Books
If you believe in the adage that information is power, then you might want to check out some of these resources that touch on home health care and nursing home planning before a tough decision actually comes up and you are left to decide on something without full knowledge.The Complete Legal Guide to Senior Care: Making Sense of the Residential, Financial and Medical Maze (Brette McWhorter Sember) discusses becoming involved with medical care, dealing with finances and understanding the differences between long-term care insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. It also clearly explains the differences between senior residences, assisted living and nursing homes. Whether you are exploring options for yourself or for your aging parents, navigating the world of health-care services and long-term care facilities can be a daunting task. Filled with invaluable information in an easy-to-use format, this handbook is a must-see reference.American Medical Association Guide to Home Caregiving (AMA) provides the information you need to take the best possible care of an elderly, ill, or disabled person in a home setting. Written by experts from the American Medical Association, the book explains such essentials as how to Plan and arrange a room to adapt to a loved one’s needs; Give medications, maintain hygiene, monitor symptoms, deal with incontinence, provide emotional support, and relieve boredom; choose a home healthcare provider; pay for home healthcare, including Medicare and Medicaid, and long-term care insurance; care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or a terminal illness; choose between alternative living arrangements such as assisted living facilities or nursing homes; and take care of yourself, the caregiver. With advice that touches both the physical and the emotional aspects of caregiving, this supportive, practical handbook will help make the experience as successful and rewarding as possible for you and your loved one.Living at the End of Life: A Hospice Nurse Addresses the Most Common Questions (Karen Whitley Bell, RN) is a comprehensive, insightful guide to every aspect of hospice care and the final stages of life. She discusses the physical, emotional, and spiritual journey a dying person goes through; care-giving during this difficult period; closure, and loss and the lessons it teaches us. In addition to her warm, yet knowledgeable voice, readers get firsthand accounts of experiences in hospice care, making Living at the End of Life accessible, reassuring, and indispensable.Taking Care of Caregivers: For Families and Others Who Care for People With Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Forms of Dementia (D. Jeanne Roberts) supplies ways to care for ourselves and reminds us that it isn’t being selfish to take time to recharge and care for ourselves as well as those we are caring for.The Comfort of Home: A Complete Guide for Caregivers (Maria M. Meyer) takes a look at burnout the complete drain of physical, spiritual, and emotional reserves which occurs when a caregiver slips into exhaustion or depression. More and more frequently, the responsibility of caring for the chronically ill child, the disabled spouse, or the aging parent falls on a family member. From the decision to be a caregiver to dealing with day-to-day activities, this guide provides help with every aspect of home care. Also included in this edition are a checklist of tasks, a chapter on self-care and avoiding caregiver burnout, a glossary, and list of helpful resources.Caring for an Elderly Parent: A Resource Guide (Charlotte Foley) provides an introduction to the various services and resources that are available to help individuals make informed elder care decisions. From choosing an assisted living arrangement to dealing with the complexities of social security income, this book provides practical tips and solutions to these complicated aging issues.