Elder Rage, or Take My Father... Please!

How to Survive Caring for Aging Parents

By: Jacqueline Marcell

Narrated by: Jacqueline Marcell

Elder Rage is a Book-on-the-Month Club selection (a caregiving book first), receiving 500+ 5-Star Amazon Reviews, is required reading at numerous universities for courses in geriatric assessment and management, and considered for a film. It is a riveting, often LOL true story about Jacqueline Marcell's trials and tribulations managing the care of her challenging elderly father and sweet ailing mother. After fighting through the medical system and depleting her parents' life savings and much of her own, Marcell solved her eldercare nightmare medically, behaviorally, legally, financially, and emotionally-and shows you how you can too.

Elder Rage answers difficult questions such as how to get obstinate elders to: discuss long-term care options, accept cleaning and caregiving help, see different doctors, have medical tests, give up driving, attend adult day care, take medication, sleep, bathe and eat properly, move to a new residence, etc. - and teaches you how to manage stress, siblings, healthcare professionals, guilt, and grief.

Elder Rage has received 50+ prestigious endorsements including: Hugh Downs, Regis Philbin, Ed Asner, Jacqueline Bisset, John Bradshaw, Phyllis Diller, Duke University Center for Aging, Ken Dychtwald, Leeza Gibbons, Dr. John Gray, Mark Victor Hansen, Julie Harris, Institute for Successful Aging, Johns Hopkins Memory Clinic, Dr. Bernie Siegel, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, Dr. Rudy Tanzi/Harvard Medical School, and the National Adult Day Services Association who bestowed their Media Award on Jacqueline for bringing attention to the value of adult day care. Read Endorsements and Reviews here: www.ElderRage.com/Review.asp

©2001 Impressive Press (P)2012 Jacqueline Marcell

Important, engrossing story

With a father’s life long struggle with childhood trauma and an adult electrocution, Jacqueline Marvell had her hands full when her father began having problems exacerbated by his caretaking of her mom. This isn’t just a story for those struggling with those issues. My dad was a dream, but I could still relate. She tells it well, with truth and compassion. It’s not just about aging and caretaking, it’s a human story with all the warts and blessings of humanity.

Valuable story, poor delivery, offensive at times

This story needs to be told and there is really valuable information in this book and the authors experience. However the jokes and song references are mostly not funny and just make the story long and detract from it. And there is a lot of language that is anti-immigrant and anti-Black throughout that highlights the author has work to do around white privilege. As a person of color I am hesitant to refer this book to people because they will not get the benefits due to having to navigate oppressive language.

Relatable, funny, and a nice resource

In the thick adventure of being the sole caregiver for both of my elderly and ailing parents, I found an unexpected kinship and much needed encouragement in Jacqueline Marcell’s book. My parents don’t suffer from dementia at this point, but I found many applicable resources/ideas, and connectible moments. I laughed at the stories that were much too similar to my own experience, and cried at the difficult parts of her journey. Until one walks through the "caregiver" door, it’s hard to understand the burden and weight of the responsibility, or the profound blessing and joy. I’m glad I “happened by” this book.

Timely compelling story, be ready for theatrics

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Jacqueline Marcell has something for all of us who have elder caregiving roles. Her father's emotionally abusive behavior, which sounds incredibly bi-polar, really draws you in. She recounts the terrible time she had getting anyone to believe he could be so abusive and then extraordinary normal and charming (I think I yelled "flipcam! flipcam him!" at least a couple of times).
I know I would've enjoyed it more if Jacqueline had revealed her own self-discovery about a lifetime of enabling behavior, but it's hardly touched on. She gives a very theatrical read so take a listen to the sample first and see if you like it. The boomer pop culture references cascade non-stop and, as she says in the beginning, every incident gets it's own classic rock theme or motown theme song.

Wonderful Insight and Solutions for Taking Care of Elderly Parents

Information about dementia was presented in nonfiction storytelling form. The addition of adding lyrics from famous songs were so relatable!!