For those of us with aging parents or for ourselves who want to be better prepared, this book is full of great information, resources, tips and tools. The book is organized around six pillars of aging wellbeing - legal, living environment, spiritual, social, medical and financial. I particularly liked the "My Village Map" which shows these 6 pillars with examples of support people in each of these pillars. The book provides useful definitions such as what an Advanced Health Directive is vs. a Physician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment, etc. This is a practical reference guide that will help me as I navigate and support my aging parents.

Thank you to Netgalley and Rowman & Littlefield for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.

ELDERCARE 101 by Mary Jo Saavedra is an updated version of "A Practical Guide to Later Life Planning, Care, and Wellbeing." In her introduction Saavedra compassionately points out that "while many of the twists and turns of eldercare are similar across America, each caregiving situation is unique" and that one's own personal life situation and commitments "can be undermined by the unpredictable demands of elder caregiving, the time-consuming research it requires, and the crisis that is a constant companion." A lifecare coach and counselor, Saavedra has compiled essays related to her Six Pillars of Aging Well-being. She begins by focusing on Legal issues, as described by a lawyer, then moves to the Living Environment itself. One sub-section there offers roughly 30 pages on various options (Adult Foster Care Homes, Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Assisted Living Facilities, and Memory Care) which are laid out in a straightforward manner. Other pillars include Spiritual, Social (looks at connecting and belonging), Medical (with a sub-section on the aging brain) and Financial. This text is full of details and helpful suggestions. ELDERCARE 101 also contains a glossary, notes, bibliography, and index, and brief biographies of chapter authors. See also Successfully Navigating Your Parents' Senior Years (previously on Netgalley) and When your Aging Parent Needs Help.

A comprehensive and very readable guid to eldercare. If you are in this position with a family member, you need this book. And if you are approaching old age yourself, this is a good book to peruse to see what issues you may be facing, what steps you can take, and what your options may be.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It's a good one for the reference shelf in any home.