Your elderly father's memory is failing fast. Your increasingly frail mother just took another fall. Whatever the situation, The Eldercare Consultant can provide the knowledge, support, and encouragement you seek. Weaving together real-life stories with the essential information needed to make the best decisions, this compassionate and practical guide helps you: Spot warning signs of physical and mental decline * Recognize when a loved one needs assistance * Determine the level of care needed * Evaluate the options-family caregiver, home health care, palliative care, senior housing, assisted living facilities-and select the right one * Discuss the issue with your loved one * Understand and manage the costs of care * Make the adjustment as smooth as possible * Avoid caregiver burnout * And more Author and eldercare expert Becky Feola knows first-hand that caring for someone who is no longer in complete control is hard...and the decision to seek outside help is one fraught with emotion. Her book helps cut the confusion, and turn an undeniably difficult transition into a journey of hope and love. Nautilus Book Award Silver Award in Aging Consciously category "An instructional guidebook that provides the knowledge, support and encouragement a caregiver seeks... weaves together real-life experiences with essential information that caregivers need" --Peoria Times “I enthusiastically recommend The Eldercare Consultant . Having worked with the elderly and their caregivers for over 30 years, I’ve seen firsthand how the challenge of making decisions for your loved one can feel like traveling through a foreign land without a map. This book is a simple, yet powerful, guide to help you navigate your unique and personal journey without losing your direction, sanity, or love.” -- Bernice Wilson O’Roark, MSN, Retired Founding Director of the Ohio Hospice Organization; President of SilverSpirit; former Executive Director of ElderSpirit CoHousing; and family caregiver Caring for someone who is no longer independent and in complete control is one of the most difficult challenges many people ever face. Making the decision to seek assistance—and possibly place your loved one in an eldercare facility—can be equal parts difficult, complicated, and confusing. Weaving together instructive and inspiring real-life stories with the essential information you need to make the best decisions for you and your family, The Eldercare Consultant helps you: Recognize when a loved one needs assistance • Spot the warning signs of physical and mental decline • Determine the level of care needed • Evaluate the options— family caregiver, home health care, palliative care, senior housing, assisted living facilities—and select the right one • Discuss the issue with your loved one • Understand and manage the costs of care • Make the adjustment as smooth as possible •l Avoid caregiver burnout • And much more. Both compassionate and practical, this book supplies you with the knowledge, support, and encouragement you need to cut through the confusion, ensure that the people you love are getting exceptional care...and turn an undeniably difficult transition into a journey of hope and love. BECKY FEOLA is the founder of Assisted Living Advantage, which provides counseling, evaluations, and placement services for those seeking care options. As primary caregiver to a husband with Huntington’s disease, she faced the same challenges and had the same questions her clients do now. BECKY FEOLA, the founder of Assisted Living Advantage, provides counseling, evaluations, and placement services for those seeking care options. As primary care giver to a husband with Huntington's disease, she faced the same challenges and had the same questions her clients do now. Why This Book? If you've bought The Eldercare Consultant, you're not reading it for entertainment. Something has happened or will soon be happening in your life, and you need help. I'm going to give you that help. This book provides you with a clear, concise outline of the considerations you need to make and the steps you need to take in your new role as a caregiver. It offers practical advice; indispensable knowledge; and invaluable strategies, tools, and resources essential in guiding you through the various stages of caregiving. It aids you in making informed decisions regarding your loved one's needs and in understanding when you should seek assistance. And finally, it delivers a strong message of hope and inspiration by helping you to recognize that you are not alone in your struggles. Caregivers such as yourself won't be the only ones who will want to have this book on hand, though. Those who come into contact with caregivers daily--­be they physicians, nurses, case managers, social workers, religious or spiritual leaders, pharmacists, financial planners, or eldercare attorneys--­will find it of value to their clients. Finally, this book is not only a valuable asset to you,