Online Course: Taking Care of Your Aging Parents

Barnes and Noble is conducting a free online class on elder care. It's aimed at those sandwiched between child care and elder care and looking for help, advice and guidance. Barnes and Noble's class description:

Today, with life expectancy longer than ever, there is a good chance that you, like most adult children, will be looking after your aging parents in some way in the near future. The key to doing this successfully is first to recognize that you have or will become a caregiver, whether you handle the care directly or not. Next, it is helpful to understand the issues you are grappling with in this added role. Fear not! It is possible to learn to handle your many worldly responsibilities and to care for yourself as well. No matter what your family history, you can learn strategies for making this a beautiful time that balances the joy of deeper relationships alongside any sorrows of potential loss.

This course will guide you through the entire caregiving cycle, from recognizing the warning signs that help is needed to making wise decisions at all stages. You will analyze your own situation to determine if, when, and how far to step in. You will learn the steps involved in customizing a plan of care that includes medical, financial, legal, housing, and end-of-life issues. You will learn how to use local and national resources for caregivers and care receivers. You will learn how and why personal wellness is tantamount to giving care to others. You will come to know and appreciate yourself as a caring human being, and thus gain life improvement skills. Finally, you will share your feelings in an online support group so that you are not alone on the journey.

The class was created by author Beth Witrogen McLeod (profile)

h/t: Retirement and the Single Woman