The Complete Eldercare Planner by Joy Loverde

THE COMPLETE ELDERCARE PLANNER by Joy Loverde is subtitled “Where to Start, Which Questions to Ask, and How to Find Help.”  This is a fourth edition to a helpful guide on a subject that is quite complex and very emotional. Loverde, a business advisor, and media spokesperson about aging and caregiving, outlines some key points at the beginning of each chapter and then asks questions and lists points to pursue, usually ending with a checklist. In fact, she supplies roughly fifty worksheets, questionnaires, and checklists.  Chapter topics range from establishing a care team to choosing housing to managing medical care. Throughout, there is emphasis on protecting caregivers, on financial planning, and overall quality of life for all concerned.  Loverde also includes a helpful glossary of terms, notes and references, plus an “organizations index” with contact for hundreds of related groups. The eldercare industry will only grow as America ages and The New York Times recently ran a couple of articles, “What to Know About Assisted Living” and “Extra Fees Drive Assisted-Living Profits” which highlight the many opportunities for confusion and abuse. I was able to see a digital version of THE COMPLETE ELDERCARE PLANNER, but I think it would be helpful to see a print one, too. While the text seems geared to seniors with resources, it does raise issues of concern to all. Providing helpful information like this, streamlining the entire process, and making it more equitable would allow families to spend increased time with their elders and to more fully appreciate that we all have much for which to be grateful.