The Complete Eldercare Planner, Second Edition : Where to Start, Which Questions to Ask, and How to Find Help

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Summary: TALKING TO MY DAD IS EASIER NOW
Review: If you have a parent who is as stubborn as my dad about talking about the future, then you'll want to buy this book. I tried the book's tips on communicating with aging parents and THEY WORKED. Dad and I don't fight anymore and we're working things out. I am much less stressed thanks to this incredible book.

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Summary: Excellent Resource
Review: Immensely practical guide on common issues, with checklists and action planning guides... a Third Age Book Review - www.thirdage.com

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Summary: Caregiving Resource
Review: Immensely practical guide on common issues, with checklists and action planning guides... a Third Age Book Review - www.thirdage.com

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Summary: Both reference & workbook, Loverde's Planner is a big help.
Review: In taking care of my mother for over ten years, I know that caring for aging parents can be a rewarding, but also a daunting, responsibility. Joy Loverde's book is a great aid for bringing structure to these tasks. It can help to keep the responsibilities manageable, even as they increase. It is a practical book - helpful and well organized - so you can find what you need to know now. It is also an action planner, so you can take a systematic approach to meeting the growing needs of elderly loved ones. Furthermore, it has a number of helpful worksheets, checklists and "document locator" pages. As you fill in these pages, you develop a reference of vital family information in a single location. There will be no last minute scramble for critical phone numbers for doctors, lawyer and insurance representatives or trying to find the location of important family documents. Helpful clues to look for as signs that your elders may need your assistance are given, including what changes to look for in health, attitude, cognitive function and hygiene. Tips on making a home safe for the elderly are addressed. How to make family communications run smoothly and the importance of keeping everyone informed are discussed and structured. Worksheets for information, tasks and progress are included. Chapters are concise and well indexed. A special chapter on emergency preparedness insures that a sudden health development will not catch you totally off guard. Even if you do wait until something happens, just having the checklists to review at the last minute can be a big help. The issues of transportation are reviewed with insight. Bringing up this delicate topic to older drivers may make them feel especially defensive about declining driving safety. Alternative transportation resources are reviewed. This book also provides a brief map through the maze of housing, financial, legal and insurance alternatives, and related professional advisory services and/or organizations for supplemental assistance. Tactful and constructive guidelines for dealing with doctors and medical groups are detailed. Health and wellness are discussed as well as death and dying with specific outlines for understanding both the related arrangements and emotions. Overall, this is an upbeat, positive book with an emphasis on improving the quality of life for all concerned. You can use it as a step by step handbook or just lookup and use what you want. It is packed with helpful information and resources. I only which I had had it ten years ago. The Complete Eldercare Planner could have saved me many trips to the library while caring for my mother. This book is organized, even if you aren't. Just having these checklists on the bookshelf may add to one's peace of mind. Highly recommended.

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Summary: Completely Wonderful!
Review: Joy Loverde has put it all at your fingertips. No need to struggle to find out how to manage it all anymore. I am coping with caring for 3 elderly relatives all with various stages of illness and dimentia, and did I ever need this book. I wish someone had told me all this before, it would have saved me so much time and frustration. Why isn't there a TV program for all us caregivers airing weekly with all this information, there are certainly enough of us coping. Until then, read this book, and then for a really enjoyable novel-like read that is packed with care-giving information too, look at "Elder Rage".

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Summary: Could have been worse without this book
Review: Mom was very difficult and defensive. She thought we were telling her what to do and she didn't understand that the rest of us are trying to help her. Anyway, the Communication chapter in this book is extremely helpful and easy to try Joy's advice. When we learned how to talk to Mom differently, she started doing things that were best for the whole family. Joy's tips worked. What's also good about this book is we didn't have to wonder if we were leaving anything out - everything, every problem and solution is described, and things we can do. I liked the worksheets since I am not a very organized person. I highly recommend that you get this book and if you have brothers and sisters, get them a copy, too and you can all work together helping your parents. It save us so much time and money. We handled a lot of problems over the phone. Thank you, Joy.

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Summary: This book uncomplicated my life
Review: My Mom and Dad were driving me crazy. I didn't know what end was up. They refused to tell me anything or do anything I said. Joy's tips on how to talk to them made all the difference in the world. Get this book now. You're going to need it.

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Summary: A real time saver
Review: One thing I hate worse than wasting money is wasting time. This book gave me all the answers - fast and easy to understand. The checklists are the best. So are the questions. I literally did not have to think of a thing - Joy gives solutions to every problem you can expect to find yourself in. Get this book if your parents are getting older. It saved me a lot of time and money.

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Summary: Elder Abuse and Fraud Colored by Law = Guardianship
Review: Reports of guardians stealing from their wards' bank accounts and other wise abusing guardianship powers are surfacing with disturbing regularity. 'This problem is going to get bigger and bigger,' says E. Bentley Lipscomb, AARP's Florida state director and a former state secretary of elder affairs. - GUARDIANS DRAWING INCREASED SCRUTINY, AARP Bulletin. Read also "The Retirement Nightmare" by Diane Armstrong. Get the real truth about the fraud and abuse of the elderly and not so elderly by corrupt probate system and guardians. To avoid a guardianship in the State of Florida, and other states, should be of paramount importance. Find out how to protect yourself and your loved ones with alternatives: health care surrogate, durable power of attorney, mediation and more. Consider that if you leave your parents to fend for themselves, and ignore the deterioration associated with aging, a guardian can gain a guardianship over them and their assets, without informing you. That guardianship will nullify the most meticulous of plans.

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Summary: have used and most helpful for course development-teaching
Review: this has been used as an educational tool for myself and my students. i am planning a course on the sandwich generation and their needs. i believe in preventative measures.this works for students