The author, Jean Kittson, is well known in her home country of Australia as a writer, comedian, performer on TV, radio and in print. I haven't heard of her here in NZ, but it makes no odds, and in fact is a good thing as I had no idea what to expect with this book. Because I didn't know anything about her I could focus solely on what she had to say rather than having her public persona in the back of my mind as I read this. Imagine Kim writing about Kath and Kel's old age care.
Jean Kittson has elderly parents and has found the entire experience of navigating the health system, the geriatric care system, her siblings, her own parents' increasingly frail and mental states very difficult, frustrating and trying. So, being the sensible woman she is, she has now turned her experiences into a hand book. And it is very good. If you don't live in Australia, don't let the information and frustrations with the Australian providers put you off. Because the problems with ageing that your parents and yourselves have are exactly the same world over, and there is plenty of information and ideas and common sense advice plus sharing of experiences for this book to be very helpful. And did I say funny?
From sorting out the legals - wills, powers of attorney, to getting on with the doctor, to dealing with your brothers and sisters, to making sure your parents are able to clean and feed themselves, getting them to talk about the ridiculous possibility of having to downsize, dealing with aged care organisations, rest homes and retirement villages, illness, palliative care and the death of a parent - it is ALL here. Written with plenty of wit, personal anecdotes and those of friends and acquaintances - funny, alarming, gently humorous, this book will help enormously with your own parental processes. And the decision making around your own future years. Totally recommend this for everyone to read.
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