Aging with Care: Your Guide to Hiring and Managing Caregivers at Home

(Paperback)

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Finding the right fit to match aging adults with the best caregiver to assist them in their home can be fraught with challenge. In todays pressurized world, the process involves overstressed family members and a shortage of great caregivers. So many adult children are seeking a helping hand and a friendly, experienced voice to guide them through this emotionally charged rite of passage.

Aging with Care: Your Guide to Hiring and Managing Caregivers in the Home, takes a personal, professional, and sometimes humorous approach to the challenges, benefits, pitfalls and problems of hiring in-home caregivers. Here, two geriatric care experts explore the essential credentials and experience a home caregiver should have, pitfalls to avoid, hiring options and managing costs, and the decisions that go into finding the right fit for your loved one to be able to age in place. Sharing stories and insights from interviews with caregivers and elders, as well as industry experts, they walk you through the ins and outs, and provide you with the tools necessary to making the best care choices you can for the ones you love.

Reviews

Most seniors want to age in their homes. But what if simple, daily tasks are becoming too difficult What if family members arent able to give round-the-clock care Where does the family turn Lambert and Eckford, both experienced in geriatric care, do a thorough exploration of the challenges of providing home care. Although Lambert advocates working through an accredited agency, and Eckford leans toward private caregivers, they agree on the importance of careful selection, monitoring, and communicating with workers. Its also important to both that the patient has a say in his or her care, that caregiver and patient mesh, and that the family is kept up to date on the elders progress. The authors provide checklists for deciding on the level of care, picking a caregiver, and monitoring day-to-day operations. They discuss security issues, potential abuse, and boundary setting. And they offer creative solutions when at-home care isnt working. Interviews with agencies, caregivers, and patients round out the coverage. Packed with practical information, online tools, and common-sense suggestions, this book will be reassuring for readers facing these important challenges. * Booklist *
[I]f youre faced with taking care of your aging parent(s), this book offers solid, reliable information on a multitude of questions.... The book abounds with real life stories that demonstrate problems, pitfalls and possible solutions.... [T]he book is an excellent guide. And a help for you to set guidelines for a time when you might be the one in need of care. * Chicago Lady Boomer Examiner *
Lambert and Eckford bring to life the terrors and treasures of managing caregiver help for yourself or loved ones. With their clear expert guidance, you will be an informed consumer, able to navigate the best choice for your care needs. Through stories, interviews, and resources I found they understand the care options from home to facility and where the pitfalls and advantages lie. As a daughter having personally experienced care coordination and as a care manager and guide to others, I know firsthand what a vulnerable task finding care in the home can be. Lambert and Eckford offer the tools to make care an opportunity for the best quality of life so you and your loved one can not only survive but truly thrive! -- Mary Jo Saavedra, CMC, CSA, CAPS, gerontologist, life planning counselor, and author of Eldercare 101: A Practical Guide to Later Life Planning, Care and Wellbeing
Lambert and Eckford have done an amazing job of bringing clarity to an issue that is often confusing and emotionally distressing, yet so important given todays aging and longevity trends. Through the use of real-life anecdotes, as well as their professional skills and personal experiences, they guide readers through the process of selecting a caregiver most appropriate for their individual circumstances. This is a must read if youre facing such difficult decisions, even if you think you already know the best path to take. -- Rob Pascale, Ph.D. author of "The Retirement Maze" and "Making Marriage Work"

Author Bio

Amanda Lambert is an Aging Life Care Professional, and Certified Care Manager who has worked for over 25 years in elder related services. She has worked in mental health, home health, and most recently care management and consultation. She is co-author with Leslie Eckford of Beating the Senior Blues: How to Feel Better and Enjoy Life Again. She is certified as an Advanced Aging Life Care Specialist through the Aging Life Care Association (formerly the National Academy of Geriatric Care Managers); a nationally certified Master Guardian; and a Care Manager Certified issued by the National Academy of Certified Care Managers. Amanda and Leslie have a website, Mindfulaging.com, where they post observations and articles on caregiving and policy, aging research, assisted living, technology, healthy aging, and the global challenges associated with taking care of elders. Amanda has presented to numerous professional groups through the years on a wide variety of topics. Amanda has been the chairperson of the Utah Gerontological Society; on the board of trustees of the oldest non-profit assisted living community in Utah, The Sarah Daft Home, and served on numerous other committees that advocate for elders. Amanda received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the State of Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services for her work in protecting the rights and safety of vulnerable adults.

Leslie Eckford is a licensed clinical social worker and registered nurse who has focused most of her practice on Geriatric Mental Health in inpatient geriatric hospital units and in community mental health centers. She is the co-author with Amanda Lambert of Beating the Senior Blues: How to Feel Better and Enjoy Life Again. Leslie has worked with geriatric mental health care teams including at the University of Arizona and the University of Virginia Medical Centers managing the treatment of psychiatric illnesses. Leslie has been a speaker in the community about topics affecting the lives of older adults including: Suicide in the Elderly, Resiliency and Aging, Issues of Intimacy in Older Years, and Hoarding.