From Publishers Weekly
Berman (Making It as a Stepparent) here offers an empathetic guide to caring for elderly parents. Drawing from personal experience, research and anecdotal reports, she cogently addresses the emotional and physical problems involved, all the while emphasizing the importance of caring for oneself. Following the overview delivered in introductory chapters, Berman examines such specific areas as financing, trying to care for needy parents long-distance, sharing the care among siblings and coping with loss. Keeping a clear eye on the emotional component, which is inevitably involved in decisions in which children become responsible for their parents, Berman delivers sensible advice and practical help. Appendices include a Caregiver's Bill of Rights; lists of support organizations, including state departments on aging, with addresses and phone numbers; a bibliography; and a suggested reading list. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Caregiving for an aging individual evokes an emotional roller coaster of feelings and needs in the caregiver, all of which call for recognition and resolution. Through an expert weave of personal stories, her own experience, and expert advice from others, author Berman (Making It As a Stepparent, Carol, 1992) speaks directly to the emotional, practical, and financial aspects of caregiving. Berman writes in an easy-to-read and -relate-to style. Among the topics she looks at in this unique emotional resource are communication, boundary-setting, attention to the caregiver's needs, the guilt involved in long-distance caregiving, sibling stress, decision-making, loss and grief, the nursing home dilemma, and the future picture for caregivers. She provides a listing of helpful resources, a caregiver bill of rights, and a suggested bibliography. This is truly a one-of-a-kind book, with practical suggestions aimed at validating and supporting the caregiver's emotional coping mechanisms. Highly recommended for general collections.?Linda Malone, Walter Reed Hospice, Newport News, Va.Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
We are becoming a nation of caregivers, half of whom are over age 65; three-quarters are women. Berman's book is an invaluable safety net for adult children who care for aging parents. She uses personal experience, case histories, and interviews with geriatric professionals to blaze a trail for those who are "childing" (not really "parenting" ) mom or dad. The book provides the confidence and practical tools needed to balance the needs of the parent and the caregiver. Berman is adamant that the latter safeguard his or her own physical and emotional health to avoid becoming the burned-out "second patient." Whether the motive for care is affection, obligation, reciprocity, or an attempt to buy love or inherit money, Berman shows how to choose dedication over martyrdom, self-preservation over selflessness. There is also practical advice on adult day-care, in-home care, support groups, sibling tension, marital conflicts, and the dreaded nursing home decision. Berman's book is a subtle reminder that caregiving is a valuable learning experience, because some day the ones cared for will be us. Patricia Hassler


Midwest Book Review
Berman's title will likely reach an increasing audience of adults who find themselves caring for two families at once. From only child and sibling relationships to long-distance caregiving and support groups, this considers a range of issues related to caring for aging parents, from financial aid to long distance care programs.


Horizons
". . . offers support for the caregiver, plus solid advice on how to fulfill your parent's needs without turning into a martyr."


Review
"A compassionate book that offers support for the caregiver, plus solid advice on how to fulfill your parents' needs without turning into a martyr."--Horizons

"Berman's book is an invaluable safety net for adult children who care for aging parents."--Booklist

"This is truly a one-of-a-kind book, with practical suggestions aimed at validating and supporting the caregiver's emotional coping mechanisms. Highly recommended."--Library Journal



Review
"A compassionate book that offers support for the caregiver, plus solid advice on how to fulfill your parents' needs without turning into a martyr."--Horizons

"Berman's book is an invaluable safety net for adult children who care for aging parents."--Booklist

"This is truly a one-of-a-kind book, with practical suggestions aimed at validating and supporting the caregiver's emotional coping mechanisms. Highly recommended."--Library Journal



Book Description
A completely revised edition of this guidebook for adult children who care for aging parents, with new information on nursing homes and an updated resource section.

This helpful, compassionate guide for individuals who are involved in caring for aging parents, (and for those who see caretaking in their future) centers on the emotional stresses and needs of caregivers, while at the sametime addressing all the practical issues they are likely to confront. Claire Berman--drawing on her own experiences, the experiences of many other adult children, and interviews with specialists in geriatrics--discusses the wide range of emotions that can accompany caregiving.

Caring for Yourself, While Caring for Your Aging Parents provides the confidence and practical tools necessary to balance the needs of the parent and the caregiver. Berman provides an invaluable safety net for those going through a difficult time and emphasizes that the caregiver safeguard his or her own physical and emotional health to avoid becoming the burned-out "second patient. Berman shows how to choose dedication over martyrdom and self-preservation over selflessness. There is also sensible advice on common dilemmas caregivers encounter, including those involving adult day-care, in-home care, support groups, sibling tension, and marital conflicts.

Completely revised with a new chapter on nursing homes, as well as updated statistics and resources throughout, CARING FOR YOURSELF WHILE CARING FOR YOUR AGING PARENTS shows readers that there is much they can do to help themselves and their parents through the stressful and humbling challenges that so many of us face today.



About the Author
Claire Berman, a widely published author of books and articles, specializes in writing about the emotional dimensions of relationships. Her other books include Making it as a Stepparent and The Golden Craddle. She has appeared on national and local television and radio programs to promote her books.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

For women and men who are involved in caring for aging parents, and for those who see caregiving in their future, this empathetic and practical book focuses on the emotional stresses and needs of caregivers while addressing all the practical issues they are likely to confront. The author -- drawing on her own experiences, the experiences of many other adult children, and interviews with specialists in the geriatric field -- discusses the wide range of emotions that can accompany caregiving.

Through the voices of wisdom and compassion in these pages, readers will understand that they are not alone and that there is much they can do to help themselves and their parents through the stressful and humbling challenges that so many of us face today.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Berman (Making It as a Stepparent) here offers an empathetic guide to caring for elderly parents. Drawing from personal experience, research and anecdotal reports, she cogently addresses the emotional and physical problems involved, all the while emphasizing the importance of caring for oneself. Following the overview delivered in introductory chapters, Berman examines such specific areas as financing, trying to care for needy parents long-distance, sharing the care among siblings and coping with loss. Keeping a clear eye on the emotional component, which is inevitably involved in decisions in which children become responsible for their parents, Berman delivers sensible advice and practical help. Appendices include a Caregiver's Bill of Rights; lists of support organizations, including state departments on aging, with addresses and phone numbers; a bibliography; and a suggested reading list. (Feb.)

Library Journal