Product Description

Customer Reviews (49)

Alzheimer's
This book contained some very helpful advice on dealing with Alzheimer's patients.I must admit, however, that it made me feel inadequate.I would love to be the caring, loving, ever-patient caregiver, but that is not my reality.The person for whom I'm caring is irascible, stubborn and impatient, and I frequently run out of patience.That said, this book is still a very valuable resource for families caring for an Alzheimer's patient.

So informative...
I would HIGHLY recommend reading this book if you are wanting to know more about Alzheimer's.Earlier this year our family started researching and learning about this horrible disease.We've now gone through several books and passed them around for other family members to read.THIS book BY FAR has been my favorite on the topic.The thought of HABILITATIVE care of Alzheimer's patients is so right on... you can see the difference in the patient immediately with the tips covered in that section of this book.Amazing what this disease is capable of and how, if you let it, it will rip apart people who love each other.Buy it today... and no, I'm not receiving any sort of compensation for the recommendation!;- )

Best book I've found for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients
My husband (a neurologist) and I own a company that educates both family and employed caregivers on how to appropriately interact with dementia patients, a mission born out of our experience with numerous loved ones with dementia. This book is the best I have found to recommend to caregivers.It is written by a woman whose husband was diagnosed with AD in the early 1970's while he was in his 40's.There were no resources available at the time, so she had to develop her own caregiving methods.In the intervening years, she has refined these methods into an life-affirming approach to care that promotes the dignity of the individual.It gives tried and true techniques for dealing with things like combativeness, independence, dressing, bathing, eating, wandering, etc. --- all the major issues faced by caregivers.It is a relatively short and easy read, but packed with useful information.I give it my highest recommendation.

Actually helpful when so little is.
As many other reviewers have noted this book seems to be the most aware of the realities of the lives of caregivers.

I am an only child. My mother passed away in 1998 and my father has been slowly spiraling down alzheimer's since then to the point where he requires 24-hr-care.

May other books assume a family perspective and are not sensitive to those who find themselves to be the sole caregiver.
I have also been helping my father through this since my early 20s and many other books are also not sensitive to the fact that those who are not of the boomer or "sandwich generation" may still find themselves in the role of caregiver.

This book offered actual strategies I was able to use to improve communication with my father. It also is the only book of the many Alzheimer's books I have read that made me feel better, not worse, after reading it.
My copy is so creased and dog-eared after about 4 years of use that I may need a new one soon!

I wish love and strength and energy to all those who find themselves seeking this book.
If you are seeking for someone else, please get them this book.

Great book!
I love this book! There are practical and surprising suggestions for dealing with the everyday hardships of caring for someone with Alzheimer's Disease. The most useful part of this book for me was the pratical, humane and clever approaches for modifying the environment to fit the person with AD. It was written with compassion and humor. I found the information helpful and inspiring. I am learning to accept my mother where she is now not try to recover what used to be. This book is filled with great tips, personal insight and a wonderful philosophy for living in the here and now. ... Read more

Product Description
The Giants were the cousins of the Olympians, who rebelled and were defeated. "When all the gods had slaked their thirst for particular vengeance there were still a few Giants left over, dead in all their various shapes and sizes.Hercules looked around a bit to see if anyone was looking, then brushed them all under one Mykonos."In antiquity, Mykonos had little going for it, apart from being the sibling island to Delos, birthplace of Apollo.The Persians regrouped there after their defeat in 490 BCE at Marathon.Throughout most of the first 1000 years CE regular pillaging by the Turks impoverished the inhabitants.With its labrynthine streets and minimal buildings, it became a haven, hiding spies all the way up through the Napoleonic and First World Wars. James Davidson, a brilliant young classical scholar, visited Mykonos for the gay Festival of the Twelve Gods and found it a hedonistic paradise. Although he is in modern Mykonos, ancient Mykonos' history and mythology periodically consume the narrative, asserting their influence and power.Part travelogue, part classical history, part personal essay, part mythology, this is a witty and fascinating gem of a book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

shedding light on a dark subject
Symphony of Spirits is really an amazing book, and I've read a few in my time. Adding an understanding of the spiritual dimension to the practice of medicine, especially when caring for the elderly and infirmed with dementia and other debilitating diseases will benefit anyone who is in the profession. It will also provide some solace for family members and friends watching their loved ones disappear before their very eyes, both mentally and physically. We're all on a journey, and what Deborah Forrest so bravely and wisely shares with her readers will shed some light on the long and winding road back home. Symphony of Spirits : Encounters With the Spiritual Dimensions of Alzheimer's

Great Insights
This book was very helpful in looking what elders go through in their end-of-life transitions.Some families won't understand it, but it brought great insights to my work. ... Read more

Product Description
Offering an enlightened new approach to Alzheimer's care A Dignified Life will become a practical, life-enhancing resource for anyone faced with the daunting responsibility of caring for someone with Alzheimer's, either at home or a medical facility.

Four million Americans currently suffer from Alzheimer's disease and experts estimate that 22 million people around the world will be so afflicted by 2025. Far too many families are struggling with the emotionally and physically draining responsibility of redefining their relationship with, and caring for, someone who not long ago was a vibrant member of society, yet may not know their own name today.

A Dignified Life helps combat the burnout and frustration that often accompany the task of caring for an Alzheimer's patient. Author David Troxel, an Alzheimer's expert and executive director of the California Central Coast chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, maintains that at its simplest this approach is based on treating the person like a best friend and working from their strengths, not their weaknesses. He explains: "As family members, caregivers and professionals, we have to try to connect with them. People with this disease in some way need someone to be . . . attentive and empathetic--someone who really tries to walk a mile in their shoes."

A Dignified Life goes beyond the typical tips offered by most books and takes advantage of readers' instinctive desire to build friendships and taps into the intuitive aspect of caregiving that is part of our very nature. It provides a complete model for care built around creative and effective communication and meaningful activities and includes touching stories that demonstrate how the Best Friends method continues to improve the lives of both those who have Alzheimer's disease and those who care for them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

ALmost but not quite
This book had a few useful tips but overall I found it only barely useful. It is a rehash of info found nearly everywhere else. It only
touches,lightly, on the deeper problems of caring for a loved one with alzheimers, I.e. Anger, delusions, obsessive compulsive behavior, fears, etc. it is hard to be "best friend" when someone is enraged and threatening to kill you. Granted, these are empty threats and forgotten after a few minutes, but it is still difficult to deal with. OCD is even more difficult when it results in dangerous or difficult to handle behavior.

So, bottom line, I am still looking for more helpful onto and guidance.

a dignified life
Very good to familiarize yourself as to what is coming w/the disease and how to handle difficult situations as they come up.

Best Friends Approach to Caregiving
The underlying concept of the "best friends" approach to Alzheimer's caregiving is to treat another with kindnessand compassion, and this book is a helpful reminder to put caregiving into that framework.Having read many resources about Alzheimer's caregiving, however, I found it a bit general and basic and had hoped for a more in-depth book.Still, it doesn't hurt to be reminded.

Positive Help
Best Friends redefines the role of family "caregivers" as partners rather than supervisors, an approach that gives dignity to the relationship. Reinforced by examples of people with dementia who chose to be identified by their full names and details of their lives, this says fundamentally, "I am a person" not a generic case history.
A Dignified Life provides fun activities for people: real persons in this unusually challenging partnership of Alzheimers or dementia patients and their carers.

Shortly after it had been highly recommended to me by a former Alzheimer's Association executive, I ordered it from Amazon, and read it that the first night it arrived, like a thriller! Compared to reading other books on the topic of Alzheimers, which usually treated both the caregiver and patient as sufferers,threatening a downward spiral, this was a really hopeful and encouraging experience.At my caregiver support groupI spoke about its positive and hopeful approach, and as the book passed around, all took note.It should be one of the first "go to" resources in our repertoire.

Great Read for Caregivers
This book has a lot of helpful advice.There are so many good books on this subject, but one of the most important things a caregiver can learn is compassion for the person with Alzheimer's.We have to try to see it through that person's eyes. ... Read more

Product Description
Foreword by Barry Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions

· "Mom’s OK, she just forgets."
· "Dad only drives to the grocery store."
· "A support group? I don’t need one."
· "My husband is not ready for day care."
· "Nursing home placement? Never!"

These and similar expressions of denial are often heard in families struggling with the difficult challenges of Alzheimer’s or dementia in a loved one. Denial may seem to be an acceptable coping mechanism when faced with a disease that has no cure. But in fact the failure to accept reality can work against the welfare of the person suffering from a disease that causes dementia, making a bad situation worse for the whole family.

In this reassuring and very helpful handbook for families, experienced caregivers Evelyn D. McLay and Ellen P. Young suggest various behaviors, tools, and techniques for moving beyond denial. Real people who have faced the many problems brought about by Alzheimer’s speak out, with hope, from these pages. They share their journeys from denial to loving action and an improved attitude that helps them deal with their personal plights.

Separate chapters address the issues of caregiver burnout, developing communication skills, challenging behaviors that "push your buttons," when to remove driving privileges, day care for the elderly, deciding on long-term care, and the need for acceptance.

Without minimizing the daunting challenges of Alzheimer’s and dementia, the authors stress the importance of remaining positive and appreciating the moment while acting in the best interests of loved ones. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Alzheimer's
This book was OK. It was too simplistic and subjective for my taste. I found David Schenk's book, The Forgetting much more helpful. ... Read more

Product Description
Having a spouse, sibling, or parent with Alzheimer?s affects a family in every way possible?and can leave people feeling like they have nowhere to turn. The moving stories in this new collection help readers recognize they are not alone?and provide comfort for those who need it now more than ever. Readers will be inspired by the husbands, wives, sons, and daughters who put their own needs aside and sacrifice everything for love. This story collection shows how compassion and loyalty prevails when a loved one has Alzheimer?s. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

In the Valley of Denial
Each and every story in this book is inspiring. Family members and caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer's will find it comforting to read about others going through this journey.

True Stories: Alzheimer's Affects Entire Families
This book of true stories allows a glimpse into the lives of families who support and love the 5.2 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's journey requires tenacity and dedication on the part ofcaregivers, who learn to glean epiphanies and moments of joy from everyday life. Colleen Sell has chosen wonderful stories from over 2000 submissions. Thank you, Cup of Comfort, for releasing this book to create awareness of how Alzheimer's and related dementias affect the entire family!

Linda Fisher
"You're Going the Wrong Way" in Cup of Comfort for Families Touched by Alzheimer's
Author and Editor of Alzheimer's Anthology of Unconditional Love: The 110,000 Missourians with Alzheimer's
Author of Early Onset Blog: Essays from an Online Journal
... Read more

Product Description
Dementia affects one in twenty people over 60 and one in five people over 80.The cost of caring for people with dementia is already forcing restrictions on availablity of healthcare. which will lead to more and more people being cared for by their relatives.Tom Smith shows how to make these last years as comfortable and bearable as possible.He maps out the course of dementia, drugs which can help, problems to be expected and how they can best be faced. ... Read more

Product Description
Your Name Is Hughes Hannibal Shanks is Lela Knox Shanks's personal account of caring for her husband, Hughes, in their home after he was stricken with Alzheimer's disease. Lela describes her initial denial, her discovery of coping skills, her eventual acceptance of his illness, and her ultimate recognition that the key to successful caregiving lies in never losing sight of the patient's humanness. The book outlines twenty coping and survival strategies to guide caregivers to untapped inner resources and shows caregiving's intangible rewards of increased self-respect and self-knowledge. Lela Knox Shanks is an independent scholar and lecturer living in Lincoln, Nebraska. She and Hughes were married for fifty years and have four children. Hughes Hannibal Shanks worked for the federal government for thirty years and was the first African American hired by the Denver Social Security Administration office in the 1950s. This edition includes an epilogue by Lela. Steven H. Zarit is a professor of human development at Pennsylvania State University. He is also the coauthor of The Hidden Victims of Alzheimer's Disease: Families under Stress. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Very helpful book!
This book is about giving care to an AD patient in your home. Even if you do not plan to go that route, there is still an incredible amount of helpful information for anyone dealing with Alzheimers.I have been looking for books with this quality and quantity of information for quite awhile so I was very pleased to find this book.

Barbara Smith OTR/L's Review
Reading about Lela Knox Shank's incredible committment, creativity and and joy in caring for her husband as he suffered from Alzheimer's Disease was incredibly inspirational as well as informative. As an occupational therapist I appreciated her ingenius adaptations such as Velcro along the sides of his pants to make undressing easier and understanding of emotional needs as she discovered onging solutions to new challenges. As a writer Ms. Shanks presented as such a loving and sincere person, I asked her to write the foreword to my book: Still Giving Kisses: A Guide to Helping and Enjoying the Alzheimer's Victim You Love. Thank-you Lela, for your book, writing my foreword and being who you are!
Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L, author of Still Giving Kisses: A Guide to Helping and Enjoying the Alzheimer's Victim You Love and The Recycling Occupational Therapist
Recommended reading:
Adorable Photographs of Our Baby: Meaningful, Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones, and Involved Professionals

One of the Best!
I especially admire the sections "Twenty Coping Strategies" and "The New Life of the Caregiver and Its Rewards". She is so wise, although she doesn't always acknowledge that other demenitia pateints may not have the same problems.Wish I'd found this book during my husband's illness! I quote it often in my own book, "Voices of Alzheimer's."

Excellent info for caregivers and family members
This book helps those of us new to dealing with a family member with Alzheimers's.It helps identify odd behaviors as expected and helps give caregiver tips for dealing with the affected family member.

I am one of Lela Shanks grandaughters.
I strongly encourage anyone facing any type of involvement with an Alzheimer's patient to read this book.Anyone who knows the author could tell you that she is the type of person who is honest and straightforward. This book is a mirror image of her personality.There are practicalsolutions to the day to day trials of dealing with an Alzheimer's patientas well as an overwhelming sense of love and acceptance for the entiresituation.The book also deals with the importance of support forcaregivers.The best thing you can do to support yourself or anyoneinvolved with an Alzheimer's patient is to love them.The second bestthing you can do is to educate everyone involved.Start with this book andit will open your eyes and your heart in ways you never thought possible. ... Read more

Product Description
It is a great manual written by a person who has spent a lifetime caring for these patients, from the onset of the disease until their passing. A great book for the caretakers, but especially helpful for family members, relatives and friends. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Best of the lot
Although this book is 12 years old, the content is timeless. When my mother was diagnosed with early stages of this disease, I was at a loss. I ordered two or three books on the subject, with this being one of them. This was the BEST OF THE LOT.
Easy to read and written for laymen there is not a lot of medical jargon here. Rather in concise terms signs and symptoms are listed in chapters that allow you to read about the progression of this disease. The emphasis is on the caregiver and how to relate to your loved one. This book came in so handy over the course of my caregiving, I read it over and over. It is wonderful that a nurse wrote this in such a one on one format. Although my mother is gone, this book is a keeper for dealing with other dementia patients/people one comes in contact with. I would make it mandatory reading for anyone dealing with dementia parents/patients.

A wonderful resource.
My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease very early in 2000.As my grandmother had this disease also several years ago, and I cared for her also, I wanted up to date information on the disease and our options.I was the only caregiver for both my grandmother and my mother, and this book was invaluable in validating my feelings of sorrow, frustration & lonliness.It explained the disease and it's progression, also that it is NOT a bad thing if you ask for help from professionals and friends.When a person has Alzheimer's disease, the primary caretaker is usually a family member, and quite often is isolated from most outside activities.Many times, other family members and friends avoid the caretaker & patient.For myself, this disease is a slow grieving process, as you see that person leaving slowly, while still being here.This book is a great resource to help the caregiver in their life with the Alzheimer's patient.

Anoterh Winner by Branden Publishing
The first time I really started to think about what Alzheimer's disease was when I read a story about Ronald Reagan. I then started to think what exactly goes into the care of someone like that? How does one provide for the needs of those afflicted with the malady?

Eileen Driscoll has writtena first rate accounting of what each person needs to know about thedealings with and caring for the Alzheimer's Patient. Driscoll's book ismore than the simple do this do that approach, it is a heartwarming storyof someone devoted to helping those much less fortunate thanherself.

What Driscoll brings to this book is a true sense of realism.Driscoll is a role model and hero and deserves to be recognized for herwork. The book gives a helping hand, and I would have to stay, from a realexpert in the field. ... Read more

Product Description
also with Preventative, Nutritional & Psychological Help for the Families and Patients with Alzheimer’s DiseaseBeth M. Ley, Ph.D. and Barry Kraft, D.O.

Many times God chooses seemingly the least likely person to carry out His tasks. Often it is not the favored child or the one emotionally closest to the parent who becomes the designated caregiver. This is a double-edged sword because, there is a natural resentment for the tremendous burden of care required. However, it gives the caregiver the chance to work through issues that would never have been resolved without the close contact. This was the case with Fran and her mother, “Moose.”

This book, “The Moose Book,” tells the remarkable story of Fran and her family’s journey with Moose as she battles Alzheimer’s Disease. Smile, laugh, and let the tears well up as you see how God can use what looks like a tragedy to bring a family closer together, and to Him.

The psychological impact on the family taking on the role of caregivers is examined, as well as the latest research discussing treatment and prevention of mental degeneration through nutritional and antioxidant support.

“An inspiration for all taking on the responsibility of caring for an aging family member – especially with Alzheimer’s, and for all those who truly want to serve God.” ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

O death where is they sting; O grave where is thy victory?
This book shows that in a spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ there is really no long term pain in the death of a loved one; but the sacred and divine opportunity of completed healing, for the ones who love them.The perfect book for the Alzheimer patient and their family.

Fading: One Family's Journey w/a Woman Silenced by Alzheimer
I cannot begin to tell you how very much I enjoyed reading this book. Once I began reading,,I just couldn't put it down until I totally completed it. This book has touched me and brought out many emotions of smiles, laughter and tears and I can relate to it as a chronic caregiver.I recommend this book to everyone not only to people who are in caregiving situations for a member of their family having Alzheimers...but for all family sicknesses. ... Read more

Product Description
A specialist in treating Alzheimer's disease presents the latest successful care and management techniques in clear, non-technical language. He describes the symptoms and stages of Alzheimer's, and what to expect as the illness progresses. There is a section covering the full range of resources for Alzheimer's care available in a community, which can ease the burden of daily care. The book also covers what is known of the causes of Alzheimer's, how it affects the brain, and the hope for treatment and cure. ... Read more

Product Description
Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield. Review of current knowledge and research in dementia, for families and all caregivers dealing with the dementia patient. ... Read more

Product Description
Into the Mist, When Someone You Love Has Alzheimer's Disease answers the questions that come along with an Alzheimer's diagnosis. As Alzheimer's reaches epidemic proportion more and more families are searching for answers that will best equip them to meet their needs and those of the Alzheimer's patient.What are the symptoms of the early stages of Alzheimer's disease? When should someone stop driving?Why is my loved one becoming withdrawn and insecure?Are hallucinations an occurrence with Alzheimer's disease?Does Medicare or Medicaid cover expenses?How do I cope with the stress of constant care giving?Is Alzheimer's disease fatal?These are may other topics are addressed by leading Aging experts, researchers anda Neuropsychologist.Along with factual information the reader will be told the stories of three families caring for a loved one from the earliest stages to the last stages.Their personal accounts will put a human face on the challenges of Alzheimer's care giving.Jack, Frank and Shirley's stories are told by their daughtersand they illustrate the commonalities and the differences among Alzheimer's patients and the way their families handle their most difficult challenges. This book began as my personal journal but grew into a comprehensive resource for Alzheimer's caregivers as well as a compilation of information from researchers, psychologists, Aging experts andfamilies coping with this devastating illness all over the world.As you walk into the mist of Alzheimer's disease this book will serve as a roadmap and the life lessons of others who have traveled this road before you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

info
This is a good book to read to gain perspective and get some real insight to alzheimers disease. This book came quickly after I ordered it and was in decent shape, although there was some highlighting in the book that was not mentioned. over all pleased with purchase.

Alzheimer's Book
I have enjoyed reading this book and learning more about what is going on with a person with Alzheimer's.If you are careing for a loved one with Alzheimer's, then you should read this book..

Universal appeal for those dealing with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia
The book, "Into The Mist" by Deborah Glover-Uetz shares with the reader an honest view of, Alzheimer's disease, victims. Also the author tells of the day-to-day struggles of the families as they cope with this difficult disease.

There is something for everyone, dealing with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. Included are: touching stories, how to make long term care decisions, dealing with financial burdens, and helpful tips for care giving and coping.

Finally Uetz concludes with a message from, leading expert, Dr. Delacourte who feels a cure will be found but in small steps. He gives those dealing with Alzheimer's disease, hope.

Definitely, a helpful tool.

By Susan Berg author of
Adorable Photographs of Our Baby: Meaningful, Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones, and Involved Professionals
[...]

into the mist
this book had a lot of very good information in all areas of dealing with alzheimers.i would recomend it a diffinate read for anyone wanting to learn about alzheimers

"THE BOOK" for all caregivers, friends, and families with Alzheimer's disease and dementia's
This book will open your eyes into the world Of Alzheimer's disease. If you are a caregiver, know someone, or know a family, I strongly urge you to read this. Deborah has shared touching stories here, and provided us with so much information on how to cope with this disease. She takes us step by step, guides you through the good and the bad. Many times I cry as I read the pages, many times I smile.

You will learn so much about yourself and your loved one. And the information on your medical rights, healthcare facilities, Medicare etc. is priceless. I carry my book with me everywhere. Please read this book. It will become "your bible".....you will walk away with admiration and warm feelings for all the caregivers and their families out there. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
Few books manage to balance practical suggestions and loving sympathy as well as Talking to Alzheimer's, a concise and comprehensive guide to communication with both paid caregivers and their patients. While the title suggests focus on a specific disease, the recommendations are appropriate for any family struggling with serious communication issues, whether those issues are the result of stroke, surgery, disease, or an accident.

Much of the book discusses methods of easing conversation during visits, as well as ways to manage the emotions that can surface in difficult times. From asking open-ended questions like, "How did your day go?" to gently reintroducing yourself to lifelong friends, the pointers here are written with kindness, and they focus on maintaining dignity for all involved. Short sections include tips on involving children in your visits and a welcome list of resources that spans organizations, Web sites, and additional books; this straightforward advice even includes expected response time to Web site inquiries. Instead of an index, you'll find a list of topics, so you can find immediate answers on "ending a conversation" and "when to insist."

One lengthy chapter covers the heartbreakers, such as dealing with refusals to eat or listening to tearful requests to be taken home. Author Claudia Strauss acknowledges the difficulty of these situations honestly, while at the same time providing simple words that can help diffuse the issues and open the path for joyful visits that benefit everyone involved. --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Good book for caregivers
This is an exceptional book to help Alzheimer's caregivers learn to cope with this disease.

Excellent!
Such a positive approach.This book really helped me connect with my mother who has alzheimer's and is in a nursing home.I felt that I was making her more comfortable with our visits and not as confused.Thank you, Claudia J. Strauss for your helpful suggestions.

Not relevant enough
This book is basically a "feel good" book and doesn't address the grittiness of dementia/alzheimer disease.There are many of us whose loved ones/friends have become extremely hateful and vitriolic, and this book does nothing to give us some glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel."The 36-hour Day" is a much better and more comprehensive book.

Too much focus on what NOT to do
There are not a lot of books out there that even attempt to help people learn how to talk to a person with Alzheimers. I was very happy to find this book at all since I have just begun working at a day center program for persons with Alzheimers and dementia. This book is full of practical advice on the many ways and reasons we talk to persons with dementia and in that way, the book is extremely valuable.However,the overall emphasis of the examples is on what NOT to do, which is very frustrating. One of the reasons people seek out such a book in the first place is that they have already had some communicative breakdown and they are looking for ways to fix it, not more lists of what not to do.We already know what doesn't work. We want to know what does work.That said, please know that there is a wonderful small section with a parallel list of Don'ts and Do's near the end of the book. That section is worth looking at.

A how to "Talking to Alzheimer"guide
I first saw this book in the waiting room of a Dr. my mother was meeting with.I didn't have too much time to get into it then so I purchased it later and what a tremendous book, so easy to read and it had situations I am currenlty dealing with and the appropriate responses.I took it to my support group for caregivers and shared it with the group, some were going to purchase the next day. My thanks toClaudia Strauss for writing it!! ... Read more

Product Description
Includes Safe and Effective Exercises for All Ages.

Your brain is your most important organ and, just like any other part of the body, you should strive to keep it healthy and active. Studies have shown that regular exercise can not only improve brain function, but also potentially prevent the onset of cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Parkinson’s.

William Smith’s Exercises for Brain Health features physical and mental exercises that are specially designed to strengthen both mind and body. Featuring progressively challenging programs and assessments, this book will keep you motivated along the path to a healthy and active brain.

Exercises for Brain Health features:

* Safe and effective exercises for all ages and fitness levels
* Nutrition tips and recipes to promote brain health
* Easy-to-follow fitness plans for long-term wellness
* Facts on the signs, symptoms, and risk factors for cognitive disease
* Tips and guidance for caregivers and loved ones of dementia patients

Whether you are looking to keep your brain sharp and boost memory and focus, or just want to take steps to ensure your brain is fit for the future, Exercises for Brain Health is your comprehensive guide. ... Read more

Product Description
Once, senility -- the slow deterioration of mental capacity -- was considered to be an irreversible death sentence. Today, scientific evidence shows that targeted nutritional therapy can be used to fight a variety of diseases affecting the brain, including Alzheimer's, arteriosclerosis, and chronic malnutrition. In this book, acclaimed medical researcher Dr. Abram Hoffer and holistic health writer Dr. Morton Walker present a program of diet and supplementation specifically developed to prevent or reverse senility. They also provide an invaluable guide for all people who wish to achieve optimum health for their thought processes and memory.

Newly updated, Smart Nutrients provides a detailed account of the most important breakthrough nutrients currently being studied. These nutrients include niacin and vitamin C, as well as minerals such as zinc, chromium and many others -- each of which plays a crucial role in the maintenance of mental health and the treatment of specific diseases.

As the link between our mental clarity and our nutritional intake becomes more apparent, scientists are providing us with vital information that can be used today to insure a better health tomorrow. Smart Nutrients represents an important bridge to a more fulfilling future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Health care simplified . . .
Supported by well-documented, careful research, Hoffer continues the work he began with Osmond and Pauling in the 50's -- using vitamins to treatbiochemical imbalances associated with a range of mental illness symptoms, mood-swings, substance-abuse cravings and sugar addiction.Why hasn't this work had more recognition?"No money in it," from the perspective of those who put up funds to test patent-able products, the drug industry.No on-going follow up, either, from the point of view of medical professionals who want patients to queue up quarterly for a check!A good place to find alternative thinking to the drug cartel in medicine.

Hoffer is one of the most important alternative people alive.
Abram Hoffer has changed the world.Pauling recognized the importance of Hoffer's work in the 1960's.
You can't go wrong buying and learning the world of Abram Hoffer.Fifty years from now Hoffer and Pauling will be recognized for bringing medicine out the "dark ages" of cut, burn and poison.
The next generation of research is already being built on Hoffer's work but Hoffer was the pioneer and it's best to understand the source.
Your doctor is most likely 50 years behind Hoffer's work.Leave the forces of "Darkness" (medicine for greed and profit) and enter the world of Light (applied nutrient knowledge).

Smart Nutrients Especially Niacin
I purchased this book because of my interest as an Alzheimer's caregiver. The stories told of Dr. Hofer's experiences with the cureative aspects of Niacin were a revelation to me even though I have been searching the Internet for answer's to the progression of my wife's diaganosis of Alzheimer's symptoms.

The book led me to begin experimenting with Niacin and the results so far have been encouraging but not yet completely evaluated.

Thanks! Lowell ... Read more

Product Description
[her] ability to probe beneath the surface of behaviors makes this an especially valuable book for formal and informal caregivers.... Hodgson's direct and folksy writing style make for quick and easy reading.--Library Journal ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Book: Alzheimer's - Find the Words...
This is a wonderful, common-sense book for those dealing with a loved one with Alzheimer's.We found it so helpful and insightful that we ordered additional copies.

Thank God there is help
Without this book my wife and I would not have survived my Mother in law last few years.

For patients in the advanced stages
This book will probably be helpful to me later, but because it deals more with patients in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, it's not helpful in my situation. Perhaps the problem is with the description or title of the book as I couldn't tell the content until I'd bought it. I gave it 3 stars because it is probably good for latter-stage patient care-givers.

not one of the best
I may have read too many books on Alzheimer's but this book was not as encouraging or as informative and many of the others I have read.

A Wonderful Guide
"Finding the words" to communicate with someone who has Alzheimer's is a problem-- especially after many words have lost their meanings to that person. Harriet Hodgson, the daughter of an Alzheimer's patient, has done an excellent job in giving us a guidebook for communicating in the daily struggle all caregivers go through, as she gives us many antidotes from her personal experience with her mother. In this book, we learn about communication at all stages of the disease, the causes of communication problems, and how to "run interference" or "identifying and dealing with the obstacles before they deal with us." We can't fix things; we can't make everything right for the person with Alzheimer's, but we can try to achieve better communication, realizing, as the author says in her epilogue: "It isn't easy for caregivers to find the words they want. Some days we succeed; other days we fall short of our goal. The important thing is that we're trying to improve communication. And that we keep on trying because we care." ... Read more

Product Description
Part I - LIFE WITH AN ALZHEIMER'S VICTIM
This seven-year case study takes you into the home of a caregiver and her afflicted mother. You enter the victim's world and share the first horrifying awareness of her illness, followed by denial, to the day she starts a new life in a nursing home. You experience the caregiver's emotional growth from denial, irritation, and anger to understanding, acceptance and loving compassion. And, as a silent witness, you see the fumbling, early mistakes she makes in dealing with common behavior problems.

Part 2 - GUIDEBOOK FOR CAREGIVERS
1. Overview of Alzheimer's And Related Dementias
Why early diagnosis is important - Stages & Symptoms - Where to Go for Expert Evaluation - Shows what can and cannot be done within reason.
2. Caregiver, Take Care of Yourself
Signs of Burnout - How to Reduce Killer Stress - Symptoms of Depression - Help from Support Groups - When It's Time for Professional Help
3. How to Ge!t Help
Home Care - Adult Day Care - Respite Homes - Nursing Homes - How to Help a Victim Who Lives Alone
4. Financial And Legal Matters You Need to Know
5. Where to Go for More Information and Help ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Focus on Healthy Aging, published by Thomson Gale on March 1, 2007. The length of the article is 665 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Diet may ward off dementia: eating a Mediterranean diet and watching your carbs might lower your risk of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.(KEEPING YOUR MIND SHARP)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: Focus on Healthy Aging (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 10Issue: 3Page: 3(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more