Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #825121 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-13
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

From Publishers Weekly
It's no news that as American life expectancy increases, the fate of our elderly is in our hands. In her latest volume, editor McLeod, who was nominated for a Pulitzer for her Caregiving: The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss and Renewal, makes a strong case that caregiving also resides in our souls. The encyclopedic companion to the PBS special And Thou Shalt Honor reinforces Mcleod's positive theme: "Caregiving truly is a spiritual practice, a nonlinear path with heart"; "Caregiving has heart and meaning because it changes us for the better"; and "caring for a loved one ennobles every life it touches." Throughout this comprehensive and compassionate but unsentimental resource book, actual caregivers tell their stories, acknowledging their vast range of experiences and emotional reactions alongside a gamut of action plans, checklists, as well as medical and support networking information. More than 54 million Americans are caring for loved ones; they need look no further than McCleod's manual for openhearted encouragement and a plethora of practical information.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap
My mom has become so forgetful that I'm afraid for her safety. How do I intervene?"

"I want to care for my husband at home, but I can't quit my job. Where can I go for help?"

"I've heard of people having to 'spend down' their life savings to qualify for Medicaid. What can my parents do to protect their assets?"

Questions like these are part and parcel of the caregiving experience. Finding answers hasn't been easy. That is, until now.

And Thou Shalt Honor: The Caregiver's Companion examines all the issues that matter most to caregivers. Whether you're organizing a loved one's financial affairs, or shopping around for home care services, or contemplating a person's long-term care for the first time, you can find the guidance and support you need right here.

Of course, some issues can be complicated or sensitive, like advising a parent to obtain a living will or persuading a relative to assist with a loved one's care. And Thou Shalt Honor: The Caregiver's Companion helps tackle these, too, by providing specific strategies to steer through the most challenging of caregiving situations.

In fact, every chapter offers a wealth of information and advice to ease and enrich the caregiving role. You'll even find tips on caring for the caregiver--because, after all, if you don't look after yourself, how can you look after someone else?

Beyond all the practical solutions to real-world caregiving concerns, this book provides a welcome sense of community with others who are caregivers, whether by choice or by necessity. You'll hear from people just like you, in situations just like yours. You'll appreciate the candor of their stories and draw strength from their words.

Caregiving, after all, may be the most universal of life experiences. It crosses all world cultures and touches all ethnic groups and economic classes. As a caregiver, you're carrying on a centuries-old tradition--one rooted in love, respect, and above all, honor. With And Thou Shalt Honor: The Caregiver's Companion, you'll have the tools and resources that empower you to truly embrace the caregiving role.

From the Back Cover