Alzheimer's Books Sampling

Alzheimer's Disease by Paul Dash (Paperback - May 10, 2005).
Alzheimer's Disease provides an overview of the latest findings regarding the cause, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. It will help caregivers and family members gain a better understanding of the nature of the disease process and the available options for coping with and managing this illness. Chapters include an introduction to dementia and Alzheimer's disease; aging; memory; depression; medications; alternative treatments; stages and prognosis of the disease; a chapter for caregivers; and much more. The subtitles of each chapter are written in question format to help readers search for the topics that most relate to their problem. To further help navigate this book, references are organized by topic and chapter at the end of the book. In addition, all abbreviations are listed in a table at the beginning of the book, and words that appear in the glossary are italicized upon their first occurrence in the text.

The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life (3rd Edition) by Nancy L. Mace (Mass Market Paperback - November 1, 2006).
It has been estimated that five percent of older people suffer from severe intellectual impairment. So these two eloquent and readable guides will be much in demand as the number of families facing the challenge of caring for a relative with some form of dementing illness continues to grow. First published in 1981, The 36-Hour Day follows the format of the previous two editions but has been thoroughly updated to incorporate new information on the latest research, several drugs that hold promise, and genetic aspects of Alzheimer's. The heart of the guide remains unchanged, focusing on helping families cope with this progressive and irreversible disease. Besides tips on how to care for the demented during the various stages of the disease (for example, place a picture of a toilet on the bathroom door), the text discusses the different kinds of help available and how to seek it.

Financial and legal issues are well covered, while sections on nursing homes and other alternative living arrangements provide advice and practical suggestions. Appendixes list recent books, videos, web sites, and U.S. and international organizations. The thrust of GentlecareR is a well-argued plea for a radical change in the way we care for Alzheimer's patients. In outlining her program, Jones states that this rethinking involves people, physical space, and individualized programs. Everyone in the physical plant, from maintenance worker to director, belongs to the care-giving team, as do family members and volunteers.

Only when impaired persons can no longer perform for themselves a task like feeding themselves or dressing should it be done for them. Care should concentrate on what can be done, not what cannot. Because her emphasis is on the need for a comprehensive program of care and concentrates more on the institutional setting, Jones does not provide as many practical suggestions or the depth of advice for home care that Mace and Rabins do. Rather, her book describes how facilities can be designed and staffs trained to optimize the quality of life for patients. Both titles are highly recommended: Rabins and Mace for the practical help and advice, Jones for her eloquent presentation of a comprehensive program that treats patients with dignity.AJodith Janes, Cleveland Clinic Fdn.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Learning to Speak Alzheimer's: A Groundbreaking Approach for Everyone Dealing with the Disease by Joanne Koenig Coste (Paperback - September 8, 2004).
More than four million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's, and as many as twenty million have close relatives or friends with the disease. Revolutionizing the way we perceive and live with Alzheimer's, Joanne Koenig Coste offers a practical approach to the emotional well-being of both patients and caregivers that emphasizes relating to patients in their own reality. Her accessible and comprehensive method, which she calls habilitation, works to enhance communication between carepartners and patients and has proven successful with thousands of people living with dementia. Learning to Speak Alzheimer's also offers hundreds of practical tips, including how to cope with the diagnosis and adjust to the disease's progression help the patient talk about the illness face the issue of driving make meals and bath times as pleasant as possible adjust room design for the patient's comfort deal with wandering, paranoia, and aggression.