Practical Dementia Care

This is a comprehensive yet practical guide to the care and management of patients with dementia from the time of diagnosis to the end of life. It is intended for the increasing number of physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, and long-term care givers responsible for the care of individuals with dementia. For the Second Edition, the authors have added a chapter on mild cognitive impairment. The sections that received the most extensive revision or expansion include those on drug therapy; the pathophysiology of several causes of dementia; psychiatric symptoms of dementia and their treatment (especially drug treatment); and dementia in special environments (especially assisted living and nursing homes).

This is a comprehensive yet practical guide to the care and management of patients with dementia from the time of diagnosis to the end of life. It is intended for the increasing number of physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, and long-term care givers responsible for the care of individuals with dementia. For the Second Edition, the authors have added a chapter on mild cognitive impairment. The sections that received the most extensive revision or expansion include those on drug therapy; the pathophysiology of several causes of dementia; psychiatric symptoms of dementia and their treatment (especially drug treatment); and dementia in special environments (especially assisted living and nursing homes).

The physical care of people with dementia is of vital importance, but so too is their emotional, social, mental and spiritual wellbeing. The creative arts are gaining increasing recognition not only as a tool for delivering effective person-centred dementia care, but also for attending to soul as well as body. Encouraging those who care for people with dementia to develop their own creative skills, this book provides a creative map of care with easy-to-follow examples and detailed case studies. After explaining why adopting a creative approach is central to effective dementia care, the authors go on to discuss meditation, singing, movement and storytelling, describing the therapeutic benefits of each and giving practical examples of how they can be used with individuals or groups. They also look at the importance of creative supervision in promoting creativity and creating a safe space for honest interpersonal connection: an essential foundation for effective teamwork. This book will be an invaluable resource for anyone involved in the care of a person with dementia, including professional staff in residential and nursing homes, hospitals and day centres, families and other non-professional carers.

Dementia is both a personal and a societal challenge. The goal of Dementia Care: A Practical Approach is to focus on how practitioners can meet this challenge with hope and compassion, thereby enabling those with dementia to live well. The book takes a ‘strengths approach’ with an emphasis on exploring sustainable strategies. Its content is underpinned by relevant policies and strategies and explicitly links to research evidence while always valuing the voices of those living with dementia. Covering various dementia strategies, the book provides a clear vision of dementia care delivery and is mapped to the Curriculum for UK Dementia Education. For health care students, the content is also mapped to the requirements of the Health and Care Professions Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The book includes experiences of people living with dementia, practical examples, self-assessment questions, and key point summaries. It is a valuable resource to practitioners, informal caregivers, families, individuals with dementia or those wanting to know more about the subject.

The correlation between 'disengagement' and illness in people with dementia living in long-term care settings is becoming more widely recognised, and developing and adapting front-line staff responses to the changing needs of individuals is a crucial factor in addressing this problem. This book presents a complete practical framework for whole person assessment, care planning and review of persons with dementia or signs of dementia (including those with learning disabilities) who are in need of, or already receiving, health and/or social support. The book provides photocopiable assessment forms, guidelines for carrying out the assessment, and suggestions for tailored interventions based on the profile that emerges from the assessment process. The authors also include a clear explanation of the five theoretical components of dementia that are considered in the assessment: health, biography, personality, neurological impairment and social psychology. This good practice guide will provide a step up to the challenge of providing person centred care as a minimum standard rather than just an ideal. Care workers in residential settings and social workers assessing clients for their support requirements will find this an essential resource.

A sensitive, direct and highly accessible insight into the complexities and challenges that a diagnosis of dementia presents. Contributors represent academics, practicing nurses, aged care professionals and family advocates.

Care for yourself, while caring for a loved one with dementia When caring for someone with dementia, your own mental stability can be the single most critical factor in your loved one's quality of life. The Caregiver's Guide to Dementia brings practical and comprehensive guidance to understanding the illness, caring for someone, and caring for yourself. From understanding common behavioral and mood changes to making financial decisions, this book contains bulleted lists of actions you can take to improve your health and your caregiving. Inspirational and compassionate, it focuses on the caregiver's underlying love and humanity that cannot be taken away by any disease. In The Caregiver's Guide to Dementia you'll find: Dementia defined--Understand dementia and its many forms, with an explanation of the illness and its variations. Caregiver wellness--At the end of each chapter, a small section provides relaxation and mindfulness exercises and reflection for dementia caregivers. Practical approach--The back of the book is filled with resources, from financial planning to tips on safety, along with questions for health care professionals, lawyers, accountants, therapists, and friends.

This is a comprehensive and practical guide to the care and management of patients with dementia, from the time of diagnosis to the end of life. This third edition includes a chapter on mild cognitive impairment and expanded coverage on the pathophysiology of common and uncommon causes of dementia.

Reminiscence is a vital way to stimulate communication and promote confidence and self-worth in people with dementia. This practical guide is designed to give those who care for people with dementia a clear sense of how reminiscence can be used to greatly improve their quality of life. The book explores how reminiscence can contribute to person-centred dementia care and contains detailed descriptions of activities that can be used in a group setting, for one-to-one reminiscence at home or in a variety of care settings. Based on ideas developed and tested internationally over a period of ten years, the book offers imaginative approaches to reminiscence and a wealth of resources for use in a wide range of situations. The book includes advice on organising a reminiscence project and provides a useful planning tool for group sessions. Remembering Yesterday, Caring Today highlights the value of reminiscence for those with dementia and is an essential guide to good practice for family and professional carers.

This scholarly yet accessible textbook is the most comprehensive single text in the field of dementia care. Drawn from research evidence, international expertise and good practice guidelines, the book has been crafted alongside people with dementia and their families. Case studies and quotes enrich every chapter, illustrating the realities of living with dementia and bringing theory to life. Fully updated with 10 brand new chapters, this landmark textbook has enormous breadth and gives an authoritative overview of dementia care. The 2nd edition now includes chapters on the following topics: • Dementia friendly communities • Representations of dementia in the media • Younger people with dementia • The arts and dementia • Enhancing relationships between families and those with dementia • Whole person assessment • Dementia friendly physical design • Transitions in care This compelling new edition is a must purchase for those working or volunteering in health and social care, undergraduate and postgraduate students across a range of disciplines in health and social work, and anyone interested in the field of dementia care including people with dementia and their families. “While we have made significant advances in the care for people with dementia and their families, there is much work yet to be done. This book provides a fantastic framework in which to set our understanding of dementia and to take things forward.” Alistair Burns, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, UK “Bravo to the authors of Excellence in Dementia Care! They have created a must read guidebook for those providing care to persons experiencing cognitive changes and their families. This collaborative effort focuses on successful provider strategies encompassing topics across the dementia journey and is filled with spot on, relevant, and timely information. Best of all, this work is loaded with real case studies to help translate knowledge to practice, making it a true resource for all practitioners.” Suzanne Bottum-Jones, MA, Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA