Positive shifts in attitudes mean that emphasis is now being placed on the person with dementia and their personal relationships, rather than the illness. There is also growing recognition of the significance of a person's spiritual life in forming an essential basis for their sense of identity, and in providing them with a resource for coping.Offering an inter-disciplinary approach to spirituality and personhood in dementia care, the contributors to this book are leading practitio...

As the Baby Boomer Generation continues to age, experts predict that dementia will become epidemic. Caught in the middle are their loved ones who struggle to take care of them.In The Long Goodbye, Beth Patterson brings to light the suffering and grief of all who are affected by this terrible disease, and provides some tips for caregivers in caring for their loved ones with dementia and themselves.Patterson has worked as a hospice coordinator and grief counselor, giving her ...

The truly inspirational account of living positively with dementia.Christine Bryden was a top civil servant and single mother of three children when she was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 46. Since then she has gone on to challenge almost every stereotype of people with dementia by campaigning for self-advocacy, writing articles and speaking at national conferences.This book is a vivid account of the author's experiences of living with dementia, expl...

Christine Bryden was 46 years old when she was diagnosed with dementia, and in this book she describes her remarkable emotional, physical and spiritual journey in the three years immediately following. Offering rare first-hand insights into how it feels to gradually lose the ability to undertake tasks most people take for granted, it is made all the more remarkable by Christine's positivity and strength, and deep sense, drawn in part from her Christian faith, that life continues to have pu...

More than 5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease or a related form of dementia. By the year 2030, experts estimate that as many as 66 million people around the world will be faced with this life-altering disease. Unfortunately, these staggering statistics impact millions of caregivers, too. Compared with all types of caregivers, those who assist someone with dementia experience the highest levels of burnout, depression, poor health, and premature death. A Dig...

From the author of the much-loved memoir Cottage for Sale, Must Be Moved comes an engaging and inspiring account of a daughter who must face her mother’s premature decline.In Remembering the Music, Forgetting the Words, Kate Whouleystrips away the romantic veneer of mother-daughter love to bare the toothed and tough reality of caring for a parent who is slowly losing her mind. Yet, this is not a dark or dour look at the demon of Alzheimer’s. Whouley share...

Person-centred dementia care relies on leadership that supports the ongoing process of learning about and valuing individuals, their feelings, strengths and needs, and using this knowledge to enhance wellbeing and create a positive care environment.With a strong practical focus and many helpful case examples, this book will equip readers with the practical skills, knowledge and confidence necessary to lead person-centred dementia care. The areas explored are relevant across a wide ...

Imagine finding a glimmer of good news in a diagnosis of Alzheimer's.And imagine how that would change the outlook of the 5 million Americans who suffer from Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, not to mention their families, loved ones, and caretakers. A neurologist who's been specializing in dementia and memory loss for more than 20 years, Dr. Gayatri Devi rewrites the story of Alzheimer's by defining it as a spectrum disorder—like autism, Alzheimer's is a dis...

Reminiscence is a valuable tool for the professional carer as well as those who are looking after a family member or friend. It enhances and enriches the care relationship, and benefits both the person being cared for and the carer.This fully-updated fourth edition is full of practical information on planning and running successful reminiscence work. It will enable carers and health and social care practitioners to develop the attitude, knowledge, understanding, values and skills t...

When tasked with providing activities for older people in care homes, it can be difficult to know where to begin. What constitutes an activity? How can you make sure activities are as positive and person-centred as possible? What can you actually do? Written by an experienced activity coordinator, this handbook is an indispensable companion for others in this role. The author provides useful background information on dementia, the importance of activities and how to get to know residents t...

In People with Dementia Speak Out, twenty-three people from diverse backgrounds share their experiences of living with dementia.The contributors are honest about the frustrations and fears they face, but overall there is remarkably little self-pity and a great deal of optimism. The personal accounts demonstrate that with the right support at the right time, and above all with opportunities to continue to contribute to society in a meaningful way, it is possible to live well with de...

This true, heart-wrenching love story will enlighten and offer support to those who struggle with the brutality and inevitability of Alzheimer's Disease. Readers will identify with the compassion of one care giver in comparison with the brutality of the disease itself.When I think of who my mother was in her prime, and who she became in the end, it's like imagining two different people. She too was a graduate from nursing school in 1943. Care giving was natural for her. She came fr...