The Family Caregiver's Manual. David Levy

The Family Caregiver's Manual

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Special Praise for The Family Caregiver’s Manual

“I’ve known David Levy for quite some time and am confident in saying he is clearly the subject-matter expert in family caregiving dynamics. The many families I know who have worked with David sing his praises loudly, which is testimony to both his knowledge and his compassion. The information on these pages will be transformative to those who read it and need the skills and suggestions offered. I highly recommend this book.”

Scott Greenberg

CEO ComForcare Senior Services, Author of the award-winning book Oh My God I’m Getting Older and So Is My Mom and host of a weekly radio show by the same name

“David Levy has been doing ‘caregiving’ since before that term was in vogue. In this book, David shares his wealth of knowledge. The Family Caregiver’s Manual can be a lifesaver and is certain to engender a higher quality of life for all who will be touched by this knowledge.”

Scott M. Solkoff, Esq.

Founder of Solkoff Legal, Florida bar board-certified specialist in elder law

“. . . a valuable tool that can assist and support unpaid family caregivers in their efforts to provide an improved quality of life for their loved ones while they maintain balance in their own lives. Educating family caregivers allows them to be better prepared to face the myriad issues that arise in caregiving.”

Charles T. Corley

Former Secretary, Florida Department of Elder Affairs

“David Levy has made an impressive contribution to caregiving with the comprehensive material in The Family Caregiver’s Manual. He skillfully and artfully helps the caregiver to answer questions of ‘what if’ in caregiving. His practical experience along with his masterfully crafted checklists and guides make this a must-read for everyone regardless of whether or not they are currently a caregiver.”

Christopher J. Metzler, PhD

President/CEO of FHW Fit and FHW Squared AARP Thought Leader

Central Recovery Press (CRP) is committed to publishing exceptional materials addressing addiction treatment, recovery, and behavioral healthcare topics.

For more information, visit www.centralrecoverypress.com.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

Publisher: Central Recovery Press

3321 N. Buffalo Drive

Las Vegas, NV 89129

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Levy, David, (Gerontologist) author.

Title: The family caregiver’s manual: a practical planning guide to managing the care of your loved one / David Levy.

Description: Las Vegas, NV: Central Recovery Press, 2016. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016000456 (print) | LCCN 2016010896 (ebook) | ISBN 9781942094135

Classification: LCC HV697 .L48 2016 (print) | LCC HV697 (ebook) | DDC 649.8--dc23

LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2016000456

Photo of David Levy by Paul Vattiato. Used with permission.

Every attempt has been made to contact copyright holders. If copyright holders have not been properly acknowledged please contact us. Central Recovery Press will be happy to rectify the omission in future printings of this book.

Publisher’s Note: This book contains general information about family caregiving and related matters. The information is not medical advice. This book is not an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.

Our books represent the experiences and opinions of their authors only. Every effort has been made to ensure that events, institutions, and statistics presented in our books as facts are accurate and up-to-date. To protect their privacy, the names of some of the people, places, and institutions in this book may have been changed.

Cover design by The Book Designers

Interior design and layout by Deb Tremper, Six Penny Graphics

To Family Caregivers Everywhere

This manual was created to support all those who have been, are, or will be unpaid family caregivers. Understanding how to ascertain realistic options in an ever-changing and increasingly more detached system is critical for all family caregivers. My hope is that with the help of this manual, you will be able to understand those options more clearly and be enabled to make wiser decisions. It is also my hope that this manual will help you attain the one goal my efforts place foremost: gaining the peace of mind that comes from knowing that as a family caregiver, you did the best you could with what you had at the time you had to do it.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. Today’s Family Caregiver

Are You a Family Caregiver?

2. Why Planning Counts

3. Positive Attitude = Success

Overcoming Guilt and Resentment

Letting Go

Benefitting from a Support Group

4. Building a Successful Plan

5. Why Document?