Caregiver's Essential Handbook : More Than 1,200 Tips to Help You Care for and Comfort the Seniors in Your Life

by Carr, Sasha; Choron, Sandra

• ISBN13: 9780071395199
• ISBN10: 0071395199
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-01-24
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill

Summary

For the 54 million Americans who currently care for aging parents and loved ones, this important resource provides essential information for solving day-to-day problems in the real world. The Caregiver's Essential Handbook includes valuable insights and commonsense tips from those who have walked in their shoes: nursing professionals, physical therapists, social workers, and loving family members whose creativity and resurcefulness offer immediate help to those in need. Here are practical solutions for saving money on medication; getting doctors to really listen; making life easier for people who are visually, hearing, or mentally impaired; and most important, taking care of oneself.

Author Biography

Sasha Carr, M.S., a doctoral student in clinical health psychology, focuses her research and clinical work on the health and well-being of elderly people and their caregivers.

Sandra Choron is the author of several books.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xi
The Basics
Getting Started	p. 3
Where to Begin?	p. 3
Getting Organized	p. 9
Financial Matters	p. 12
Home Sweet Home	p. 15
Around the House	p. 15
Home Safe Home	p. 19
In the Kitchen	p. 25
In the Bathroom	p. 28
Crime Protection	p. 30
How to Protect Your Senior Against Fraud	p. 32
Keeping It Together	p. 37
Dress for Success	p. 37
Looking Good, Feeling Good	p. 42
Managing the Outside World	p. 45
Getting Out and About	p. 45
Travel	p. 51
Health Issues
Staying Healthy	p. 59
Sound Body, Sound Mind	p. 59
Eating	p. 65
Sleep	p. 74
Exercise	p. 80
Common Infirmities	p. 85
Depression	p. 85
Memory and Dementia	p. 90
Hearing Loss	p. 99
Vision Loss	p. 103
Incontinence	p. 108
Medical Treatment	p. 113
Doctors	p. 113
Medications	p. 120
The Hospital	p. 127
Getting There	p. 127
In the Hospital	p. 128
The Hospital Room Makeover	p. 135
Going Home	p. 137
People Who Need People
Staying Close	p. 143
Communicating, Connecting, and Coping	p. 143
Could You Just Listen?	p. 154
Staying Connected	p. 155
A Senior's Best Friend: The Joy of Pets	p. 167
Memories Old and New	p. 168
The Rest of the Family	p. 176
Getting Help from Other Caregivers	p. 181
"Help" Is Not a Four-Letter Word	p. 181
Home Away from Home: Assisted-Living Facilities	p. 187
Taking Care of You	p. 197
Staying Balanced, Staying Strong	p. 197
Final Words	p. 202
Resources	p. 203
Index	p. 207
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