Idiot's' guide by former state secretary suggests answers ... ONE STAR Edition

• Published in: Pittsburgh post-gazette (Pittsburgh, Pa. 1978)
• Main Author: Rotstein, Gary
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pittsburgh, Pa Pittsburgh Post - Gazette 13.02.2001
• Subjects: Rhodes, Linda
• ISSN: 1068-624X

[Linda Rhodes] was attracted to the format of the "idiot" guides because the subject of meeting the needs of an elderly relative seemed daunting enough to her, without putting it inside some academic textbook crammed with page after page of gerontological jargon. The guide follows the standard series format of lots of short chapters broken up by subheadings, accompanied by boxes full of facts and tips. They may walk into a hospital or nursing home without the slightest idea of the rights that they or their older relative have, and Rhodes provides tips intended to make them feel more empowered as consumers. She tells them to make sure a glass of water is always at bedside, for instance, and check whether red spots are on the patient's skin near bony areas such as the tailbone, heel, or elbow, indicating the potential for bedsores. While the idiot's guide is mostly breezy with its information, Rhodes is more forceful on several points: seniors with multiple health problems should be screened by a geriatrician trained to understand how afflictions of old age interact; families should have at least one member who becomes a knowledgeable advocate with care providers on behalf of the needy parent; and adult children still ought to show respect for their parents, no matter how their roles change.