Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old?: Plan Now to Safeguard Your Health and Happiness in Old Age

by Joy Loverde

Overview

Everything you need to know to plan for your own safe, financially secure, healthy, and happy old age

For those who have no support system in place, the thought of aging without help can be a frightening, isolating prospect. Whether you have friends and family ready and able to help you or not, growing old does not have to be an inevitable decline into helplessness. It is possible to maintain a good quality of life in your later years, but having a plan is essential. Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old? equips readers with everything they need to prepare on their own:

• Advice on the tough medical, financial, and housing decisions to come
• Real solutions to create a support network
• Questions about aging solo readers don't know to ask
• Customizable worksheets and checklists that help keep plans on course
• Guidance on new products, services, technology, and resources

Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old? goes way beyond estate planning to help readers prepare for all the changes in store. Readers are empowered to make proactive plans for their own lives rather than entrusting decisions to family and community.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738219639
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	10/24/2017
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	95,331
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Joy Loverde is a leading consultant in the senior industry and a trusted advisor in aging and eldercare-related issues. The author of The Complete Eldercare Planner, Joy's work has been featured on Today, the CBS Early Show, NPR, and in USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. She lives in Chicago.

Table of Contents

Get Real xi

Don't Read This Book. Work It. xvii

Part 1 Personal Readiness

1 Meet Your Future Self: Discovering who you have yet to become 3

2 Good-bye Change, Hello Transition: Meeting the unknowns of old age head on 13

3 Think Like a Strategist: Mastering critical thinking 27

4 You Are Tougher Than You Look: Thriving in times of uncertainty 45

5 The Fierce Urgency of Money: Staying afloat financially 57

Part 2 Where You Live Matters

6 Aging in Place Alone-What You Need to Know: Averting the risks of aging home alone 85

7 Bring Livability Home: Establishing equity, health, and safety for all 103

8 Moving On: Determining optimal housing options 119

Part 3 Ties That Bind And Unwind

9 The Broken Hearts Clud: Accepting relationships as moving targets 139

10 Zero Isolation: Foraging for family 151

11 Love Is Love: Pets Are Family, Two: Adopting a pet for two-way love and caring 167

Part 4 Safety Nets

12 Doctor Me: Reframing sickness and health 179

13 Chronic Illness: The Game Changer: Repairing holes in your safety net 197

14 Early-Onset Alzheimer's: The Value of Knowing: Preparing for the day you hope will never come 211

Part 5 No Tomorrow

15 "Just Shoot Me" Is Not a Plan: Learning lessons from the dying 227

16 Place to Go and Things to Do: Facing to be and not to be 241

Cross It Off Your List 253

Worksheets and Checklists 259

Websites 261

Recommended Reading 279

Recommended Movies 281

Recommended YouTube 283

Recommended Television Shows 285

Recommended Songs 287

Recommended TED Talks 289

Gratitudes 291

Notes 293

Index 297

About the Author 313

Editorial Reviews

"Right on trend. Finally a friendly how-to that brings information and comfort."

— Faith Popcorn, CEO Faith Popcorn's BrainReserve

"The aging book of the next decade; the 'go-to' book that should be read as a rite of passage into positive aging."

— Richard Leider, International bestselling author of The Power of Purpose, Repacking Your Bags, & Life Reimagined


"Clear, practical, relevant, vital ... this book engages readers to create their own customizable plan for aging. An exceptionally worthwhile read."

— Bob Blancato, Chairman, American Society on Aging


"What's the best predictor of a good old age? Not health, not wealth, but a robust social network. Joy Loverde has written an invaluable guide to laying the groundwork for the future you want-the sooner the better."

— Ashton Applewhite, author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism


"...thoughtfully discusses a wide range of crucial life issues with deep understanding, complete candor, and inspired guidance for all."

— David Schless, President, Americans Seniors Housing Association, Washington, DC


"This book effectively challenges the notion that aging means disability - and with that, stigma of being old."

— Dilip V. Jeste, M.D., Director of the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego


"Loverde compellingly shows us that, if we overcome the strong tendency to engage in denial and choose to plan carefully, we can age with a physical, emotional and spiritual safety net of supportive relationships, along with a strong potential for growth and fulfillment."

— Ron Pevny, M.A., Director of the Center for Conscious Eldering and author of Conscious Living, Conscious Aging


"This book will be the guidepost for all individuals living and growing older, no matter the status or circumstance. I will highly recommend it to my Elder Orphan Facebook group."

— Carol Marak, Emerging Aging Alone Expert, Syndicated Columnist, and Chief Public Relations Office at Seniorcare.com


"A must-have companion. Combines the critical elements, questions, and tools to make contemplation of and planning for this undesired life stage."

— Jackie Pinkowitz, Board Chair, Dementia Action Alliance


"Joy reminds us that, by taking proactive steps as we age, we can lay the foundation for an independent, fulfilling, and happy life, and continue to be in control of our circumstances."

— Wendi Burkhardt, CEO and Co-Founder of Silvernest, Inc.


"Highly recommended for anyone over 60 and their loved ones."

—Library Journal, starred review

"There's a lot of help inside Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old?...Author Joy Loverde encourages readers to do a lot of prep-work, including a good amount of self-examination...extremely helpful."
—Bookworm Sez, nationally syndicated review column

"An empowering resource for people seeking to maintain functioning at the lowest possible level of care."—McKnight's

"Loverde's book should be recommended reading for every single person, whether they are concerned about growing older (and you should be concerned) or not. Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old? is loaded with practical advice, resources, and action-oriented tasks."—Portland Book Review

From the Publisher

★ 10/01/2017
Loverde (The Complete Eldercare Planner) provides seniors with the resources to plan for and maintain a strong quality of life. She offers ideas for creating a support network, strategies to foster smarter decision-making, alternative ways to think about aging, and assistance with end-of-life services. Worksheets address dozens of topics such as downsizing, finding appropriate housing, and establishing channels of support in the community. Resources include YouTube videos, songs, TED talks, and further reading lists. VERDICT Highly recommended for anyone over 60 and their loved ones.

Library Journal