The care and well-being of aging parents has been much on my mind lately. Both my husband and I have a parent who is facing increasingly difficult health challenges, and while some day-to-day routines can be maintained, others cannot. It is frustrating, frightening and stressful for all of us. So, how do we preserve our aging parents’ dignity while helping them to not only recognize and accept their declining health but also come to grips with the reality that help is needed, frankly more help than we can give. Without question, these are some of the hardest conversations we have ever had.
But, I know that we are not alone. Everyone at some point or another has to decide how to care for an elderly relative or friend; and like it or not, if a person lives long enough, you will have to face the very same questions about yourself. Fortunately, there are many resources available to caregivers and those in need of care including numerous books published on the topic of eldercare. If you’re in a similar situation as my husband and me, and you’re not sure where to begin, consider checking out some library books to help you become better informed. The list below is just a small sampling of what we have available, so if you need help finding other titles, please be sure to ask library staff for assistance.
By the way, “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?” by cartoonist and writer Roz Chast is a memoir about her parents final years. Written as a graphic novel, Chast tells their story through drawings and text, capturing every expected emotion — sadness, anger, frustration — as well as the unexpected — rare but much needed moments of hilarity — with her characteristic wit and style. If you need a break from the information overload you’re likely to experience after immersing yourself in the stream of eldercare resources, add Roz Chast’s book to your reading list. It will confirm that you are not alone on this journey.
• “Aging with Care: Your Guide to Hiring and Managing Caregivers at Home,” by Amanda Lambert.
