Alone and Invisible No More: How Grassroots Community Action and 21st Century Technologies Can Empower Elders to Stay in Their Homes and Lead Healthier, Happier Lives
"Alone and Invisible No Moreis a deeply human, delightfully funny, and fascinating account of how people have come together in community to create the 'Maine Approach.'"--Nikitas Zervanos, MD, Director Emeritus, Family Practice Residency, Lancaster General Health"Dr. Teel has written a serious, comprehensive book about the coming revolution over aging in America. There are a number of states that have put together pieces of the elder-care puzzle-from offering more independent settings paid for by Medicaid to scaling back on nursing-home expansions (since if you build one you have to fill it). This book pulls all these reforms together and helps us understand the underlying social movement against 'kicking seniors to the curb.' Hopefully it will also serve as a call to real action, not just reform of bureaucracy!"--Howard Dean, former Chair of the Democratic National Committee and Vermont governor; author ofHoward Dean's Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform"Compassion and passion are two essentials in the medical care for older persons. Dr. Teel's care for his patients has spurred him to forge an innovative and comprehensive approach to their care and has the promise of being a model for communities everywhere."--Ted C. Fishman, author ofShock of Gray"A must-read book for any community looking at its own aging population and pondering care for these older citizens. Dr. Teel's pioneering 'stay-at-home' approach shifts the focus from medicalized care to empowering older adults to serve as resources for one another. This approach creates the true foundation for health and well-being in one's later years. Teel's project moves our dialogue about aging forward in one great leap."--Dennis McCullough, MD, Associate Professor, Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, and author,My Mother, Your Mother: Embracing Slow MedicineForeWord Reviews-Aging Well: Developing better health strategies is vital at any age, but for the elderly it’s especially important. Staying connected to community resources and taking charge of one’s wellness can empower seniors and boost overall health to a large degree. A call for widespread change comes fromAlone and Invisible No More: How Grassroots Community Action and Twenty-First Century Technologies Can Empower Elders to Stay in Their Homes and Lead Healthier, Happier Lives(Chelsea Green Publishing, 978-1-60358-379-4) by Allan Teel. In a culture that worships youth and wealth, Americans have pushed their elders aside, Teel argues, and as a result, healthcare costs have soared. In his persuasive work on shifting this model, the doctor looks at how communities care for their elders and presents a plan that benefits everyone. Not only can older people live richer, healthier lives, but those around them can benefit from their experience and create a community based on wellness and mutual respect.