Bart J. Mindszenthy

A compendium of family scenarios for those dealing with the guilt, worry, and difficult decisions that come with eldercare. Is it time for your aging father to stop driving? How can you balance your career opportunities with your mother’s care needs? Can your parents cope on their own? Is it time for long-term care? Given their reluctance, is that even an option? Millions of people are dealing with aging parents and are stunned by the complexities and demands of their care. As demographics change and societies adapt, that caring — that parenting — isn’t getting any simpler. In the fourth edition of this eldercare classic, advocate Bart J. Mindszenthy and geriatrician Dr. Michael Gordon present twenty-four case studies of families working through the eldercare puzzle. With new scenarios, such as legalized marijuana and medical assistance in dying, this revised and updated edition makes the case for good planning, family unity, and being aware of your loved ones’ health. With the help of Gordon and Mindszenthy’s expert advice, care providers are able to shed guilt and worry and become confident that they have done all they can to make their parents’ latter years as fulfilling and comfortable as possible.

This latest, enhanced and updated edition will help guide the thinking of those challenged with aging in the family. Since the last edition in 2006, much has happened in the field of eldercare. There is now an increasing awareness of the complex challenges posed by the expanding aging population in North America. When our parents reach a certain age and have difficulty coping, we find ourselves wondering how to provide them with the kind of love, care, support, and attention they need, just as they have done for us all our lives. The third edition of Parenting Your Parents shows, through 24 case studies and the personal experiences of the authors, that you are not alone and offers crucial advice to help you along this difficult but rewarding journey. It also offers a new Vulnerability Index to measure what level of need your parents may have right now, as well as a financial planning section and resource directory.

When our parents reach a certain age and have difficulty coping, we find ourselves wondering how to provide them with the kind of love, care, support, and attention they need just as they have done for us all our lives. Parenting Your Parents shows, through 20 case studies and the personal experiences of the authors, that you are not alone and offers crucial advice to help you along this difficult but rewarding journey. The book also offers a comprehensive planner to guide and collect information and documentation that will be critical for the proper care of your parents.