Dementia Books

Alzheimer's disease does not play favorites; it affects people of every income and education level. This increasingly common condition robs patients' cognitive and functional abilities, forcing caregivers to be on duty 24 hours a day. Consequently, Alxheimer's often takes a serious, unexpected toll on those who nurse the patient, inflicting significant emotional distress, depression, and anxiety. This entry in the Comfort of Home series shows family and para-professional home caregivers how to be ready for all of Alzheimer’s stages, with special emphasis on how to provide physical, day-to-day care safely and without conflict. Some of the important topics covered here include responding to problem behaviors, arranging the home to make it safe and comfortable, purchasing equipment, traveling with Alzheimer's patients, handling emergencies, and communicating with healthcare professionals to get effective service. Each chapter contains a wealth of tips to reduce caregiver stress, while special sections offer strategies for preventing the kind of burnout all too common in this field.

Now in its Second Edition, this practical guide focuses on assessment, diagnosis, and management of the complex array of dementia disorders seen in older patients. Using the conversational style and clinical vignettes found in all Practical Guides in Psychiatry titles, Dr. Agronin addresses all the subtypes of dementia and associated psychiatric conditions such as agitation, psychosis, and depression. This edition features a new chapter on mild cognitive impairment and expanded coverage of Alzheimer disease and risk factors. Chapters offer advice on caregiver support and legal and ethical concerns. Handy pocket-card appendices include tests used in the dementia workup and treatment guides for agitation, psychosis, and depression. The Practical Guides in Psychiatry series provides quick, concise information for professionals on the front lines of mental health care. Written in an easy-to-read, conversational style, these invaluable resources take you through each step of the psychiatric care process, delivering fast facts and helpful strategies that help you provide effective and compassionate care to your patients.

Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias: A Guidebook for Care, Comfort, Legal and Financial Security A guidebook for those serving as caregivers to those with Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias. Section Titles Include: What is Alzheimer's and Dementia?; Medicaid Basics; What is a Will, and How Does a Will Work; Revocable Living Trust: What You Need to Know; Durable Power of Attorney & Elder Law Power of Attorney; Improved Pension Benefits for Veterans and Their Spouses; What Happens When the Family Can't Get Along?; Alzheimer's Care: Practical Tips; Communication to Smooth the Process; Feelings, Behaviors, and Attitudes; Caring for the Caregiver. From your purchase, $5 will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association.

Rehabilitation provides a core concept around which to organize support, intervention and care for people with impairments in memory and other cognitive functions. This book introduces a conceptual framework and rationale for the application of a neuropsychological rehabilitation approach for people with dementia, helping them to manage, by-pass or overcome these problems and experience optimum well-being.

Effective application requires an understanding of the ways in which people with dementia and their families cope and adjust, and of the neuropsychological profile and the remaining potential for learning and cognitive plasticity. A critical review of traditional forms of cognition-focused intervention for people with dementia points to the need for an individualized, goal-oriented rehabilitative approach. Methods and techniques of cognitive rehabilitation are described and the process of individual goal-setting is discussed in detail, showing how effective strategies may be linked to form a comprehensive approach to intervention. The application of a rehabilitation approach in real-life contexts is explored, demonstrating the role and value of neuropsychological rehabilitation within an holistic, psychotherapeutic framework of care and support.

This overview of the neuropsychological rehabilitation approach to dementia care will be of great interest to psychologists as well as to those studying or practicing in the area.

The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Dementia with Lewy Bodies This book has been created for patients who have decided to make education and research an integral part of the treatment process. Although it also gives information useful to doctors, caregivers and other health professionals, it tells patients where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to dementia with lewy bodies (also Drug-Induced Parkinsonism; Paralysis agitans; Parkinsonism; Postencephalitic Parkinsonism; Presenile dementia; Primary degenerative dementia), from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. The title of this book includes the word official. This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research. Selected readings from various agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on dementia with lewy bodies. Given patients' increasing sophistication in using the Internet, abundant references to reliable Internet-based resources are provided throughout this sourcebook. Where possible, guidance is provided on how to obtain free-of-charge, primary research results as well as more detailed information via the Internet. E-book and electronic versions of this sourcebook are fully interactive with each of the Internet sites mentioned (clicking on a hyperlink automatically opens your browser to the site indicated). Hard-copy users of this sourcebook can type cited Web addresses directly into their browsers to obtain access to the corresponding sites. In addition to extensive references accessible via the Internet, chapters include glossaries of technical or uncommon terms.

Although very little can be done to alter the course of dementia, much can be done to maximize the quality of life of people with the condition. Research as well as practical experience suggest that behavior management, especially through programs that provide meaningful and constructive activity, is currently the most effective treatment.

In Keeping Busy, James Dowling describes a variety of activities designed to bring meaning and enjoyment to the lives of persons with dementia. The activities are organized by general categories such as music, exercise, horticulture, pets, humor, and social events. The largest section deals with communication and includes word games that help people strengthen their remaining verbal skills. The description of each activity includes step-by-step instructions, as well as tips on how to adapt it for small or large groups, for individuals at home or in an organization, or people who are bedridden.

Even in the earliest stages of progressive dementia, patients have difficulty evaluating their own needs and engaging in appropriate activities. A therapeutic program of care, including constructive activities and behavior management, is necessary for maximizing patients' functioning and quality of life. The Handbook of Dementia Care and its companion Training Manual and Video for Dementia Care Specialists offer a complete training system for teachers and students providing dementia care in a variety of settings.

Developed at the well-known George G. Glenner Alzheimer's Family Centers, the program's instructor's manual and student handbook are organized into six teaching modules: basic information on dementia, positive interaction techniques, supportive physical environment, therapeutic activities, group activities, and family support. Each module is accompanied by a videotaped lecture and demonstration presentation to further illustrate the topic being discussed. This exciting project is a comprehensive instructional tool for dementia care professionals working in adult day centers, long-term care and residential settings, hospitals, nursing homes, and home health care agencies.

The Dementia Whisperers - The Caregivers Training Collection (Audiobook for Family Caregivers) The Affirmative Response Method of Communication demonstrates the language necessary to bridge those seemingly impossible communication gaps. This new approach incorporates Caregiver Stress Management and the importance of all the various aspects of communication including body language, facial expression, and tone of voice. Often, these are overlooked as key components to establishing an enhanced ongoing relationship with the memory challenged adult.

Montessori-Based Activities for Persons With Dementia Improve your care by improving the functioning of your clients or residents with Alzheimer's disease. Discover how the principles of Montessori education can help people with dementia maintain or improve skills needed in their daily lives. With these 41 step-by-step activities you can enhance the skills used to per form basic tasks, such as self-feeding; preparing simple meals; dressing; participating in recreational activities; and MORE! The secret to the success of these activities is that they are open-ended so individuals gain a sense of accomplishment at any level of participation, intellectually stimulating and meaningful, adaptable -- with suggestions for increasing or lowering the level of difficulty as needed, and springboards to many new variations of activities. Without doubt, Montessori-Based Activities for Persons with Dementia was designed with the busy activity director in mind. From brightly colored tabs to spiral binding to clear outlines and attention-grabbing callouts within these outlines, this manual is ready to use right out of the package. Too many activity programs today consist of "busy work" and lack of variety in activities. Make a change for the better and put the Montessori method to work for you today!

Recommended Books on Dementia