The caregiver's companion Caring for your loved one medically, financially and emotionally while caring for yourself

Caregiver advocate Brent offers practical advice for the millions of Americans who are looking after their ailing parents, spouses, or other family members, and who are often neglecting themselves in the process. A caregiver's cheat sheet helpfully summarizes her advice. Among her many useful tips: don't be fooled by assisted-living facilities that only show you fancy lower-level areas. Make sure you can visit your loved one 24/7. If not, a place could be hiding undesirable conditions during other hours. Brent makes good use of financial figures, though some are outdated. She also provides a list of resources (from the AARP to the website for hospice care from Medicare) which is also useful, though a bit self-serving: she starts it with her own organization, CareGiverStory.com. At times, the guide may raise eyebrows (Brent says she has interviewed more than 1,500 caregivers) and questions (she says her siblings filed restraining orders that prevented her from seeing her father during his final years of life). But overall, her common-sense take is solid and helpful for the many people looking for caregiving resources.--Springen, Karen Copyright 2015 Booklist

Not limited to addressing the needs of Alzheimer's patients, this compact manual from Brent, founder of Caregiver Story and Grandpa's Dream, two nonprofit organizations geared toward providing comprehensive support for caregivers, walks readers through the crucial issues of moving their aging loved ones into an assisted-living facility as well as discussing emotional, medical, legal, and financial issues with them. Checklists are provided for gathering important information. A particularly helpful chapter delves into the frequent dilemma of dealing with the loved one's resistance to even talking about these issues. VERDICT An excellent, comprehensive guide to everything both new and seasoned caregivers need to know. (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.