Finding the best eldercare options

America's 77 million aging baby boomers and their families soon will face decisions about their long-term care needs. A new book co-authored by Marilyn Rantz, an eldercare expert at the University of Missouri, explains how consumers can find the best eldercare options in their communities.

"Making the right choice for long-term care often is a difficult and discouraging task for older adults and their families and friends," said Rantz, author and professor in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing. "Consumers often are perplexed by the maze of options and the difficulties with finding the right services. This guide will make choosing long-term care much easier.

The book, "How to Find the Best Eldercare," includes:

• Question and answer sections to determine the level of care needed
• Practical information about paying for eldercare
• What to look for and questions to ask when visiting eldercare facilities
• A state-by-state listing of aging agencies and eldercare Web sites

In many communities across the country, options are emerging to help older adults and those with chronic care needs. These include senior housing, residential care, assisted living, adult daycare, in-home care and companion services.

The book is based on the authors' more than three decades of experience and original research. The authors worked with residents, families and staff members of nursing homes and assisted living facilities to develop walk-through guides and questionnaires to help consumers assess quality and choose the most appropriate services.

"Other books contain lists of questions, but none have been tested and consistently found to identify the quality of long-term care as have the questions in this book," Rantz said. "It has the potential to help millions of people make informed choices so that older persons receive the quality of care and lives that they deserve."