Paula Span

Several years ago my grandmother emerged from cancer surgery unable to continue living alone, a situation completely unanticipated by anyone in our family. It wasn't at all clear what the options were for her care; whether she could continue to live in her home of 50 years and if not, how to go about finding an appropriate place for her, and no one was very sure how to locate this sort of information. This book was what we'd needed, and will definitely be useful to other families as they assess and discuss care options, hopefully before these are actually needed.

The advantages and disadvantages of the various types of care are nicely detailed, and the subtleties of conflicts and control struggles among the older person, family and caregivers are not ignored - the author acknowledges throughout the difficulty of these decisions and the fact that trial-and-error and flexibility are inherent to the process.

The resource guide, especially the websites, may not be useful several years down the road, but it gives the reader a good idea of the types of organizations and sources available. The book is even more useful as a "support group in print," and as reassurance that no one is alone in making these difficult decisions; the experiences of others can be comforting and helpful.… (altro)

Washington Post contributor Paula Span realized she would soon become a caregiver to her aging father. Thus, she began looking at options and has compiled stories of families in similar situations. She provides frank information about each option including moving parents into your house, assisted living, nursing homes, and hospice. Through personal stories she explains the pros and cons of each otpion. Each chapter concludes with quesitons to consider.

She also discusses Medicare and Medicaid and what each one covers. Book and websites for further information are also included. The book is logically organized from early aging to end of life. Readers will come away well-informed and with a clearer pictures of the options available to their parents. This book is recommended for those currently forcing these issues or who will be soon.… (altro)