Complete Idiot's Guide to Caring for Aging Parents by Ed.D., Linda Colvin Rhodes, Linda Colvin Rhodes

Living in an Ageist Society. Change of Roles. Fight for Independence. Fears. The Upside of Aging. You're Not Alone.

The Aging Explosion. Two Kinds of Aging.
Primary Aging. Secondary Aging.
Aging: Everybody's Doing It.
The Vision Thing. What Did You Say? I've Had It with Counting Sheep! The Hot and Cold of It. Now, Why Did I Go to the Store?

Hard to Hold: Incontinence.
What Can Be Done? Other Options.
Vision Under Attack.
Cataracts. Glaucoma. Macular Degeneration. Diabetic Retinopathy.
Diabetes at Her Age? Osteoporosis. Arthritis. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Why Your Parents' Mental Health Is at Risk.
Changes in Sleep Patterns. Medications. Fears. Multiple Losses.
Alcohol. When It's More Than Just the Blues.
What Is Depression? So What Can You Do? Can a Pill Fix It?
Suicide. Anxiety Disorders. Seeking Help. Lifestyle Changes: Good for the Mind.

Brain Attacks (Strokes). Brain Attack Lingo.
TIA. Ischemic Stroke. Hemorrhagic Stroke.
The Stroke Forecast. Preventing Strokes. Heart Attacks.Parents in the Driver's Seat. The Big Four “Widow Makers” .
High Blood Pressure. Cholesterol. Angina. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF).

Alzheimer's: Just How Common Is It? Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.
The Warning Signs. If You Think Your Mom or Dad Has Dementia.
The Three Stages of Alzheimer's Disease. The Big “C” : Cancer.
Your Parent's View. What Is Cancer? The Danger Signs. Getting the Diagnosis. Getting Treatment. Never Too Old to Prevent Cancer.

Getting Organized. Geriatric Assessments—Getting the Lay of the Land. Geriatricians. Coming Up with a Family Plan. Long-Distance Caregiving.
Advance Work. Making Your Visit Count. Cyber Seniors: Staying in Touch via Computer.
Geriatric Care Managers.
What Do Geriatric Care Managers Charge? Questions to Ask a Potential Care Manager.

Seniors on Drugs.
Drugs That Don't Get Along. Not Following Directions. Over-the-Counter Drugs. Different Bodies, Different Doses.
Working with Doctors. Working with Pharmacists. “I'd Rather Fight Than Switch” . Tips on Taking Meds. Buying Medications on the Internet. Saving Money on Prescriptions.

Finding the Right Hospital. Arriving by Ambulance. Consent at the Registration Desk. Medical Errors in Hospitals.
Infections. Physician Error. Bed Sores.
Becoming a Patient Advocate. Trust Your Instincts. If You Can't Be There. Home Sweet Home.

What Does Your Parent Need?
Homemaker Care. Home Health Care Aide. Skilled Care.
Searching for Providers. Hiring Through a Home Health Care Agency. Who's Who in the Home Health Care Biz.
Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and Supply Companies. Pharmaceutical and Infusion Therapy Companies. The Cast of Therapists.
Who Pays for What? Setting Up Ground Rules. Nurturing a Relationship. Be Careful.

Home Safe Home. Outside Safety. Inside Safety. Creating a Senior-Friendly Home.
Dining in: The Kitchen. Danger Zone: The Bathroom. Don't Trip Up on Carpeting. General Lighting Concerns. One-Floor Living.
Senior-Friendly Lifestyles.
Catered Meals. Pills on Delivery and Daily Dispensers. Easy Fashions. No More Bad Hair Days! Gadgets Galore. Can We Talk?
A Real-Life Story.

Services in the Community: First Stop, the AAA.
Senior Centers—More Than Bingo! Government Agencies. The Phone Book—Go for the Color. Senior Marketing Discounts and Services.
Getting Around in the Community.
Should Miss Daisy Be Driving? Assessing the Situation. Voluntary Restrictions. Time to Intervene. Using Public Transportation.

Senior Apartments. College Days Are Here Again: House Mates. Accessory Apartments. ECHO Housing. Foster Care: It's Not Just for Kids. Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs).
Check Out Their Financial Solvency. Ask if They Are Accredited by the CCAC. Three Kinds of Agreements. Questions You'll Want to Ask.
House-Rich but Cash-Poor.
Reverse Mortgages. Property Tax Deferral Program.
Moving.

Who Shouldn't Go to an Assisted Living Facility? Who Should Go? What Do Assisted Living Facilities Look Like? What Mom or Dad Should Expect. Who Regulates Them? Doing Your Homework. Checking Out Their Reputation. What Do They Cost?

What Is a Nursing Home? Who Goes to Nursing Homes? Who Pays?
Medicare. Medicaid. Out of Your Pocket. Medi-Gap or Medicare Supplemental Insurance. Veterans Nursing Homes. Medicare Managed Care. Medicaid Waiver Programs.
Targeting Your Search. Doing the Research. On Becoming a Detective. Watch What You Agree To.

First Things First: Assessing Your Parent's Care. Easing the Adjustment Period. A Rundown of the Major Players. The Kind of Care You Should Expect. Make Your Visits Count. What to Do on Your Visits. Your Parent's Rights. Appreciate the Staff.

What Does Your Parent Need? Sizing Up Your Life.
Your Work Life. Your Family Life. Your Ability.
Sizing Up Your Resources.
Space. Skills and Siblings. Finances.
Holding a Family Meeting. Making the Decision.

Getting Ready.
Organizing the Paperwork. Doctors Orders and Nurse's Notes. Accident-Proofing the House.
Your Parent's Bedroom. Nutrition—What's to Eat? Bathing Strategies. Caregiving and Dementia. The Need to Wander.

What You May Feel About Caregiving. Getting Help.
Join a Support Group. Involve Other Family Members. Take Advantage of Community Services. Hire Help.
Adult Day Services to the Rescue. Respite Care. Support Your Spouse. Knowing When to Let Go. Caregiver's Creed.

What Most People Want When They're Dying. Finding the Words. Coming to Terms with Dying. What Is Hospice?
When to Call for Hospice. Medicare Covers Hospice Care. Finding a Hospice. Questions to Ask a Hospice Provider.
Some Parting Words About Family.

Medicare: What Is It? Covering the Gap: Medi-Gap. Buying a Medi-Gap Policy. Out in the Cold: What Medicare Doesn't Cover. What's This About Assignment? Original Medicare or Medicare Managed Care?
How Does Medicare Managed Care Work? A New Alternative: Private-Fee-for-Service Plans.
An Ounce of Prevention .... Fighting for Your Rights. The Other “M” : Medicaid.
Who's in Charge? Spending Down. Help with Premiums.

New Rules: Dad's Got to Enroll. VA Health Care Benefits Package.
Long-Term Care Services. If They Don't Have It, They'll Get It. State Veterans Homes. Alzheimer's/Dementia Program. Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers (GRECCs). Cancer Care.
Burial and Memorial Benefits.
Burial at a Military Cemetery. Burial Expenses. Military Funeral Honors. Presidential Memorials and Burial Flags.
Tracking Down Old Buddies.

Smart Consumer Tips.
Doctors Who Take Assignment. Free Shots. Senior Discounts. Secondhand Equipment. Generic Drugs. Volunteer Services.
Long-Term Care Insurance.
How Much Does It Cost? Why Buy Long-Term Care Insurance?
Finding a Good Insurance Company. What You Should Look for in a Policy.
What Kind of Care Is Covered? What's a Reasonable Reimbursement Rate? Inflation Protection. Coverage for Alzheimer's and Dementia. The Waiting Game. Are There Eligibility Requirements? What's the Maximum, and for How Long? Waivers and Guaranteed Renewals. Fixed Premiums for Fixed Incomes. Upgrade Privileges and Nonforfeiture Protection. Pre-Existing Conditions and Exclusions.
A Word on Travel Insurance.

What's an Advance Directive?
Living Will. Durable Health Care Power of Attorney.
Federal Law: The Patient Self-Determination Act. General Power of Attorney. Guardianship—Are You Sure? Just What Is Death, Anyway?

The New Legal Beagles: Elder Law Attorneys.
Finding an Elder Law Attorney. What to Ask.
Talking to Your Parents About Their Assets. Where There's a Will, There's a Way. Letter of Instruction. In Trusts We Trust.
Testamentary Trusts. Revocable Living Trusts. Irrevocable Living Trusts.
What's Up with Probate? On Being an Executor: Honor or Headache?