Rating: 
Summary: Harrowing tale, but annoying writing style
Review: The book details its author's harrowing struggle to look after her aged and declining parents in the face of her father's irrational and violent rage and resentment toward all her attempts and toward those she employs to help with home care. The father's condition is not resolved by book's end, and seems insoluble. The author suggests that it stems from an unhappy childhood, although misuse of some prescription drugs is implicated.The author's intrusive and overly cute writing style distracts from this hair-raising yarn. Perhaps she was overcompensating for the grief she was suffering. I found the book hard to get through, because of the story and the writing style. Persons facing a family situation similar to the author's would probably find at least moral support in these pages and maybe some practical help. And there are 70 pages of appendixes dealing with causes of rage, behavior modification, long-term-care insurance, and Alzheimer's disease that might prove more useful.
Rating: 
Summary: Humor Is the Best Medicine
Review: Jacqueline Marcell is the perfect person to help those who must care for aging parents. She has been there, done that. She is an ideal guide through what is often a limbo of survival by hook or crook because she has a sense of humor. Marcell teaches by example. With a light heart she tells of her own experiences with an aging father and with a system that can be far more exasperating than dealing with her difficult father. The light heart did not come easily. Because of the hard-earned know-how Marcell shares in "Elder Rage," the process will be much easier for you. This book has been endorsed by many self-help gurus including John Bradshaw and Bernie Siegel. It has a succinct and well-written addendum on treating dementia by Rodman Shankle, MS, MD. He is the former medical direct of the University of California at Irvine's Alzheimer's Center. Occasionally Marcell lapses into lingo that may be too hip for some; because of that, it might not be understood by some of those in-between generations who aren't suffering from Alzheimer's (yet!), but mostly the humor comes through loud and clear and does exactly what it should do. Pain and love are often inextricably intertwined; following Marcell's story is like reading any good memoir. Because it's told from the heart, we identify and learn and then learn some more.
------------- (Carolyn Howard-Johnson [author of] "Harkening"
Rating:
Summary: Must-read for children of "elder " parents
Review: Even if your elder parent is not "raging", you will find this book informative and useful. It provides, in a humorous and entertaining way, a detailed account of not only what to do, but, just as important, what not to do. I truly enjoyed the author's humor and writing style - to the point where this was almost like reading a novel - you didn't want to put it down, you never knew what was going to happen next in the tales of Jekyll and Hyde!
Rating:
Summary: A caregivers handbook
Review: The first part of the book will make you laugh cry and mad .The last half of the book gives you al the practical data that every caregiver needs.Jacqueline has fulfilled a great need in the caregiver "profession".This is a must read book!!
Rating:
Summary: Elder Rage , or take my Father ...Please
Review: This book has saved the quality of my life,my families life and the life of my MOM!I have read this book last year January,when my mother was put into a mental hospital in Germany because of dementia.Becaus of Jaquelines information re.medication and her wonderful advice I had the courage and determination not to believe the Drs. and stood up to them.My Mom was supposed to go into a nursing home with 24 hour supervision,thanks to this book and the advice given she is now been living for 11 month with minimumhelp in her own home and she has agreed to come to the US for the Christmas holiday.I will pick her up and bring her back and she was able to make that decision by herself.Thanks ,Jaqueline Marcell,you helped many people.In my opinion this book should get an award
because it was also written with love and understanding and all the emotion one goes through when you have a loved one suffering from this desease.I just e-mailed Jaqueline (I only know her from her book),I needed to let her know how helpful she has been to my family and I got an answer back 30min.later,with other great advice.I feel this book should be read by anyone which has the slightest questions or worries on what to do when someone they love or know suffers from dementia.Thanks,Jaqueline and Amazon for getting the word out.Helga Wetzold,Florida
Rating:
Summary: What a story!
Review: In this highly acclaimed book, Jacqueline Marcell tells her caregiving story that reads like a movie: of her raging dementia patient father, of her sweet feeble mother, and of her "Amazing Ariana", the creative caregiver who helped her through it all. Jacqueline gave up a career as a television executive to care for her parents, but she didn't give up adventure-- as we who have been caregivers know, there are surprises everyday around Alzheimer's/dementia patients. Jacqueline also has an Internet radio show called "Coping with Caregiving", and I've been one of the honored guests! (Thank you so much Jacqueline!) As she interviewed me, I felt such a kinship with Jacqueline, having shared similar experiences, the same emotions of frustration, guilt, and grief, and now, the same mission-- helping others to avoid the mistakes we made in caregiving.
Rating:
Summary: Elder Care
Review: This is an excellent book for anyone who is taking care of elderly parents, or really anyone who is in anyway involved in the care of seniors. Jacqueline Marcell does a great job of sharing her experiences, and having taken care of my own parents, I could relate to her experiences - the happy and the sad. As she said, I wish I knew then what I know now. That is why I think it would be very useful for caregivers to read this book - it will benefit the caregivers and the people they are taking care of.
Rating:
Summary: Humor, Help and Information
Review: This just happened to be the first book I read on Dementia after my mother was diagnosed and I couldn't put it down. I passed it on to my sister and we used many of Jacqueline's ideas in our own situation. The wealth of information written in layman's terms was so helpful. Some books required a physicians knowlege and were not practical. I plan to give it to our children to read just in case.
Rating:
Summary: Ph.d on Aging With Dignity
Review: At first, I will admit that although I love humor, the first 4 pages were distracting to read. But then, I slowed down, imagined myself in the position of having to take care of an aging parent, and all that goes with that. In this book, this woman who had been in a few careers that had not prepared her for what it is like to live for 9 months of constant drama, with a father who was frightened, aging and damn sure unable to admit what he was experiencing. This book, written from a true life experience, capturing day to day details, and challenges, is a wonderful book for not just those whose parents need Senior Care Facilities. This book is a great view into what could happen, and a reminder of how important that it is to live our lives purposefully, while we can. Besides the details, her feelings and the reactions of those around her, as Marcell went through this change in her own life, it is wonderful to note the easy to follow reference material, located at the end of the book. I am happy to see and read this book, because too many of our seniors do not get the kind of care, and support that they desperately need, to live their lives with dignity. With this book Marcell is making a difference in the quality of life for all of us, because as she demonstrates in this book, we are all deeply changed by our loved ones whose behavior becomes what seems and may be bazaar. There are options, and there is calmness after the storm.
Rating:
Summary: Elder Rage
Review: This book is an invaluable source for caregivers. I am an only child taking care of my mother with dementia. Her doctor always felt she was fine although I saw the symptoms and assumed it was her age and not a condition. Jacqueline Marcell writes with humor, but on a serious subject. We are not alone in our frustrations with the system or being able to gain help. ... She has dedicated herself to helping others in their quest with alzheimer's disease and dementia. It is so hard to accept our parents' disease without help from the medical profession and that is not always available! This book was a wealth of advice and wisdom. She made me accept a very hard situation and know that I could cope with this maddening disease.
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