Authors: Barbara Rothschild Allen and Lauren Barrett
ISBN: 1-932196-98-6
Publisher: WordWright

With an aging population and millions of baby boomers set to retire during the next two  decades, "Effective Elder Caregiving" by Barbara Rothschild Allen and Lauren Barrett could not be a more timely addition to the current literature. Although in better health than their parents' generation, today's aging generation is still likely to face an inevitable condition that will result in most adults needing some sort of institutional or home health care in their elder years. This book is, in fact, the result of just such an experience, both from the personal (or primary) and professional caretakers' experiences.

Indeed, the book is divided into two sections: the first, the story and anecdotes of a primary caretaker, in this case the spouse of an elder needing care, and the second, the approach of someone in what is sure to be a continually expanding job market, that of the professional caretaker who works in a home-based setting to supplement the care of a primary caretaker (usually a spouse or other family member). Both sections provide useful advice for caretakers, with the second half being the stronger, more detailed section.

Readers will come to this subject with a variety of needs, and this well-thought-out book provides a wealth of information on the subject, while acknowledging that each case and patient set of needs will be unique. Information is divided into short, manageable chapters, which can be digested easily in random moments available to those who are already facing caregiving demands. An extensive reference section, including worksheets, is also included.

Topics covered range from selecting professional caregivers to establishing routines to dealing with psychological issues to addressing a patient's decline, and much more important information on effective caregiving at all stages. It speaks not only to the needs of the elder requiring assistance, but also to the needs of the primary caretaker who may feel overwhelmed by the burdens and stress of caring for a loved one. The book addresses both immediate and long-distance oversight, immediate and anticipatory needs. In short, the book is packed with a wealth of information that can help anyone in any stage of caregiving.

Some may find the personal anecdotes and pictures included in the book unnecessary, while others will relate to the human story that gave inspiration to the book's creation. Everyone will benefit, however, from the strong research on relevant statistics that open the book. In short, for everyone facing a caretaking situation, this book has much to offer


The above review was contributed by:  Christine Zibas. Christine has spent all of her life in love with books, and most of her life working with words. She has a B.A. in Political Science from Western Illinois University and did advanced studies in politics and publishing at WIU, Oxford University, George Washington University, and Stanford. 

For many years Christine was an editor in the think tank world, editing books and reports on international relations and military studies. She worked at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. and the Johns Hopkins Foreign Policy Institute, where she served as director of publications. In London she was the editor at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.