The Complete Eldercare Planner by Joy Loverde Summary

The Complete Eldercare Planner is a comprehensive guide for managing eldercare challenges, offering practical strategies, checklists, and resources. It covers topics like emergency preparedness, financial planning, housing options, and proactive aging, emphasizing organization and open communication. The book equips readers to navigate complex decisions while balancing caregiving responsibilities with personal life.

This book is essential for adult children of aging parents, professional caregivers, and older adults planning their own futures. It’s particularly valuable for those managing solo aging, financial complexities, or resistance to care from loved ones. Joy Loverde’s actionable tools cater to both first-time and experienced caregivers.

Yes—it’s a bestselling resource praised by the American Medical Association as “the best book we’ve seen” on eldercare. The 2023 updated edition includes modern templates, low-cost resource directories, and digital-friendly worksheets, making it a timeless, practical toolkit.

Key concepts include:

• Proactive planning: “When we plan, we have choices” (Joy’s mantra)
• Emergency preparedness: Creating “Go-Kits” for medical crises
• Financial templates: Budgeting for long-term care and housing
• Solo aging strategies: Building support networks for those without family caregivers

The book provides scripts and step-by-step guides for discussing sensitive topics like declining independence, end-of-life wishes, and moving to assisted living. It emphasizes empathy while setting boundaries, helping families avoid conflicts during transitions.

• Downloadable checklists for medical histories and legal documents
• Comparison charts for evaluating nursing homes vs. in-home care
• Budget templates for caregiving expenses
• Crisis management workflows for sudden health declines

It outlines strategies for building “care teams” of friends, neighbors, and professionals, plus legal safeguards like medical power of attorney. Joy stresses creating contingency plans for isolation or mobility limitations.

Some readers find the volume of information overwhelming initially. However, the modular structure allows users to focus on urgent sections first (e.g., finances), then revisit broader topics like legacy planning.

While both address aging, The Complete Eldercare Planner focuses on tactical caregiving steps, whereas Who Will Take Care... explores societal trends impacting solo agers, like shrinking family sizes and reliance on technology.

With waitlists for senior housing exceeding three years in some regions, the book’s emphasis on early planning aligns with current crises in eldercare access. Updated digital resources also reflect post-pandemic reliance on telehealth and remote monitoring.

Yes—it includes specialized checklists for dementia-proofing homes, managing sundowning episodes, and navigating Medicaid eligibility for memory care facilities. Joy also advises on balancing safety with emotional well-being.

1. Start conversations about aging before crises occur.
2. Organize legal/financial documents in a portable “emergency binder”.
3. Regularly reassess care plans as needs evolve.
4. Prioritize self-care to avoid caregiver burnout.