| Acknowledgments | viii |
| How to Use This Book | ix |
| Introduction | x |
| Chapter 1. | Caregiving and the Elderly | 1 |
| Eldercare | 1 |
| Three Elements of Caregiving | 2 |
| Chapter 2. | Making a Financial Assessment | 3 |
| The Four-Step Process | 3 |
| Collecting Vital Information | 6 |
| What You Need to Know | 6 |
| How to Use the Vital Information Form | 6 |
| Vital Information Checklist | 7 |
| Vital Information Form | 9 |
| Understanding Finances | 34 |
| What You Need to Know | 34 |
| Before You Begin... | 34 |
| How to Use the Financial Worksheets | 34 |
| How to Use the Monthly Expense Forms | 35 |
| Monthly Expense Form: Bill Payments | 36 |
| Monthly Expense Form: Cash Transactions | 37 |
| Medical Charges and Payments Form | 38 |
| Financial Worksheet: Part 1 | 39 |
| Financial Worksheet: Part 2 | 48 |
| Chapter 3. | Collecting Medical Information | 55 |
| Documenting Medical History | 56 |
| What You Need to Know | 56 |
| How to Use the Basic Medical Information and Medical History Forms | 56 |
| Basic Medical Information | 57 |
| Medical History | 62 |
| Keeping Track of Medications | 68 |
| What You Need to Know | 68 |
| Usage Guidelines | 68 |
| Pharmacists | 69 |
| How to Use the Medication Forms | 69 |
| Medication List | 70 |
| Medication Summary | 73 |
| Medication Schedule | 74 |
| Activities of Daily Living | 76 |
| What You Need to Know | 76 |
| How to Use the Activities of Daily Living Checklist | 76 |
| Activities of Daily Living Checklist | 77 |
| Chapter 4. | Caring for the Elderly at Home | 79 |
| Making a Home Safe for the Elderly | 79 |
| What You Need to Know | 79 |
| How to Use the Home Safety Checklists | 79 |
| Home Safety Checklists | 81 |
| Lighting and Electrical Checklist | 82 |
| Rug, Carpet, and Stair Checklist | 83 |
| Floor Checklist | 84 |
| Handhold and Support Checklist | 85 |
| Furniture and Accessories Checklist | 87 |
| Door, Window, Lock, and Alarm Checklist | 89 |
| Kitchen Checklist | 91 |
| Bathroom Checklist | 92 |
| Other Safety Concerns Checklist | 93 |
| Personal Safety Precautions | 94 |
| Assessing the Risk of Living at Home | 96 |
| What You Need to Know | 96 |
| What to Look For | 96 |
| A Geriatric Assessment | 98 |
| Assisting an Elderly Person Who Lives at Home | 99 |
| What You Need to Know | 99 |
| Assistive Devices | 99 |
| Volunteer Caregivers | 100 |
| Hiring a Professional | 101 |
| Services Available for the Elderly | 101 |
| Planning Home Healthcare | 104 |
| What You Need to Know | 104 |
| Arranging Care after a Hospital Stay | 106 |
| Monitoring Home Healthcare | 106 |
| Planning Home Care and Housekeeping Services | 107 |
| What You Need to Know | 107 |
| How to Use the Home Care and Housekeeping Form | 108 |
| Home Care and Housekeeping Form | 109 |
| Selecting In-Home Care Providers | 111 |
| What You Need to Know | 111 |
| Before You Begin... | 111 |
| How to Choose a Provider | 113 |
| Hiring the Provider | 114 |
| Caregiving from a Distance | 115 |
| What You Need to Know | 115 |
| Finding Local Resources | 115 |
| Visiting the Elderly | 116 |
| Preparing for Future Caregiving Decisions | 117 |
| Emergency Planning | 118 |
| Chapter 5. | Alternative Housing Options | 119 |
| Exploring the Choices | 119 |
| What You Need to Know | 119 |
| Continuum of Care | 120 |
| Housing Options Summarized | 120 |
| Independent Housing | 121 |
| Residential Housing | 124 |
| Moving In with the Caregiver | 127 |
| Choosing Appropriate Housing | 129 |
| What You Need to Know | 129 |
| How to Use the Housing Selection Form | 129 |
| Housing Selection Form | 131 |
| How to Find Independent Housing | 132 |
| What You Need to Know | 132 |
| How to Use the Independent Housing Form | 132 |
| Independent Housing Form | 133 |
| How to Find Residential Housing | 141 |
| What You Need to Know | 141 |
| Before You Begin... | 142 |
| How to Find the Right Facility | 143 |
| Admission: Knowing If You've Made the Right Choice | 146 |
| When to Move to a Different Facility | 147 |
| Paying for Nursing Homes | 148 |
| HCFA Nursing Home Checklist | 152 |
| Residential Housing Form | 155 |
| Chapter 6. | Advance Directives and Values History | 165 |
| What Is an Advance Directive? | 165 |
| Why Complete an Advance Directive? | 165 |
| How Does an Advance Directive Work? | 166 |
| Personal Values and Beliefs | 166 |
| Preparing a General Power of Attorney | 167 |
| Preparing a Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney | 169 |
| Preparing a Living Will | 174 |
| Values History: Helping the Elderly Make Their Wishes Known | 176 |
| What You Need to Know | 176 |
| How to Use the Values History Form | 176 |
| Values History Form | 177 |
| Chapter 7. | Resources | 189 |
| Choosing Professionals | 189 |
| Doctors and Clergy | 189 |
| Geriatric Care Managers | 189 |
| Financial Planners | 190 |
| Lawyers | 191 |
| Collecting Key Documents | 192 |
| Document Checklist | 194 |
| Document Collection Form | 197 |
| Telephone Contact Lists | 214 |
| Emergency Contacts | 215 |
| Caregiver Emergency Contacts | 217 |
| General Contact List | 218 |
| Caregiver Information | 221 |
| Networking and References List | 222 |
| Family and Friends List | 223 |
| Volunteers List | 224 |
| Other Sources of Information | 225 |
| Organization and Hotlines | 225 |
| State Area Agencies on Aging and Ombudsman Offices | 241 |
| Home Healthcare Hotlines | 253 |
| Internet Sites | 255 |
| Index | 259 |
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