Home 295. Respect the Decision That Not Everyone Wantsto Relocate 306. Emotional Distance 333 Finding Suitable Accommodations 371. The Different Types of Living Arrangements 381.1 Aging in place 391.2 Elder villages 391.3 Naturally occurring retirement communities 391.4 Independent living 401.5 Assisted living 401.6 Continuing care retirement communities 401.7 Nursing homes (long-term care facilities) 412. Things to Consider When Searching forAccommodations for Your Parent 412.1 Evaluate your parent's needs, wants, and resources 432.2 Consider the options 442.3 Review the location 452.4 Check the maintenance and cleanliness 462.5 Observe care staff interactions with others 462.6 Take note of additional services 472.7 Look at the resident rooms 482.8 Observe mealtimes 492.9 Calculate the cost 492.10 Consider safety 502.11 Shortlist your top choices 503. Affording the Cost of Care 513.1 Explore sliding scale care costs 513.2 Limit the extras 533.3 Invest in yourself 53Contents vii3.4 Call on community help 543.5 Keep your job 544. The Future of Seniors' Assisted Living andLong-Term Care 544 Moving Your Parent 571. Organizing the Move 582. When Your Parent Doesn't Want to Move 613. When Your Parent Can No Longer Drive 635 Organizing Your Parent's Documents 671. Keeping Documents Organized 672. Understanding the Important Documents 692.1 Last Will and Testament 712.2 Living will 722.3 Guardianship 722.4 Trusteeship 723. Medications and Medical Information 736 Visiting Day 771. Enjoying Activities with Your Loved One 782. Finding the Best Time to Visit 823. Celebrating Holidays and Birthdays 837 Maintaining Harmony When Working withFamily Members 871. How to Conduct a Family Meeting 882. What to Discuss During Family Meetings 912.1 Finances and banking 922.2 Medications 922.3 Diet and personal care 932.4 Parental quality of life 932.5 Responsibilities 94viii The Successful Caregiver's Guide8 Caring for Yourself 951. Take Care of Your Own Health and Wellness 962. Socialize and Pursue Hobbies 1003. Join a Support Group 1024. Pamper Yourself 1025. Schedule Time for Yourself Regularly 1046. Delegate Some of the Work 1057. Find a Day Program for Your Parent 1078. Interviewing and Hiring Help 1079. Taking Care of Yourself after Your Loved One Dies 1119 Remaining Active 1131. Preparing and Taking Your Parent forSeasonal Outings 1142. Find Time for Your Own Physical Activity 1173. Activity Isn't All about Physical Exercise 11810 Men and Women Care Differently 12111 Obamacare: What It Means for Seniors andFamily Caregivers 1271. Stay Informed 12912 Mobility Aids and Emergency Safety Devices 1311. Mobility Aids and Other Useful Items 1321.1 Walk-in bathtubs 1321.2 Stair lifts 1321.3 Lift chairs 1321.4 Walkers 1331.5 Scooters 1331.6 Grab bars 1341.7 Grab poles 1341.8 Reachers 1341.9 Faucet grippers 134Contents ix1.10 Magnifying glass 1351.11 Large-buttoned telephone 1351.12 Bell 1351.13 Nonslip grip mat 1351.14 Raised toilet seats 1351.15 Weighted and ergonomic cutlery 1361.16 Cushions 1361.17 Medication reminder 1361.18 Pill crusher 1371.19 Wall calendar 1372. Emergency Safety Devices 1372.1 Personal security alarms 1382.2 MedicAlert bracelets 1382.3 Emergency telephone call buttons 1383. Travel Kit 13813 Finding Joy in Caregiving 14114 Final Thoughts 145Download kit 149Worksheets1 Caregiving Self-Analysis 72 Your Circle of Caregiving 103 Home Safety Checklist 314 Researching Long-Term Care Facilities 525 Driving Safety Checklist 656 Document Organizer 707 Medical History Log 748 Medication Log 759 Scheduling ""Me"" Time 10610 Getting to Know a Potential Caregiver 109
