Redefining Aging: A Caregiver's Guide to Living Your Best Life
312Redefining Aging: A Caregiver's Guide to Living Your Best Life
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Overview
Caring for an elderly family member can be overwhelming. But fulfilling life experiences are still possible for both caregivers and their loved ones, despite the stress and fatigue of caregiving.
In this comprehensive book, best-selling author Ann Kaiser Stearns explores the practical and personal challenges of both caregiving and successful aging. She couples findings from the latest research with powerful insights and problem-solving tips to help caregivers achieve the best life possible for those they care for—and for themselves as they age.
Topics include• Improving the quality of life for the one giving and the one receiving care• Distinguishing normal aging from early warning signs • Understanding caregiver sadness, resentment, guilt, and grief• Using strategies and skills to minimize an impaired elder's distress and emotional outbursts and the caregiver's own anxieties about growing old• Finding resources to aid in the care of the loved one and protect the caregiver from stress overload • Moving forward after the death of a loved one to have a meaningful life of one's own • Overcoming ageist stereotypes and deciding what kind of "old person" one will be• Making life easier for those who someday will care for us
Redefining Aging will help readers think differently about caregiving and their own aging.
Product Details
ISBN-13: | 9781421423685 |
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Publisher: | Johns Hopkins University Press |
Publication date: | 11/15/2017 |
Pages: | 312 |
Product dimensions: | 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d) |
Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
Table of Contents
Foreword, by J. Raymond DePaulo, Jr.PrefaceAcknowledgments1. The ChallengeA Blessing or a Burden?CaregivingWhether Spouse or Parent—Feelings of Loss or ResentmentThe Perils of "John Henryism"Having the Strength and Wisdom to Seek and Accept SupportAnxiety about Our Own Aging2. On Both Sides, Vulnerability and LossCaring for a SpouseLoving the Changed SpouseCaring for a ParentBlessings, Sorrows, and Axes to GrindA Word of CautionSeeing the Big PictureMixed Lessons from Our Elders on Growing OldFew Regrets"Tuning Up" for Old Age"Happiness Is a Choice"Drawing Strength from Nature's Beauty3. Is This Normal Aging or Dementia?Normal AgingCherry MarquezMajor Confusion and Behavioral ChangeHarry's StoryBellaThe Importance of Planning Ahead before It's Too LateSome Additional Red FlagsOptimal AgingYou Can Be Realistic and Optimistic4. Aging as Successfully as Possible—Both You and Your Loved OneThe Four Ages of LifeWhen Old Age Is in the Eye of the BeholderThe Importance of Rejecting AgeismLearning from the MastersDowning Kay: Born in 1907, Still Aging Well"Growing and Learning All the Time"You Can Reduce Your Risk Factors for DementiaCaregiver Self-CareThe Importance of Sleep and Social ActivitiesYou Can Improve Your Loved One's Quality of LifeThe Quality of Your Life Matters, Too5. Anger, Guilt, and ResentmentJohn's StoryNaomi's StorySophia's StorySusan's StoryTo Reduce Feelings of Resentment, Budget Your "Emotional Hospitality"6. Caregiver Stress—What Helps and What Usually Doesn'tThe Stress of Caring for a Family Member with Mild Cognitive ImpairmentsDealing with a Difficult, Dependent PersonLillian's DadJanet, Daniel, and Myra's MotherHonoring Our ParentsMost People Can't Afford Paid HelpThe ABCs of Effective Caregiving InteractionsIntensive CaregiversTake Advantage of the Many Available ResourcesWhat to Say When Others Offer to Help or Would Help If You AskedJust Don't Wait Until You're Burned Out7. Comforting Insights and Myth-Busting KnowledgeMyth #1Myth #2Myth #3Myth #48. You're Not a Bad Person Because You're Exhausted or Just Need a Life of Your OwnCindy's ChallengeMichelle CarterA Final Thought9. Truly Helpful Caregiving TipsWhen Your Family Member or Friend Is Newly DiagnosedCreative Interventions for Handling Hallucinations, Imaginings, and ParanoiaYes, There Can Be Too Much of a Good ThingAvoiding the "Catastrophic" Situation"Feeling Overwhelmed Isn't Surprising, Being Surprised about It Is"10. When Your Loved One Dies—Relief, Grief, and Moving ForwardJoyce and Her MomJoanne and Her HusbandAnticipatory Mourning and Feelings of ReliefSam and His WifeJoanne and Sam11. What Kind of an "Old Person" Will I /Will You Become?Facing Our Worst Fears"Stereotype Threat"Aging SuccessfullyMaking ChoicesAdapting to ChangeThere Are Many Ways to "Retire"—Be Sure to Choose the Right One for YouA "Convoy" of Supportive People12. Making Life Easier for Those Who Someday Will Take Care of You"Habits of a Lifetime"My NeighborAttention Family Members: Most Folks Don't Get Dementia!If Help Is Needed—at Home or in a Facility—Here's What Your Loved Ones Need to Know"Be Like the Sun"Gerald: Still Thriving but Planning AheadProtecting Our Loved Ones and Helping Them Protect UsThe Documents You Need and Where to Keep ThemLong-Term Care InsuranceBruce: Affirming Life, Planning AheadThe Gift to Our Loved Ones of Living an Active LifeA Meaningful LifeThe Many Rewards of CaregivingEpilogueAppendixesA. Helpful Books and VideosB. Additional ResourcesC. Legal and Financial Resource GuideNotesIndexWhat People are Saying About This
A comprehensive guide to the challenges of elder care for family members that is both practical and profound. This book distinguishes itself by its insight into the deeper psychological and emotional challenges of caregiving as well as the sources of resilience that allow some family members not only to meet the challenges of providing care but also to lead a rich, flourishing life.—Jesse F. Ballenger, coeditor of Treating Dementia: Do We Have a Pill for It?
Dr. Stearns brings her own unique skill set to the drawing board of the caregiving literature and suffuses the pages with expertise in counseling, grief work, and resilience. The main themes of this volume will resonate with caregivers of older adults.—Victor Molinari, coeditor of Supporting the Caregiver in Dementia: A Guide for Health Care Professionals
Blending her own experience with those of others and a careful reading of published material, Ann Kaiser Stearns offers a wide-ranging and thoughtful discussion of lessons learned about the joys and challenges of caregiving for a chronically ill loved one.—Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH, coauthor of The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss
A comprehensive guide to the challenges of elder care for family members that is both practical and profound. This book distinguishes itself by its insight into the deeper psychological and emotional challenges of caregiving as well as the sources of resilience that allow some family members not only to meet the challenges of providing care but also to lead a rich, flourishing life.
Dr. Stearns brings her own unique skill set to the drawing board of the caregiving literature and suffuses the pages with expertise in counseling, grief work, and resilience. The main themes of this volume will resonate with caregivers of older adults.
"Blending her own experience with those of others and a careful reading of published material, Ann Kaiser Stearns offers a wide-ranging and thoughtful discussion of lessons learned about the joys and challenges of caregiving for a chronically ill loved one."