Older-Adult-Health Books

"Am I doing the right thing?" Every adult child of a family member requiring eldercare asks this question. The Complete Eldercare Planner will help today's busy caregivers with medical, financial, and personal issues by condensing hours of research into a concrete plan of action. In one volume, readers will learn about emergency preparedness; how to tell when your elder needs help; talking about sensitive subjects; sharing the care; long-distance assistance; money and legal matters; health and wellness; insurance; housing; safety; transportation; maintaining quality of life; aging with a disability; death and dying; and more.

This carefully designed guide also presents material in an unusually accessible way, with dozens of checklists, step-by-step mini-planning guides, lists of low-cost/free resources, website index, questions to ask with places to write down answers, spaces to record elder's vital medial, financial, and personal information, and more.

This book is full of clear, common-sense talk, just the thing I needed when I bought it. Dealing with an aging parent can be tricky in the best of circumstances, and at worst can threaten the whole family structure. The level-headed advice in this book can help to keep things on track, and can help family members to develop the best plan for dealing with their particular situation, as it did with us.

I did a "speed-read" of the book in the 24 hours before a family conference. I did note a fair amount of repetition of ideas in the book, but that is not necessarily a bad thing: if you're reading just the chapters that seem most relevant, then that's where those ideas need to be mentioned. One bonus: reading the book made it clear to me that I need to be doing some elder planning for myself, and with my own children, to make things easier for them later.

For those who have been, or will be, managing the health and financial welfare of your elderly parents, this book provides very helpful and detailed guidelines on how to do this with tact and compassion, as well as providing numerous resources. I ordered copies for all of my siblings. Best resource I found on the subject.

7-22-05 -- Recently I found myself along with 3 other siblings and spouses thrust into new uncharted waters in a totally new season of our lives. Suddenly and without any training we were and continue to this day having to take care of my aging parents. I for one will freely admit that as a child I was never trained, prepared, nor exceptionally gifted to undertake such a task. It is just not the type of thing that you can ever really get to a line and say ready...set...go...and do it very well. Elderly health care in 2005 does not always afford us the luxury of any long preparation either emotionally or financially.

Suddenly unmercifully and usually without warning you hear over the phone in the midst of a busy American routine those words you dread. It's Cancer, a stroke, or replacement surgery, just minor or major operations which means weeks of homecare and hospitalization's, etc., You are suddenly no longer swinging a few bats warming up in the on deck circle there in safety at a bit of distance. But you find yourself thrust into the batters box. You are no longer the stand by just in case fill in player who dressed for the game just in case you would or might be needed. But suddenly with a phone call, you find yourself thrust without any prior warning into the batters box. You are to take charge with 3 others voices and votes, your parents primary healthcare.

Now, if you call a frantic call for "HELP" in the middle of the night when just the week before things were okay a warning, well then, you're doing better than we were. You find yourself suddenly up at the plate with bases loaded, two outs, bottom of the ninth your teams behind 3 runs. To top it off you're facing a 94mph fastball pitcher who also throws a mean slider called the reality of life. You have never been good at hitting these kinds of pitches. Much less being the homerun hitter the team needs at this moment and are all looking to you now for. Then you hear through your wife there is a book available on just such a thing. It allows you to calmly and logically check out all of your options. It tells you in simple language just how you go about walking through this difficult mine field you've been thrust into without training or any real prior warning. It tells you how to do this without losing your mind, your family unity, and most of all your parents dignity.

I found myself literally reading the pages of Joy's, "Elder Care" wonderful "How TO" book on the plane going headed to Florida. I was then going there for my Dad's 80th B-day party as well as a visit to help out for 10 days at my elderly parents. Little did I know then, that I would see those 10 days turn suddenly into 46 long and hectic days I ended up spending there. Little did I realize as I paged through this how to book on Elderly Care that it would be like a daily Bible to me. I was literally reading a chapter ahead of the events as they unfolded in the next days. It was giving me the answers to question I had not yet asked, but found myself doing so in the next days to follow.

As a former Eagle Scout, USMC SGT., Police Officer, Business owner, 20 years as a Lay Minister and being Happily Married to the same woman for over 26 years now, I'd received lots and lots of great training. Even you will have to admit that this background covers a lot of diversified and really good training. But nothing, absolutely nothing, but my Faith prepared me emotionally, physically, or all of us financially for the events that would suddenly and totally unwelcomed show up in the middle of the night. They just seem to attack you without ceasing on these issues when it's "Your Mom or Dad."

Thank you Joy, for the time it must have taken you and the wealth of information this book contains. I personally know that it was truly a Godsend at a time of crisis in our lives. It still today continues to guide us along these slippery slopes. But because of this well timed work of Mercy and Grace, we have maintained as a family, and continued to allow my parents their Dignity and somewhat their independence. I believe this book will help answer the question of the heart on elderly care and give you practical and timely information to steer you to through the minefields of elderly care life. You should have a copy on the shelf in your own homes and be reading it now, if your parents are near or reaching retirement age.

We waited and it caught us totally by surprise. But it didn't catch Joy by surprise...I personally believe that she was obedient to the Spirit of God to produce this work for a time such as this. Our generation will Thank Her one day I believe for her unselfish actions in writing this Elder Care "How To Bible" for the uniformed. The Word of God says that "...my people perish for a lack of knowledge..." I believe that this book is full of knowledge that will help us all in our moments of crisis and bring life and health to all who read it.

Thanks for listening to my lengthy review and a very special Thanks to You Joy. You just keep on writing Joy and we will keep getting filled with the great knowledge we all need and can practically use for our loved ones. God Bless you and again... Thank you from our families hearts to yours.

God Bless You,
David D. Spaulding

My mother in law needs so much care and we had no clue on what to do. We bought this book and we bought the 36-Hour day. We are completely sure now that we are making the right choices because of the tips in both of these books. I recommmend this book highly.

This book is really well illustrated, and when you look at the ages of the people in the pics and the exercises that they are doing, it should shame you into getting your new yrs resolution started.

Good book.

I look and feel younger now than I did 20 years ago! Thanks to the magic of "Forever Young". I love the easy to follow workout charts that come with the book. I even love to workout when I travel, now, because I don't want to stop feeling "Forever Young".
Carushka Jarecka
Age 51
President of Carushka Bodywear

This book is an incredible resource to both the novice or experienced in weight training. For less than the cost of one hour with a live personal trainer, you can have a proven schedule of routines at your finger tips. Take it to the gym, take it on the road........your portable personal trainer is there to keep you on the track to better health and a more attractive body!

If you are a personal trainer, you cannot afford to not own this book!

I've always wished that I had been born into this life with an owners manual. I've now found one in Frank and Karen Cuva's, FOREVER YOUNG, Your Personal Trainer.

I discovered weight training at age 63 when I finally decided to do something for the health of my bones. This book has been the perfect guide. The authors give step by step, easy to follow and clearly illustrated instructions on the correct path to weight lifting--without injury. And they don't stop there! With an engaging style they share their own personal stories of advancement in the arenas of bodybuilding and fitness (truly inspirational). They address issues of motivation, nutrition and age appropriate progression. Included in the book are enough workout charts to take you through an entire year without repeating a routine.

What comes through loud and clear in this book is that Frank and Karen Cuva really care about all of us folks stumbling our way toward fitness. Whether you work with a personal trainer full-time or you are your own personal trainer, this book is invaluable!

If you always want to be young, then this is the book you were looking for. Workout charts I received along with this book is really good and very easy to follow. This book is an incredible companion for the people doing weight training. Their instructions are clear cut, step by step, easy to follow and clearly illustrated instructions on the correct path to weight lifting--without injury.
I read the book and I thought, this doesn't sound too bad, but I found myself miserable. I just was frustrated after a week....it was very regimented. I did benefit by eliminating my coffee habit with the help of a wonderful coffee substitute called soyffee (www.s o y c o f f e e .com) Its made from soybeans which is a godsend for those troubled with hot flashes like myself. Another book I bought was the South Beach Diet book. I read that book and found the plan to be made up of things I would eat and the items were normal grocery store items so no hunting at the health food stores or buying online.

We have to be thankful to the authors for making us all fit and healthy.

How to Activate Your Brain: A Practical Guide for Older Adults. Book 1
Dr. Bragin presented in his book valid comprehensive program for brain revitalization. His research and practice have proven that described exercises can actually activate your brain and reverse the mental deterioration.

I had a privilege of meeting the author and see for myself the practical exercises that Dr.Bragen teaches you in the book that are designed to enhance memory capacity and function. This book is an easy read the way the material is laid out and explained. The font is large, great benefit to those who need their reading glasses for the conventional size text. Dr. Bragen has dedicated his life to cultivating methods towards helping adults with depression and cognitive functions and through this book you able to get the complete guide to learning how to tap into your own mind to ease the effect of stress and slow down the natural aging process of memory. A very inexpensive way to educate yourself on how to improve your memory and cope with stress.

This little book is a boon for those caregivers who have to deal with Alzheimer's patients and the elderly. Dr. Bragin shows that his simple and easy-to-do exercises can help increase cognitive abilities and improve memory. Some people think that a decline in mental acuity and memory is inevitable as we age. This book proves them wrong!

I find this book very helpful and easy to read ; the techniques are simple
and easy to follow

Dr. Bragin's book shows that the mind/body connection does exist and is important. By using developmental pathways from early childhood to re-activate the aging and stressed-out brain, he shows that positive outcomes can be achieved no matter how difficult the case. Written in easy to understand language, the book is a valuable guide for patient and health care professional alike.

Caregiving is a hot topic in books and magazines these days, but usually only a couple of aspects of caregiving are addressed. This book covers everything: what to do day-to-day; how to care for yourself, too; how to deal with simple health issues; and how to find support outside your home. The presentation is so accessible--charts, lists, illustrations--so you can go right to the information you need on any given day. It's full of other people's stories, which made me feel like we all go through a lot of the same things. It helps you do what you need to do and at the same time recognize when you're taking on too much, and what to do then. The book also discusses more medical topics (incontinence, falling, foot care, medicines) in a way that's easy to read and makes problems less intimidating. It Takes More than Love will help both the caregiver and the care recipient live better lives.

I checked this book out from my local library and found it to be such a wonderful resource that I'd like to purchase a copy to keep and read over. It contained very practical information, was easy reading (didn't talk in technical language) and will help me with coping in the stressful job of being a caregiver for my aging parent.

I've been taking care of my mom for about 2 years now. A friend recommended that I read It Takes More Than Love. It is filled with very practical, hands-on advice. I've already put lots of their suggestions to use. What I especially like is that it is written in a very easy to read style that is not full of jargon. Reading many parts made me think they must know exactly what I am experiencing. I'd recommend it to anyone who is caring for a family member.

Collaboratively written by gerontology expert Anita G. Beckerman (College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University) and Ruth M. Tappen (Christine E. Lynn Eminent Scholar Chair and Professor in the College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University) It Takes More Than Love: A Practical Guide To Taking Care Of An Aging Adult is a straightforward, "user friendly", caretaker's guide for anyone charged with the responsibility of looking after an elderly loved one. From learning how to balance one's time and needs, to assessing physical and mental well-being in one's charge, to communicating effectively with doctors and health professionals, It Takes More Than Love offers a wealth of solid, practical, accessible information and is a "must-read" instructional and advisory for anyone new to the task of looking after older family members or associates.

This book is written in a way that is never condescending; it talks to the reader as if one were sitting in their kitchen or living room. The content of the book is very thorough, concise, and informative. It truly is a Dr. Spock book for the older adult. I loved the sharing of personal experiences; they make one feel that they are not the only one living through this time of life as a caregiver. I also became aware through reading this book, of the importance of caring for self, even if the time needed for this is sparce. The ideas to achieve the time were very helpful. I highly recommend this book to all caregivers and also to all young adults to have to think about what they may need to know as they get older, and perhaps become caregivers.

What a wonderful book! The most fun book I've read in a long time. Makes perfect sense. What took so long for this one?

As one who has admired Dr. George Schofield's mind and work for years, I am delighted that he has finally chosen to share his research and perspectives on this very significant life intersection. While reporting as a social scientist, Dr. Schofield most importantly shares his own life long journey and his courage to live at life's edges. This authentic voice permeates this work and one feels that one has a wise companion for the road ahead. This central message has never been more true: we are responsible for what happens; I find this a powerful and positive reminder.

"After 50" is a must read for anyone facing transitions in mid-life. Dr. Schofield's book is filled with insightful tools to help navigate this often unsettling transition. My favorite chapter is "A New Framework for Skill and Agility after 50", in which he sets forth a learning plan with exercises designed to examine our own story and abilities. It is an enjoyable read filled with substantial exercises to help us develop our own path and abilities.

George Schofield has provided an easy to follow pathway for each of us to determine our "readiness" for life after 50 and beyond. For many of us whose "eye on the ball" was so intense that we failed to notice that the magic line of middle-age had come and gone, Mr. Schofield provides us with tools to reassess ourselves and our lives while "in transit." As one who has long crossed that line, the advise I've provided others in preparation for the later stages of life is "expect to be surprised." No one can anticipate all of the financial, social and personal changes which arrive with aging (including the welcome as well as the unwelcome). "After 50 It's Up to Us" provides tools for each of us to develop the flexibility often required to effectively respond to the arrival of the unexpected. I highly recommend this book.

Somehow I always thought I would stay young, but suddenly 50 is looming on the horizon! George Schofield wisely and in a very readable format lays it out for us: now that we are here, what do we need to do to take care of ourselves, our families and the rest of our lives.?

Schofield is smart, practical and gave me a lot of think about. I would reccomend this book to all those babyboomers who never trusted anyone over 30, and are now in our 40's 50's and 60's! Yipes! How did this happen? Thanks! I'm buying it as gifts to give to my friends.

Suzanne has written an insightful and most helpful book that brought so many things to light for me in seeing and aiding mom as she progressed with serious dementia and let me be at peace with her need to be out of her home and well cared for with people around her all day long. I refer to this book on a continual basis and always find it a wonderful resource. Thank you, Suzanne.

After reading this book I ordered copies for three friends. They all found it extremely helpful.

This book helped put difficult family dynamics in perspective and gave good suggestions on how to work through some of them. The stress related with trying to help elderly parents can be overwhelming, and this book gave great insight on how and when to help, and when to back off. I have used many of the suggestions in relating to my parents as well as my siblings.

This is a very helpful book for children of aging parents - I have recommended it to several people and all have found it most helpful.

This book saved my family. I read it, then got copies for my four siblings. When we came home to meet with my parents, we were all in agreement about how to support them, but keep them safe. Every chapter talked to us. It was as though Suzanne had been one of our family describing what we had all experienced. Thank heaven for this book. Our parents are accepting in home care and we can breathe easily about their safety.

This book would be helpful to anyone who has elderly parents. I like that it emphasizes respect and consideration for the aging parent, including the aging parent in the decisions and first of all getting everyone involved to agree there really is a problem. It outlines a plan for thinking through the particular problem and looking at all the possible solutions. It has separate chapters listed for specific common problems and gives an example of using the problem solving model. It contains resources for additional help if needed.

I followed the basic strategy of this book with my dad and after he died, wrote My Funny Dad, Harry in his memory which includes how we dealt with some of the struggles mentioned in this book. Consequently, we had a close relationship to the end.

At last, real solutions to the reality of the day-to-day problems/frustration when dealing with aging parents who are "DRIVING YOU CRAZY!" Great title, easy to read, valuable advice, and it really helped me cope better. The other book I also highly recommend is "Elder Rage," which is fun to read because it is filled with humor about this most heart-breaking subject. Both books will get you through it!

Joseph Ilardo and Carole Rothman effectively collaborate in Are Your Parents Driving You Crazy? to show stressed out adult children how to resolve the most common and frequently encountered dilemmas that arise from efforts to care their aging parents. Cogent, insightful, practical, and competent problem solving advice, suggestions, and observations are provided when an aging parent can no longer safely drives but is refusing to quit; detrimentally skimps on expenses even though they are not poverty stricken; refuse to see a doctor or ignore medical advice; want to move in with their children; antagonize home health aides and other support workers; are unwilling to discuss vital end-of-life issues and decisions; and more. Also of great and enduring value is the advice on handling adult siblings who refuse to help in the care and problems of the aging parent; resent the time spent caring for a parent; disagree, discourage, or undermine parental care efforts; steals from the parent, and more. If you are undertaking the responsibilities of caring for an aging parent, begin with a careful reading of Joseph Ilardo and Carole Rothman's Are Your Parents Driving You Crazy? It will save you immense amounts of stressful anxiety and bewildered frustration -- as well as substantially improve the quality and effectiveness of your efforts in behalf of your aging parent.

Are your parents driving you crazy? Have you shouldered too much responsibility for their care? Do your siblings ignore the problems? Is your own family suffering? Llardo and Rothman have devised a method to help you arrive at solutions to these and other common problems that face caregivers.

Before those problems get completely out of control, get and read this book. The method the authors propose has worked for others - it can work for you if you take the time to follow their method and do the problem/solution work. You don't have to be a martyr to your caregiving duties.

Phyllis Staff, Ph.D.
author, "How to Find Great Senior Housing"
and
"128 Ways to Prevent Alzheimer's and Other Dementias"

I enjoyed this book, but I wished there were more pictures. Sometimes I found my attention drifting because the authors used big words. Pictures, being worth a 1000 words each, would have kept me more attentive. Pictures could have made the book shorter, too.

It was an astonisment that a book could be so well organized.Count my vote in as a #1 seller!!!

Well organized, well researched and extremely precise!!! Thumbs up! The field of gerontology is benefited by this book. A true find.

I would like to say this book is by far the most succsessful book I have read on my part. I highly reccommend this book to any person in the health care these days. Great job!!!

... .

This book should be on the hands of every growing and conscious woman. Usually, we take so much care of others, that forget about ourselves.
When menopause arrives sometimes it overwhelms us because there are so many changes taking place at the same time.In my case there were more changes between my 48 to 53 years, than the rest of my adult life( between 20 to 40). And that`s too much.
This book is about giving us the caring and love we deserve. We are the life givers of humanity !!!! So buy this book and you will treasure it as a gift of love to yourself.

This is truely the one comprehensive and excellent book for older women's issues - health (mental and physical), lifestyle and planning for retirement years and beyond. It is clearly written and will be very valuable both in money saved and research based advice. It is a reference book for the life of an older woman.

After all those well-intentioned your-body-is-changing books your mother foisted on you years ago, here's a chance to return the favor. Like the rest of the Our Bodies series, this is a book that you want to have and keep and share.

A superb collection of essays on women's health. The information is up to date and plenty of good references are offered for anyone caring to do some deeper research on any of the topics discussed. Every woman over 40 should own this -- if she wants to know how her body works and where to go for help when it's not working right.

As a lay person anticipating residence in Assisted Living before all is said and done, I wanted to find out just what it is, how to evaluate it, and what pitfalls and protections await the residents. I had read Internet articles suggesting that there are problems with defining Assisted Living, that protection for residents varies from state to state, and that variations are great, even within states. Mr. Lawton's work, combined with B. Schwarz's Aging, Autonomy, and Architecture: Advances in Assisted Living, managed to provide me either with the answers or with an explanation of why there are still so many unanswered questions. Lawton's Needs, Practices and Policies in Residential Care for the Elderly presents the results of studies and investigations in a number of states, one a potential retirement destination of mine. Both volumes deal with the issue of "aging in place," which turns out to be an urgently important concept to those whose needs might be better served by skilled care (nursing) but an often unwelcome practice to those residents not wishing to be surrounded by the very frail. What happens to those wishing to age in place but who are unable to do so without risk to themselves? What are the issues of liability, as regards the institution? Marketing departments promote the concept of living in a "homelike" atmosphere, but architectural design has traditionally been dictated, and often still is, by practical needs and has been patterned after a "medical" (hospital-like) model, as is the typical nursing home. In the nursing model, the lack of independence and the hospital-like appearance of the establishment apparently contribute to the depression and despair of many residents. What kinds of building styles lend themselves better to the creation of a more homelike atmosphere? Mr. Lawton's studies deal with most of these issues, and his conclusions tend to confirm the information of the other text. The difference? Mr. Lawton's work, as suggested, is based upon studies executed in several states. Mr. Schwarz has compiled a text containing a variety of articles by respected experts in the field from around the country. Both books are valuable because they arrive at many similar conclusions, using different approaches. Mr. Lawton's is a hardback text, perhaps one that more easily fits the bookshelf. But both are excellent, and both enabled me to have a well-informed interview with an assisted living administrator. The lay reader can appreciate these texts by reading attentively, and the elder care administrator will undoubtedly find well-documented discussion and many names familiar to those in the field -- features that would make this a worthwhile text in the office.

This thoroughly researched, scholarly book is just as valuable to the consumer seeking to learn more about assisted living, as it is to healthcare professionals, students of gerontology, and policymakers. The authors have amassed a wealth of information concerning key issues in assisted living, including the evolution and future direction of long term care in the U.S., as well as policy and regulations across states.

Each chapter is written by professionals who are experts in their field. I highly recommend Part II of the book, which focuses on assisted living in four specific states, illustrating the diverse nature of long-term care facilities. Topics such as physical environment, characteristics of residents, types of care provided, special concerns related to dementia, and financial issues are all explored in depth.

As an eldercare executive who works with assisted living facilities across the country, I believe it is crucial for all of us to have a thorough knowledge base in order to make informed decisions about care for our loved ones.