National Association for Home Care, 202-547-7424. Home-care and hospice agencies throughout the country. Tips on screening potential home-care workers.
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, 202-296-8130. Assists in setting up home care; provides information on services (adult day centers, home-delivered meals, etc.) available in your parent's community.
National Adult Day Services Association, 866-890-7357. Listing of adult day centers that offer capable care and activities for the parent while providing respite for caregivers.
YOUR LIFE AS A CAREGIVER
"Because We Care: A Guide for People Who Care." This guide from the Administration on Aging offers advice for caregivers on everything from maintaining quality of life to finding a capable home-care attendant.
Alzheimer's Association, 800-272-3900. The Family Caregivers section has an excellent, all-around guide. Care consultants dispense advice—and free pamphlets, some with local info—through the toll-free number above.
The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care, by Virginia Bell and David Troxel. The book offers pointers on how to gain greater empathy and patience with your parent.
Are Your Parents Driving You Crazy? How to Resolve the Most Common Dilemmas with Aging Parents, by Joseph A. Ilardo and Carole R. Rothman. A guide to managing numerous difficult scenarios ("My father can no longer drive safely but he refuses to stop," etc.), it provides steps toward solving the problem.
