Elder Care Made Easier:
Doctor Marion’s 10 Steps to Help You Care for an Aging Loved One

“Elder Care Made Easier: Doctor Marion’s 10 Steps to Help You Care for an Aging Loved One” draws from her wealth of experience and knowledge to lay out a 10 step elder care plan for everyday individuals. By implementing one, two, or all ten steps, caregivers will quickly feel more at ease and better prepared to meet their elder care challenge.

This book is written in layman's terms and is especially intended for those who do not have the luxury of hiring a geriatric care manager. The material is upbeat, and it also includes an extensive appendix with a planner, workbook, and logbook for those who want to use it as a resource to track their elder’s health care needs.


Book Chapters


Step #1 Communicate Openly: Tips for keeping all family members in the communications loop.

Step #2 Improve The Lifestyle: Diet, exercise, and entertainment options that increase your elder's happiness.

Step #3 Put Safety First: Common sense ways to improve the safety of your elder inside and outside of the home.

Step #4 Make Life Easier With Adapted Equipment: Specialized items that can improve your elder's quality of life.

Step #5 Manage Financial Issues: Put your elder's financial house in order.

Step #6 Take Care of Legal Issues: A short guide for crucial legal papers.

Step #7 Find Mobility in Disability: Ways to keep your elder mobile.

Step #8 Find the Right Housing: Should your elder live at home, in your home, in assisted living, in a nursing home?

Step #9 Hire Help When It's Needed: Important details to consider when hiring aides.

Step #10 Learn to Let Go: Death, dying, and bereavement skills.

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• Prepare for the funeral with your elder and be sure you know what should be done with his or her remains.

You might find he/she is much more comfortable discussing the topic than everyone else. If appropriate, pick out the clothing that will be worn at the funeral. What rituals should be performed? If they're different from your traditions, learn about them and fulfill them.

• Understand your elder's needs and wants.

Try to fulfill his or her wishes if possible. Discuss highlights such as a sweet sixteen, a prom, college, children, service to the country, and his or her career. If Hagen Dazs vanilla bean ice cream is the request, don't come back with store brand chocolate.

• Enjoy the process of helping your elder write his/her obituary.

Have your elder answer a few questions such as: I feel deeply passionate about; I've learned this from my failures and mistakes; This moment or event was the turning point in my life; The miracles in my life are; I'd still like to accomplish; My mentors and role models have been; And this is my favorite! What's your single most valuable lesson in life?

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Hire Help When Needed


• Draw up a contract and make sure all duties are clearly understood.

Negotiate and sign a contract that explicitly states the terms of the agreement. You don't want any misunderstandings or ambiguities. Type up a clear list of duties to be accomplished and then post it on the refrigerator. This eliminates any confusion. The list should include timeframes for the work to be completed.

• Who pours and dispenses your elder's medication?

A clear, daily chain of command has to be established or else you risk under or over-medicating your elder.

• Your elder's needs can often be met by tapping into your network of family and friends.

Look into this before you hire anyone else. Get as much free help as you can, but be clear about your elder's needs before asking for their assistance. How long will your loved require their help - a few weeks, months, a year?

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