If you care for any elderly people, you must own this book. It will make you wonder how you coped without it. The chapter headings explain its content fully: What's normal when it comes to aging?; Dealing with losses in vision and hearing; Recognizing and dealing with memory loss and diseases of the nervous system; Beating out [sic] depression; Common skin problems and how to cope with them; oh, my aching bones!; Helping digestive problems; Managing lung disorders and preventing pneumonia; Getting treatment for adult-onset diabetes; Meeting the challenge of heart & blood- vessel disorders; Kidney & bladder problems can --always be helped; Facing the challenge of cancer; Managing medication safely; Caring for the convalescent; Help and where to find it. The lengthy appendix gives detailed descriptions of and locations of resources for caregivers.

Rob is a medical writer who has done geriatric nursing, and she interviewed doctors, nurses, social workers, and researchers in order to write this book. Reynolds is coordinator of the Geriatric Assessment Program at Hackensack Medical Center, NJ. She both works with the elderly and leads caregiver support groups. It was her work with caregivers that made her aware of their desperate need for resources.