Dr. Betty Middleton
Rowan Public Library
Our journey through life comes with many challenges, but the most difficult of all can be caring for an aging parent. The number of adult children caring for a parent is now more than 19 million, and about 80 percent of these are cared for at home.
There are many questions that need to be answered. Mainly, “Am I doing the right thing?” You love your parents and want to do what is best for them to make their lives easier along the way. To begin with, you and your siblings will need to know how to bring up sensitive subjects like money, insurance, driving, long term care and especially where the legal documents are kept and the authorities that prepared these documents.
If you are unsure where to begin, look for the many helpful titles available at Rowan Public Library.
One of the best among these is the book, “How to Care for Aging Parents,” by Virginia Morris. Thoroughly researched, well-organized, and comprehensive, this manual is arranged in a logical progression that can stand alone or be read on an as-needed basis.Morris includes emotional, legal, financial, medical and logistical issues that can arise in caring for the elderly.
Joy Loverde has compiled “The Complete Eldercare Planner: Where to Start, Which Questions to Ask, and How to Find Help.” As the title implies, this guide presents the information in a series of checklists, step-by-step planning guides, lists of low-cost/free resources, Web site index, and questions to ask.
“Caring for Your Parents: the Complete AARP Guide,” written by Hugh Delehanty and Elinor Ginzler, is advertised as “not just a ‘how-to book,’ but a ‘how-to-think’ book.” It contains AARP’s field-tested recommendations on health-care options, Medicare laws, as well as steps needed to preview an assisted-living residence.
These are just three of the many titles available to help walk you through the process of helping your parents grow old gracefully and happily.
Computer classes: Classes are free. Sessions are 90 minutes long. Class size is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Dates and times are subject to change without notice.
Headquarters ó Monday, 7 p.m., Introduction to Learning Express Library; Thursday, 2:30 p.m., Introduction to Yahoo e-mail; April 20, 7 p.m., Introduction to Career Library; April 23, 2:30 p.m., Open Office Up Close-Calc.South ó Thursday, 11 a.m., Basic Windows; April 27, 7 p.m., Intermediate Excel.
Children’s Storytime: February-April, weekly story time. For more information, call 704-216-8234.
Headquarters ó Monday or Wednesday, 11 a.m., Tiny Tots and Moms (infants-18 months); Tuesday, 10 a.m., Toddlers and Kinfolks (18-24 months), and 11 a.m., Toddlers and Kinfolks (24-36 months); Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Three through Five; 4 p.m., Noodlehead (4-8 years).
South ó Monday, 10:30 a.m., Preschool Time (3-5 years), 4 p.m., Noodlehead (4-8 years); Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Toddlers and Twos (12-36 months); Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Baby Time (0-12 months).
East ó Tuesday or Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Preschool (2-5 years); Thursday, 11 a.m., Baby Time (6 months-2 years).
Teen program: South, April 21, 3:30-5:30 p.m.; East, April 23, 5:30-7 p.m.; Headquarters, April 27, 5:30-7 p.m. Come to Rowan Public Library for a day of recycled crafts. Make picture frames out of old CDs and DVDs to created an altered book ó let imagination be your guide.
Tuesday Night at the Movies: All movies are at 6:30 p.m. All movies are rated G, PG or PG 13; some movies are inappropriate for younger audiences. Children should be accompanied by an adult. Free popcorn and lemonade.April movies have Rowan connections.
Tuesday, “Coffee Therapy”; April 21, “College Swing”; April 28, “High Society.”
Displays: Headquarters ó artwork by Delores Medlin, history room by RPL; South ó student art show by South Rowan High School art class; East ó 4-H.Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.