Parenting Your Parents

by Mindszenthy, Bart J.

• ISBN13: 9781550026641
• ISBN10: 155002664X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-12-15
• Publisher: Dundurn Pr Ltd

Summary

When our parents reach a certain age and have difficulty coping, we find ourselves wondering how to provide them with the kind of love, care, support, and attention they need -- just as they have done for us all our lives. 'Parenting Your Parents' shows, through 20 case studies and the personal experiences of the authors, that you are not alone and offers crucial advice to help you along this difficult but rewarding journey. The book also offers a comprehensive planner to guide and collect information and documentation that will be critical for the proper care of your parents.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	9	(2)
Foreword by Dr. Kenneth L. Minaker	11	(3)
Introduction The Case for the Cause: Parent Care Is a Major Social Issue and Challenge	14	(5)
Parenting Your Parents: Stepping into the Unknown	19	(9)
The Rocky Road of Responsibility	28	(7)
TWENTY FAMILY CASE STUDIES
Case Study 1 Control: Laying on the Guilt Trip	35	(7)
Case Study 2 Surgery: Weighing the Odds	42	(8)
Case Study 3 Eldertravel: Balancing Risks and Benefits	50	(7)
Case Study 4 Independence: Helping Parents Live Their Lives	57	(8)
Case Study 5 Breaking the Mold: The Rebellious Grandmother	65	(7)
Case Study 6 Culture Clash: Pitting Values against Needs	72	(9)
Case Study 7 Substance Abuse: Drinking All Day Keeps Reality Away	81	(7)
Case Study 8 Sexuality, Romance, and the Family: When Children Worry about Their Parents	88	(7)
Case Study 9 Tapping the Human Spirit: It's Never Too Late to Create	95	(8)
Case Study 10 Siblings: In Charge and on the Attack	103	(8)
Case Study 11 The Conflicted Single Child: A Confusing Battle of Priorities	111	(9)
Case Study 12 The Stroke: Sudden Challenges and Changes	120	(6)
Case Study 13 Dementia and Depression: Reading the Signs	126	(8)
Case Study 14 Advancing Dementia: When Life Gets More Difficult	134	(9)
Case Study 15 The Difficulties of Decision-Making: Deciding What Treatments Make the Most Sense	143	(8)
Case Study 16 We're on Our Own: How to Plan for the Future	151	(8)
Case Study 17 Finding a New Life: Corrections and Concerns	159	(7)
Case Study 18 Decision Time: Planning for the Inevitable	166	(6)
Case Study 19 End of Life: Caring and Sharing	172	(7)
Case Study 20 Moving On: Living Life without a Loved One	179	(8)
OUR OWN EXPERIENCES
Roz and Max by Michael Gordon	187	(29)
A Week of Trauma Sets the Stage for Hurt and Hope, Endings and Ongoings by Bart Mindszenthy	216	(40)
TOOLS TO HELP YOU
Personal Parenting Planner	256	(35)
A Financial Primer: Managing Your Parents' Finances	291	(6)
Resource Directory	297