And Thou Shalt Honor: The Caregiver's Companion

Front Cover
Beth Witrogen McLeod
Rodale, 2003 M09 13 - 464 pages
One of my colleagues once said: There are only four kinds of people in the world--those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers. --Rosalynn Carter

In the groundbreaking PBS special And Thou Shalt Honor, producers Harry Wiland and Dale Bell bring to light the challenges facing today's caregivers. This companion volume picks up where the show leaves off, providing the kind of information and practical support essential for anyone in a caregiving situation.

More than 54 million American families are involved in the care of loved ones who are elderly or ill. And millions more will be affected in the years to come. If you're a caregiver, or you expect to become one, And Thou Shalt Honor: The Caregiver's Companion offers help and hope.

Page after page of useful advice draws on the expertise of the nation's top caregiving researchers and advocates, as well as the real-world wisdom of caregivers just like you. You'll find insights and answers on all aspects of providing care, including:

- Reaching out to a loved one in need of help
- Managing day-to-day caregiving tasks
- Accessing public and private caregiving resources
- Navigating the legal and financial maze
- Assembling a caregiving support network
- Understanding the changing family dynamic
- Surviving and thriving in the caregiver role

Complete with action plans and checklists for key caregiving issues, plus a comprehensive directory of essential caregiving resources, And Thou Shalt Honor: The Caregiver's Companion reaches out to all caregivers--and to those they love. Make it your companion for the caregiving journey.
 

Contents

CONTINUING THE TRADITION
3
PROFILES IN CARING
16
When a Loved One Needs Care
25
SHOULD I INTERVENE?
29
BUILDING BRIDGES
39
THE CONFLICT OF CARING
48
IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH
58
A FAMILY IN TRANSITION
67
COMMUNITYBASED CAREGIVING
231
HELPING HANDS FOR THE CAREGIVER
246
HOUSING OPTIONS BEYOND HOME CARE
260
Securing the Future
281
WHEN TO CALL IN THE PROS
283
MANAGING FINANCES
291
WADING THROUGH THE BENEFITS MAZE
306
LEGAL ASPECTS OF CAREGIVING
326

Preparing to Care
75
YOUR CAREGIVING SUPPORT NETWORK
77
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
92
TAKING STOCK
102
RELATIONSHIPS REDEFINED
115
Giving Care
125
EASING THE TRANSITION
127
GOOD HEALTH MATTERS
141
MANAGING ILLNESS
157
WHEN DRUGS DONT MIX
189
ADAPTATIONS FOR DAILY LIVING
199
CARING FOR THE BEDRIDDEN
211
THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER
221
Reaching Out for Help
229
Caring for the Caregiver
345
FEELING BAD ABOUT FEELING BAD
347
WHAT ABOUT ME?
356
PROTECTING YOUR PRIVATE TIME
365
CARING FOR YOURSELF
372
WORKING 9 TO 5 CARING ROUND THE CLOCK
389
PREPARING FOR YOUR FUTURE
399
Resources
411
AND THOU SHALT HONOR COMPANION WEB SITE
413
OTHER WEB SITES
414
BOOKS
416
ORGANIZATIONS
417
Index
427
Copyright

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About the author (2003)

Beth Witrogen McLeod is a consultant, lecturer, journalist, and author whose book Caregiving: The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss, and Renewal was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. She also wrote and produced an award-winning series called The Caregivers for the San Francisco Examiner. Her articles on eldercare and on spirituality and health have appeared in a variety of publications, including Good Housekeeping, Self, Family Circle, and Health, as well as on Web sites such as ThirdAge.com and WebMD.com. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin and the University of California, Berkeley, she currently resides in the San Francisco Bay area.

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