Psychotherapy with the Elderly: Becoming Methuselah's Echo

My wife and I recently began taking care of an elderly family member who moved into our home for that purpose. At this point I'm not sure what we expected (maybe a bit of appreciation and gratitude?) but we certainly didn't get it. In fact we were subject to a whole host of bizarre and unacceptable behaviors and actions on the part of the individual in question, to the point that it drove us to seek counseling from a therapist with expertise in this area. Believe me when I say that most of us are naïve and completely unaware of the habits and attitudes of the very aged. One of the first things the therapist did was recommend the book "Becoming Methuselah's Echo" - and what a masterpiece it turned out to be. The book helped us to see the other side of the story, which allowed us to cultivate empathy and understanding that was lacking in this relationship. The book hit all the appropriate and inescapable subjects: from fear of dying through to the unusual sexual peculiarities displayed by some of the aged. With ongoing therapy and the insights provided in his book we were able to reassess our situation and even turn the ship in a positive direction. This book, or ones like it, should be must reading for anyone considering entering into a situation similar to ours. Grandma and Grandpa may not be exactly what your imagination might conjure in advance of living with them on a daily basis. Find out what you're getting into and develop some strategies to deal with it effectively. With that in mind, this book can and will help. Kudos to the author for his stunning honesty and candor. No punches are pulled as he strips away the illusions of aging and provides the means to understand, empathize, and develop a sort echo like responsiveness to those in the twilight of life.