| |
| |
| Acknowledgments | |
| |
| |
| Introduction | |
| |
| |
| |
| Is This Normal? | |
| |
| |
| Common physical changes--hearing loss, failing eyesight, falls, foot problems, constipation, incontinence, shortness of breath, sexuality | |
| |
| |
| Health problems, after 65--Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease, strokes | |
| |
| |
| Mental health--loneliness, emotional changes, memory loss, depression and anxiety | |
| |
| |
| |
| Coming to Terms with Aging | |
| |
| |
| The parent-child relationship | |
| |
| |
| Understanding our parents | |
| |
| |
| Judging our parents | |
| |
| |
| |
| Getting Started | |
| |
| |
| Battered children | |
| |
| |
| Adult children taking charge | |
| |
| |
| Elder abuse | |
| |
| |
| |
| Staying Healthy in Old Age | |
| |
| |
| The elixir of life--keeping active | |
| |
| |
| Vaccinations | |
| |
| |
| Diet | |
| |
| |
| Cigarettes and alcohol | |
| |
| |
| Safe driving | |
| |
| |
| Maintaining a positive mental attitude--helping your parents stay positive and optimistic meditation and prayer, peak moments | |
| |
| |
| Continuing to work | |
| |
| |
| Visiting the doctor--choosing a family doctor, knowing your medications | |
| |
| |
| |
| Helping Parents Stay at Home | |
| |
| |
| Elderly denial | |
| |
| |
| Preventing accidents--safety check, moving about, entrances and exits, stairs, lighting, furniture, electrical wiring, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, assistive devices | |
| |
| |
| Safeguarding the home for Alzheimer's patients--wandering, falls, tips, getting help | |
| |
| |
| |
| Planning Alternative Living Arrangements | |
| |
| |
| Long-term care--placement-coordination services | |
| |
| |
| Retirement homes/lodging homes | |
| |
| |
| Nursing homes/homes for the aged | |
| |
| |
| Chronic care | |
| |
| |
| Choosing a home | |
| |
| |
| Making the move as easy as possible | |
| |
| |
| Follow-up in the home | |
| |
| |
| |
| Legal and Financial Planning | |
| |
| |
| Maintaining assets after retirement | |
| |
| |
| Protecting your parents' interests--power of attorney, advance directives, guardianship, wills, trusts | |
| |
| |
| |
| Keeping in Touch with Out-of-Town Parents | |
| |
| |
| Conspiracy of silence | |
| |
| |
| Long-distance relationships | |
| |
| |
| You can't put a phone call on the fridge | |
| |
| |
| Gifts | |
| |
| |
| Parents visiting | |
| |
| |
| |
| Grief and Bereavement | |
| |
| |
| Come quick, your mother's dying | |
| |
| |
| The emotional maelstrom of grief | |
| |
| |
| The healing process of bereavement | |
| |
| |
| The rituals around death | |
| |
| |
| Finding yourself | |
| |
| |
| |
| Toward a New Age | |
| |
| |
| The aging process | |
| |
| |
| The free-radical theory of aging | |
| |
| |
| New and improved | |
| |
| |
| The graying of society | |
| |
| |
| "Cures" for aging and dementia--superoxide dismutase and DHEA-S, vitamins, testosterone, gerovital-H3 and H7, removal of the pituitary gland, cell therapy, chelation therapy, nerve growth factors, deprenyl, cerebral vasodilators, cerebral metabolic enhancers, nootropics, cholinergic drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, smart drugs and smart foods | |
| |
| |
| Fear of death | |
| |
| |
| A new society | |
| |
| |
| The old joker | |
| |
| |
| Epilogue | |
| |
| |
| Index | |