The Boomer's Guide to Aging Parents

Carolyn Rosenblatt. The Boomer's Guide to Aging Parents. AgingParents.com. 2009. 262 pages.

$39.99 (click on book to order)

As members of the boomer generation become caretakers for their parents, more and more guides are popping up. The Boomer's Guide to Aging Parents provides practical information on topics that aren't always covered in depth in other books.

Although author Carolyn Rosenblatt is a retired attorney, her book doesn't cover the legal aspects of caring for an aging parent. Rosenblatt was also a nurse for 10 years and she uses her unique background to help the children of aging parents navigate a number of issues they are likely to encounter.

For example, Rosenblatt discusses unsafe driving, with recommendations on how to start a conversation about driving and what to do if an unsafe driver won't get off the road. Other topics include how to choose a home care worker; the ins and outs of assisted living, including information on how to get a loved one to move; how to choose a nursing home; finding a care manager; handling money for loved ones, including a discussion of durable powers of attorney; avoiding family conflicts; how to find a good lawyer; and how to advocate for a parent in the current health care system. Each chapter ends with practical tips that summarize the important information.

Although it is not cheap, this easy-to-read book is packed with information that anyone caring for an aging parent will find helpful.