How To Take Care of Old People Without Losing Your Marbles author Suzanne Asaff Blankenship presents “I’ve Got Your Back – Being An Effective Eldercare Advocate” at the University Park Public Library
Saturday, September 15 at 10:00 a.m. Free and open to the public
Sponsored by Harbor Chase and Presented by the Friends of the University Park Public Library
Former Dallas resident Suzanne Asaff Blankenship, author of How To Take Care of Old People Without Losing Your Marbles will discuss "I've Got Your Back - Being An Effective Eldercare Advocate" at the University Park Public Library on Saturday, September 15, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. sponsored by Harbor Chase and presented by the Friends of the University Park Public Library. Chairs are Jackie Spears and Gretchen Henry.
Suzanne will lead you through some of the most worrisome issues surrounding eldercare using real life experiences sprinkled with humor. The presentation includes a Q & A, book signing afterwards and is open to the public at no charge. The library is located at 8383 Preston Center Plaza #200, Dallas, TX 75225.
The book has just won a Book Excellence Award in Caregiving presented by Literary Excellence Incorporated. The awards recognize authors from all backgrounds and genres, providing them with an opportunity to celebrate their achievements in releasing their book. Receiving a Book Excellence Award is a tremendous honor that represents the hard work, dedication and commitment that went into creating a book. Books that have received a Book Excellence Award have been recognized for their high quality design, writing and overall market appeal.
As Suzanne’s mother aged, she found herself more and more involved in her mother’s eldercare and soon, her in-laws’ as well. At every juncture of her mother’s and her in-laws’ eldercare journey, Suzanne has had to research, investigate and learn the best way to tackle each new topic.
A former corporate executive and founding partner of her own consulting group, Suzanne approached these eldercare issues with an organization she learned in her business career – evaluate, assess, develop a plan and implement. Using these four organizational steps, Suzanne found that she can be more effective in advocating and find alternatives to some less-preferred, but more obvious elder options.
Suzanne also found that she felt overwhelmed as each new topic emerged for her mother or her in-laws. Resources and help were hard to find or non-existent. As she faced learning curves that looked more like rocket launches than smooth, slightly elevated bell curves, Suzanne realized that other folks were probably feeling the same way. So, at the encouragement of her sister-in-law and brother, Suzanne wrote How To Take Care of Old People Without Losing Your Marbles. The book is sprinkled throughout with humorous quips, funny examples and tongue-in-cheek references to the stories that run throughout eldercare – because it’s imperative that you laugh along the way. Laughter and levity bring down the stress to what can be a very tough time for all involved.
All of the topics that Suzanne covers in her book have been topics that she has had to walk through in her mother’s or her in-laws’ care. From long-term care insurance and assisted living to selecting home health aides and hospice, Suzanne has approached each one with an organized, methodical approach. She found that she was able to spend more time on her mother’s care and well-being, if she was organized in her approach to the immediate or ongoing need. More organization and preparedness leads to less stress and frustration – leaving more time for the care and love she wants to give her elders.
Suzanne’s book is different from other books on this subject – hers is short, covering important topics (but without exhaustively covering them), and funny.
Eldercare is punctuated by emergencies. We don’t need a book on every emergency and we don’t have time to read tomes before we step in to help our elder folks. We need exactly what Suzanne offers – practical, short, full of resources – giving us a path through the journey and some laughs along the way.
Suzanne’s mom, Ruth, passed two years ago at 98 years young and her mother-in-law is 88. Her father-in-law passed away in 2012.
From Texas originally, Suzanne now calls Colorado home and travels back to Dallas frequently for television appearances, book signings and to visit family and friends. She believes in advocacy, the importance of family, and the need for balance in life. Humor is her favorite resource.
More information can be found at Suzanne’s website TheEldercareNavigator.com How To Take Care of Old People Without Losing Your Marbles can be found through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com or in Dallas at Nicholson Hardie, Preston Road Pharmacy, Logos Bookstore in Snider Plaza, and Lovers Lane Barber Shop. Signed copies are available at Suzanne’s websitewww.TheEldercareNavigator.com.