Every year, millions of people take on the role of providing unpaid care to family, friends, and neighbors--a job that can be overwhelming. Caregivers wonder: How do I coordinate the care my loved one needs? How can I get other relatives to pitch in? Who pays for all this? Written in a Q&A format, this easy-to-navigate guide is packed with information, problem-solving and coping ideas, resources, stories, and communication tips. Husband-and-wife psychologists Barry J. Jacobs and Julia L. Mayer have counseled family caregivers for over 30 years and cared for their own aging parents for a decade. They address everything needed to help parents, spouses, or other loved ones--from managing family conflicts to hiring aides to optimizing end-of-life care--in this wise and compassionate book.
Barry J. Jacobs, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist and family therapist who works with caregivers and care receivers in private practice in Media, Pennsylvania. He has written extensively about caregiving, including a long-running self-help column for caregivers on AARP.org, and is a sought-after speaker and workshop presenter. Dr. Jacobs is also a Principal at a national health care consulting firm. Julia L. Mayer, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist in Media, Pennsylvania, who specializes in working with women and has a growing focus on supporting caregivers. She is coauthor of articles and books on caregiving and relationships with her husband, Barry J. Jacobs, and is also a published novelist. Dr. Mayer is cohost of a podcast on psychology and social justice and a former president of the Philadelphia Psychology Network.
Authors' Note Introduction 1. Welcome to Caregiving 2. Assessing Your Situation 3. Taking Care of Yourself, Too 4. Communicating with Dignity 5. Caring for a Parent 6. Caring for a Partner 7. Caring for Someone with Cognitive Impairment 8. Day-to-Day Caregiving at Home 9. Caregiving Outside the Home 10. The High Cost of Caregiving 11. Collaborating with Siblings and Other Relatives 12. Partnering with Helping Professionals 13. When the End is in Sight--and Afterward Afterword Resources Index About the Authors
"This inspiring, reassuring, and easy-to-read book from two of the nation's leading experts in family caregiving will help you navigate this new landscape. Clear, helpful, well informed, and wise."--Katy Butler, author of Knocking on Heaven's Door and The Art of Dying Well "Family caregivers will repeatedly turn to this superb companion for support, advice, and affirmation. The authors' kindness and humility are palpable as they unflinchingly cover the hard questions caregivers face--many of which they experienced themselves. The compassionate language, accessible format, and nuts-and-bolts topics make this book a beacon of light."--Carol Bradley Bursack, caregiver support group facilitator and columnist, "Minding Our Elders" "Whether you've been caring for a loved one for years, you're just getting started, or you think you may need to do it soon, the AARP Caregiver Answer Book is invaluable, comforting, and illuminating. Drs. Jacobs and Mayer brilliantly mix insights from clinical practice and research with their own challenging experiences taking care of their parents. An indispensable resource."--Stephen Fried, coauthor of Profiles in Mental Health Courage "Expert authors address practical challenges--like how to prevent falls, find home health or respite care, and deal with Medicaid--and emotional challenges, like conflicts with family members and overwhelming pressures. The book describes helpful resources that many caregivers never learn about, such as financial planners, and offers tips you might not have considered. As a caregiver, you need to handle problems you have never faced before, and that your friends, family, and even physicians may not understand. This book is an invaluable resource to read from cover to cover or to hunt for solutions to unexpected problems."--William E. Haley, PhD, Distinguished University Professor, School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida-
