"The Dementia Connection Model is a recipe to connect families in a way that produces positive interactions and preserves their loved one's level of functioning for as long as possible. The model brings together three concepts in dementia care of what is happening to the person with Alzheimer disease and, more importantly, why these things are happening as the person's condition progresses and how to intervene successfully"--
The guide tells you how to: Understand how AD changes a person Learn how to cope with these changes Help family and friends understand AD Plan for the future Make your home safe for the person with AD Manage everyday activities like eating, bathing, dressing, and grooming Take care of yourself Get help with caregiving Find out about helpful resources, such as websites, support groups, government agencies, and adult day care programs Choose a full-time care facility for the person with AD if needed Learn about common behavior and medical problems of people with AD and some medicines that may help Cope with late-stage AD
Received a 2012 Caregiver Friendly Award from Today's Caregiver Magazine Although Lewy Body Dementia is the second leading cause of degenerative dementia in the elderly, it is not well known or understood and is often confused with Alzheimer' Disease or Parkinson's. The Caregiver's Guide to Lewy Body Dementia is the first book ot present a thorough picture of what Lewy Body Dementia really is. A Caregiver's Guide to Lewy Body Dementia is written in everyday language and filled with personal examples that connect to the readers' own experiences. It includes quick fact and caregiving tips for easy reference, a comprehensive resource guide, and a glossary of terms and acronyms. This is the ideal resource for caregivers, family members, and friends of individuals seeking to understand Lewy Body Dementia.
As we move through life many of us find ourselves needing to help a family member or friend with a medical condition. If the condition is temporary, our need to help is temporary. However, chronic conditions such as Alzheimer's and other dementias require longer-term, possibly ever-increasing assistance. Problems with thinking and memory lead to new, different, and often challenging behaviors. In addition, caring for someone with Alzheimer's often means helping them deal with other medical problems that are often difficult to recognize. This book is a resource for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's or dementia who are also beginning to experience non-memory-related medical conditions. It addresses 54 medical conditions that caregivers often must deal with when providing care. Each medical condition is addressed in an easy-to-follow, two-page guide that provides basic facts about the medical condition, signs that indicate a possible emergency, tips on providing relief in the home, other related issues to watch out for, and safety tips for the caregiver. Written by experts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University, this book is based on the latest clinical knowledge and scientific research on Alzheimer's and the care of Alzheimer's and dementia patients. It includes basic facts about Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and practical guidance when conferring with doctors and nurses, when visiting hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted-living residences, and during the dying process. Also, an entire chapter is devoted to what caregivers need to do to take care of themselves while helping someone with Alzheimer's and related dementia. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial}
Although the public most often associates dementia with Alzheimer’s disease, the medical profession continues to advance distinctions of various types of “other” dementias. What If It’s Not Alzheimer’s? is the first and remains the only comprehensive guide dealing with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), the most common form of dementia for people under 60 years of age. The contributors are either specialists in their fields or have exceptional hands-on experience with FTD sufferers. Beginning with a focus on the medical facts, the first part defines and explores FTD as an illness distinct from Alzheimer's disease. Also considered are clinical and medical care issues and practices, as well as such topics as finding a medical team, palliative approaches to managing care and rehabilitation interventions. The next section on managing care examines the daily care routine including exercise, socialization, adapting the home environment, and behavioral issues along with end-of-life concerns. In the following section on caregiver resources, the contributors identify professional and government assistance programs along with private and community resources and legal options. The final section focuses on the caregiver, in particular the need for respite, holistic health practices and the challenge of managing emotions. This new, completely revised edition continues to follow worldwide collaboration in research and provides the most current medical information available including understanding of the different classifications of FTD, and more clarity regarding the role of genetics. Additionally, essays written by people living with the disease provide moving, first-hand experiences. The wealth of information offered in these pages will help both healthcare professionals and caregivers of someone suffering from frontotemporal degeneration.
A practical, encouraging guide to caring for someone with dementia As a caregiver, you face a multitude of challenging situations and plenty of conflicting information concerning diagnoses, treatments, coping with everyday activities, and dementia itself. This easy-to-read book will give you the necessary resources to make practical and informed decisions regarding the best possible care for you and your loved one. Written by a licensed clinical social worker with twenty-five years of experience working with families coping with dementia, Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias: The Caregiver's Complete Survival Guide offers useful and vital information on: Working effectively with health care providers to get the best treatment for your loved one Handling difficult behaviors that change over time Making the home safer using simple, low-cost tools and techniques Evaluating and choosing respite care and long-term care options, including adult day and home care services Finding legal and financial assistance Improving the quality of life for you and your family Drawing from her own clinical and personal experience, Nataly Rubinstein guides you with humor and compassion through your caregiving journey. From tips on preparing for the first visit to the neurologist to advice on coping with changes in daily life, this comprehensive book provides detailed and accessible information for all those caring for someone with memory loss. Book jacket.
This simple, easy to read, 100 page guidebook helps family members, friends, and caregivers to better understand the changes that come with advancing dementia or other impairments in thinking, reasoning or processing information. It also reinforces the impact of Teepa Snow's guidance and person-centered care interventions including the GEMS and Positive Approach to Care techniques. The goal is to provide better support and care practices when someone is living with an ever-changing condition. By appreciating what has changed but leveraging what is still possible, care partners can choose interactions that are more positive, communication that is more productive, and care that is more effective and less challenging for all involved.
"The book is the place to turn for initial information and perspective on Alzheimer's disease, and to return for practical advice as problems arise. Most importantly, however, it dispels the sense of hopelessness families may feel by providing steps to maximize the enjoyment of life for the person with Alzheimer's disease." --- Robert C. Griggs, MD, FAAN; 2009 - 2011 President, American Academy of Neurology
Alzheimer's disease is often referred to as a family disease because of the constant emotional strain it places on family members as they watch their loved ones slowly slip away. But for those left with caring for their loved ones, the emotional, physical, and financial toll can be enormous so much so that most caregivers fail to take care of themselves and become depressed, ill and unable to continue their role as caregiver. Courage to Care: A Caregiver's Companion Through the Stages of Alzheimer's helps to ease the burden of those who have accepted this labor of love by providing them with knowledge and coping strategies to make it through each stage of this progressive and complicated disease. The book focuses not only on how to deal with the emotional issues associated with the disease, but provides specific advice on how to make life easier and more enjoyable for both the loved one and the caregiver.