Visiting Angels of Fairfield and Brookfield Recommends the Elder Care Book "Don't Give Up on Me!"

For families facing elder care issues for the first time, Don’t Give Up on Me! is a great resource. You can be pulled into the world of Jan Simpson, where she can offer advice for those making the tough life decisions that eventually need to be made-- decisions that involve the support necessary to care for aging loved ones. Simpson is obvious and informative in her writing about the medical, familial, legal, and financial challenges. Readers are provided with a guide from the beginning of the aging process to the end, showing how Simpson has juggled being a parent, keeping up with personal responsibilities, maintaining relationships with friends and siblings, as well as caring for her parents. 

Some selected elder care advice from the book:

• Legal Matters: While your parents are still well, ask them to work with a lawyer to have both a durable power of attorney and a home care proxy/power of attorney established. They should also talk about asset protection with a lawyer who specializes in elder law. It is vital for your parents to determine who will make their life and health decisions when they are no longer able to, state what medical care you want or do not want, how you want to be treated, how comfortable you want you be, and what you want your loved ones to know.
• Organize Key Documents:  This can be a lengthy project that can take months to years to get all your parent’s documents compiled. This is a good project to have your parents complete before it is too late for them to do so. Files such as insurance and financial records should be gathered for future reference. Once compiled, be sure to place your parent’s lawyer, tax accountant, and other important advisors’ contact information in there, as well.
  
• The Danger of Drugs: Medicine can cure infections, reduce symptoms, and extend a person’s life. However, be cautious of medication as to avoid symptoms of drug use like hallucinations, dizziness, and what appears to be the start of dementia can be caused simply by taking the wrong medication, incorrect dosage, or during the wrong time of day. Keep a list of medications and your parent’s medication habits and have their full medication regimen reviewed by a pharmacist and then by their primary physician.
  
• Help for the Family Caregiver: If you are not your parent’s primary caregiver, you still need to support your family! Everyone needs a break, so be sure to provide that to your sibling who is taking on most of the work involved with elder care. Letting go, relaxing, maintaining connections with friends, laughing, and personal time are all requirements to care for a loved one for an extended time. People need to recharge to be able to provide good care. Help by preparing meals, babysit their kids, be a shoulder to lean on, and give them a person to vent to.

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Buy the book "Don't Give Up on Me!" - all profits from the book are donated to elder care organizations. Contact our agency today to learn more!