Taking Care Of Our Folks

With the growing concern over healthcare in America, studies show that elderly African- Americans often come out on the losing end of the system due to lack of health insurance. Because of this growing population, taking care of elderly patients in the African-American community has become the responsibility of their family. If you're facing such a situation, your questions may be many and your answers few. Taking Care of Our Folks is a definitive guide to caring for your elderly relatives. Drawing on comprehensive and detailed research, this essential resource aims to ensure that elderly African-Americans receive culturally competent healthcare and live more productive, independent, and pain-free lives. Deborah Y. Liggan, MD, discusses the major health issues and offers case studies of how each illness affects this ethnic group. She offers up-to-date information on nutrition, pharmacology, technological advances, and self-help for each disease. Topics focus specifically on elderly African-Americans and include: Neurology of aging Cardiovascular problems Mental health and aging Approach to gastrointestinal problems Prominent cancers With clear and concise language, Taking Care of Our Folks will serve as an invaluable tool for caregivers and aging patients alike. Take the first step to competent and compassionate caregiving today!

Family caregiving affects millions of Americans every day, in all walks of life. At least 17.7 million individuals in the United States are caregivers of an older adult with a health or functional limitation. The nation's family caregivers provide the lion's share of long-term care for our older adult population. They are also central to older adults' access to and receipt of health care and community-based social services. Yet the need to recognize and support caregivers is among the least appreciated challenges facing the aging U.S. population. Families Caring for an Aging America examines the prevalence and nature of family caregiving of older adults and the available evidence on the effectiveness of programs, supports, and other interventions designed to support family caregivers. This report also assesses and recommends policies to address the needs of family caregivers and to minimize the barriers that they encounter in trying to meet the needs of older adults.