January 27, 2004

Copies of five books that help people deal with the challenges of providing care to an elderly relative or friend are now available at area libraries.

Books that the Harris County Area Agency on Aging donated earlier this month to the libraries were A Family Caregiver’s Guide to Planning and Decision Making for the Elderly, The Caregiver Helpbook: Powerful Tools for Caregiving, The Home Care Companion’s Quick Tips for Caregivers, The Care Book: A Workbook for Caregiver Peace of Mind, and Love, Honor and Value: A Family Caregiver Speaks Out about the Choices & Challenges of Caregiving.

The agency distributed the book copies among the 26 branches of the Harris County Public Library, the Houston Public Library and its Collier, Scenic Woods, Henington-Alief and Park Place branches and the municipal libraries of Pasadena, Bellaire, Baytown and Deerpark. Harris County Precinct 1 and Precinct 3 also received book copies.

The Houston library branches also received copies of 11 videos on issues such as long-term care, coping skills, health care management, dementia, safety and legal matters.

Services offered by the agency, a division of the Houston Department of Health and Human Services, include nutrition services consisting of meals delivered either directly to homebound seniors or to 43 congregate sites, transportation, legal assistance, preventive health services, instruction and training, recreational and physical fitness activities, ombudsman services and in-home support encompassing personal care and homemaker and respite assistance for frail seniors.