It was totally unexpected – millions of elderly people forced to stay at home, alone, to isolate from the Covid 19 Coronavirus. But this virus presents a pandemic all of its own, as families struggle in fear about how to care for and assist their elderly relatives that they cannot physically access.
Deborah Stone has spent her career advising others in the field of elder care and in her new book, ‘The Essential Family Guide to Caring for Older People’, the expert covers every aspect of caring for an elderly relative with practicality, dignity and compassion.
Synopsis:
No one wants to think about getting older. It’s true. At any age, when things are moving along normally day to day and everyone seems fit and well, there seems no reason to think about future problems that your friends and relatives might (and probably will) come across as they age. In fact, it might even seem a little morbid to think such thoughts, or possibly even tempting fate?
Yet there will come a time when you must raise these issues and, ideally, this should be before any problems arise. The Essential Family Guide to Caring for Older People is the ultimate source of information and help for families with care responsibilities. Deborah Stone draws on her extensive experience working in elder care to offer practical advice on every aspect of the field in-depth.
Topics range from how to get help immediately, legal information, care funding options, a guide to useful technology and advice on the main physical and mental health issues that affect older people. Plus guidance is given on dealing with social services and ensuring you choose the right care for your situations. Crucially, the book also offers help on how to cope as a carer with practical advice on juggling family, work and your caring responsibilities while looking after yourself.
“It’s all about informed choices,” explains the author. “And this isn’t the kind of thing you want to rush and “binge learn” what you suddenly find yourself in a position as a carer. I wrote this book so anyone can get themselves up to speed now. Look, three out of every five people will find themselves acting as a carer at some point in their life, with many reporting that it has an adverse affect on their own health. If you can cover some of the knowledge groundwork today, you’ll give your relative a better quality of life, and your own experience will be far more positive.”
Continuing, “Many people don’t consider that being a carer isn’t often a lone full-time job; it’s a full-time job that you must juggle around your existing career, family commitments, social life and self-care. Learning how to exercise balance is what makes the difference between informed choices and ultimately successful care. This book will give you everything you need to get started in the right way.”
Reviews for the volume have been extremely positive. One reader comments, “I really don’t think you will find a more comprehensive and relevant book about this subject than The Essential Family Guide to Caring for Older People. It’s packed full of every single piece of information you need such as Lasting Power of Attorney and why it’s so important to have it in place, help for carers, information on different medical conditions, keeping older people in contact with the outside world, dietary guidelines and so very much more. Everything has been thoroughly researched and is cross referenced with website addresses for a more comprehensive information on each separate issue.”
EngAgeNet’s, Tony Watts, adds, “There has never been a more important time for a clear and concise guide like this – the care system can be a confusing (and sometimes perilous) maze, and families need to be well prepared and know all their options if they are going to make the right decisions for their loved ones.”
‘The Essential Family Guide to Caring for Older People’ is available now: https://amzn.to/2Tw7HzN.
