Customer Reviews (2)

Excelent choice.
This book starts out well, and is an excellent lead into the Mutant Cronicles universe.Stackpole wrote this book quite a while ago, but it is up to his usuall high standard.One of the greatest things about this bookis that it stands on it's own quite well, but also fits the other two booksfrom the trilogy in quite well, wrapping it all up into a strongconclution.I defentally recomend this book, and the other two in theseries to anyone that enjoys science fiction in the slightest.

I thought this book was excellent.
I thought this book was a great book. In kept you at the edge of your seat. Never a dull moment. The characters were excellent. I think that Michael A. Stackpole wrote a great book. I also read this because Stackpole is one of my favorite authors. I really recommend this book to other readers. ... Read more

Book Description
This volume in the Blue Books of Neurology series provides you with rapid access to practical, clinical guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson's disease, and many others. Organized by the most common neurodegenerative diseases, it reflects new insights regarding commonalities among the neurodegenerative diseases, and clusters them according to their dominant molecular pathologic signatures, so you can best treat any dementia you see. ... Read more

Book Description
People with mid-stage dementia are served by special care units in long-term care facilities, although as these residents deteriorate, they are transferred out of the unit and into a general nursing home unit. These nursing homes are not equipped to deal with palliative needs of end-stage dementia care. The book addresses those needs. With this in mind, Part One examines the stages of dementia end-stage in particular. Other chapters in this section provide background on the hospice movement and hospice concepts; the idea of maintaining personhood; and administration of a late-stage care unit. Part Two focuses on treatment approaches for common needs in end-stage dementia - medical and physical care; a supportive environment; the fundamentals of care; psychopharmacology; and therapeutic activities. Part 3 contains chapters on family-centred care; legal and ethical issues; programme evaluation; and future opportunities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Essential for the caregiver
If you are caring for a family member with Alzheimer's, this book provides a peer reviewed foundation for understanding and preparing for their needs as they progress beyond Stage 2.

It explains what we know.It explains what we don't know.It provides case studies to clarify discussions.It offers guidance and tools for communication, nutrition, bathing, medical, and emotional support.It discusses end of life issues and provides a framework and vocabulary for discussing these things with the person's doctor and any caregivers that may be helping you.

For institutional readers, this book describes the special care unitas defined by the NIH for dementia patients in late stage.I have been advised that the VA Healthcare System has done a good job of implementing this model for the care of veterans with dementia.For caregivers it provides a comprehensive basis for assessing the capabilities of other skilled care facilities should placement become a need or consideration.

A practical guide to programming in late stage dementia care
There are many books available about programming in the early and middle stages of dementia.This is the first book I've read about programming in the later stages of dementia. The author discusses the concept of the"dementia hospice."She takes the approach that people in end-stage dementia should be treated as human beings with feelings and needs that can be addressed and met.

I especially appreciated the section about the supportive environment.The environment seems to be a critical piece of the dementia care puzzle.

I recommend this book to anyone who cares for those with dementia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great teaching boo.
This is an excellent book to teach others about dementia, no matter what level of knowledge they have. I plan on using this as a text book. ... Read more

Book Description
"For some years now, Tom Kitwood's work on dementia care has stood out as the most important, innovative and creative development in a field that has for too long been neglected.This book is a landmark in dementia care; it brings together, and elaborates on, Kitwood's theory of dementia and of person-centred care in an accessible fashion, that will make this an essential source for all working and researching in the field of dementia care."
-Robert Woods, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Wales

"Over the last ten years or so Tom Kitwood has made a truly remarkable contribution to our understanding of dementia, and to raising expectations of what can be achieved with empathy and skill.This lucid account of his thinking and work will communicate his approach to a yet wider audience.It is to be warmly welcomed."
-Mary Marshall, Director of the Dementia Services Development Centre, University of Stirling

* What is the real nature of the dementing process?
*What might we reasonably expect when dementia care is of very high quality?
*What is required of organizations and individuals involved in dementia care?

Tom Kitwood breaks new ground in this book. Many of the older ideas about dementia are subjected to critical scrutiny and reappraisal, drawing on research evidence, logical analysis and the author's own experience.The unifying theme is the personhood of men and women who have dementia - an issue that was grossly neglected for many years both in psychiatry and care practice.

Each chapter provides a definitive statement on a major topic related to dementia, for example: the nature of 'organic mental impairment', the experience of dementia, the agenda for care practice, and the transformation of the culture of care.

While recognizing the enormous difficulties of the present day, the book clearly demonstrates the possibility of a better life for people who have dementia, and comes to a cautiously optimistic conclusion. It will be of interest to all professionals involved in dementia care or provision, students on courses involving psychogeriatrics or social work with older people, and family carers of people with dementia.

Key features:
*One of the few attempts to present the whole picture.
*Very readable - many real-life illustrations.
*Offers a major alternative to the 'medical model' of dementia.
*Tom Kitwood's work on dementia is very well known
... Read more

Book Description
Focusing on the growing problem of dementia in the ageing population in Western societies, this text gives practical advice for professionals on coping with dementing illness as well as clinical intervention strategies. It includes a comprehensive overview of the most common dementing illnesses - including Alzheimer's disease - that can be used as a reference in determining the severity and progression of the disease and its potential impact on the caregiver and family. It demonstrates the application of theory and practice models that are particularly useful in developing coping skills, support systems, and navigating the health care/social service maze. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Voices of Alzheimer's
A great book that outlines my ideas on facing the caregiving of someone with dementia!

Thanks for writting this book
This book is a small treasure.I keep picking it up a reading different passages.It helps me understand and appreciate my father, who has Alzheimer's, in ways that I have forgotten.

It helped the whole family, even dad picked it up to read.

Thanks for a fabulous book,

I am one of the people in this book
My name is Doreen. I am one of the people in Betsy Peterson's book. She mailed me a signed copy which I have lent to other people and they also found it very useful.I am writing this to let people know that even though the book is called Voices of Alzheimers, it is really a book about Dementia in general (my diagnosis is Pick's Disease, not Alzheimers and as the book indicates they later changed Betsy Peterson's husband's diagnosis from Alzheimer's to another dementia). So if youhave a family member who has a dementia other than Alzheimers, you can also find helpful (and hopeful) information in this book.

A Must-Have Book on the Subject
This small book is a treasure of honest and deep sharing on the part of dementia patients and their caregivers and loved ones. The book is visually very attractive, the content is well organized, and the quotes--covering the full spectrum of sadness and anger to wisdom, humor, hope, and gratitude--are interspersed with the author's own moving story. Reading this has enabled me to relate with much greater understanding and confidence to those with Alzheimer's, and there is an excellent section on availableresources. Voices of Alzheimer's is unique in the literature on the subject and deserves to become a classic in the field.

Jenneke Barton

A wonderful book to help you understand Alzheimers
It's a wonderful book.Its power is in the innocence and simplicity of the quotes.It moves you from complete unawareness of the disease, up through recognition and understanding.

I bought it for my husband, whose mother is in the middle stages of Alzheimers.He read it, or should I say, devoured it, immediately.Then he bought one for his sister (he didn't want to give away his copy).

It's a text book on the progression of Alzheimers, written by people who were there, and woven into a beautiful story.It brings about a sense of peace after reading it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

great insight
This book contains information that most books dealing with dementia do not - HOPE & a personal account from someone who is actually going through the disease themself! Which gives great insight to anyone connected to dementia! I would highly this book!

Forgetting Is the Worst Part...
This is evidence that some people can overcome the impossible.The dreaded calamity of not being able to remember in one of its worst forms hit Christin Boden at the age of 46 when she was diagnosed with progressive Althemizer's disease.Of course, she was hit hard and set out to learn all she could about this debilitating disease.The main thing is that she did not just crawl in a corner and give up.After all, she had three children to care for, so she became an advocate for people with dementia.

She wrote a book, WHO WILL I BE WHEN I DIE? and, three years after her initial diagnosis, she married again at the age of fifty and got on with her new life.She lectured around the world for the Dementia Advocy and Support Network International.She sets forth the reality of living with this major setback.Both emotional and physical needs must be considered.Unlike Michael S. Gazzaniga's proposal in THE ETHICAL BRAIN, the consideration of euthansia was not an option.

"It's like a 115-year-old brain trying to power a 55-year-old!"In the Appendix to this book, she makes a point, "Do You Believe in Miracles?"In her case, a supporting husband, along with new drugs, and her high-level of capability have slowed down the progression of this disease.She makes suggestions for caregivers about what to do without demeaning the person.

DANCING WITH DEMENTIA is a vivid account of her tenacity in exploring the effects of memory loss.Ethical challenges are a part of life and emerges as the brain ages. Normal aging involves DNA in the early stages of forgetfulness. During the aging process, we have problems with short-term memory and being able to form new long-term memories.She shows what it is like to live with dementia, the exhaustion of coping with simple tasks, and the many difficulties in communication.Even a simple TMJ probe can cause major problems if the surgeon hits the wrong nerve, causing paralysis of that side of the face and possibly making the patient unable to speak clearly.

Like Christine Bryden, as we get older, it is necessary to keep a positive attitude and believe in miracles.

Living With Dimentia:My Story of Living Positively with Dementia
I sent this to my sister who says it's a good book, has helpful ideas in dealing with someone with dementia, but mostly identifies the problems and some of the similar manifestations of someone with the problem. ... Read more

Book Description
This definitive handbook assembles the most recent advances in knowledge about dementia, Alzheimer Disease, and related disorders as they affect persons with intellectual disabilities. Diagnosis, assessment, treatment, and management and care practices are detailed in a practical manner making this a useful tool to both students and trained professionals. After an introduction to the subject, the book begins with persoanl accounts of three affected individuals whose signs of dementia are described from clinical, family member, and care-provider perspectives, respectively. The biology and physiology of dementia, as well as the neurological and medical complications associated with it, are then provided in Parts Two, three, and Four. The application and practical perspectives of this handbook are enhanced in Part Five which details the best practices available to meet the needs and challenges involved in care and quality of life issues. The challenge raised by the rapidly growing number of aging individuals with intellectual disabilities forms the basis for the final part of the volume, an analysis and presentation of rarely addressed policy issues. Extensive resource information and a comprehensive glossary contribute to the useful nature of this handbook. Practitioners, service providers, educators and students will benefit from the accessability and practicality if this text as well as the breadth and depth of knowledge of the editors and contributors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Thank you the editors and contributing authors
For those who care for persons with developmental disabilities this is THE first book to read concerning dementia.Contributors to the book are the recognized leaders in their respective fields of expertise in dementiacare.It provides information concerning the biological aspects ofdementia causing disorders as well as suggestions for social policy andbest practices in the field.At first one can be disappointed with thechapters on available services, until one realizes the disappointment isless with the contributions of the authors than with the lack of availableservices for this population.Dr. Janicki is to be commended for hisdedication to providing the information caregivers need to provide thehighest quality of life throughout a lifetime for persons with cognitivedisabilities. ... Read more

Book Description

In her widely acclaimedDoing Things, Jitka M. Zgola offered practical and much-needed advice for those caring for persons with Alzheimer disease. Now, inCare That Works, Zgola shows how caregivers can better meet the demanding challenges of their job by building and improving their personal relationships with those in their care. Instead of simply prescribing approaches,Care That Works gives caregivers the information with which they can develop their own approaches, evaluate their effectiveness, and continue to grow in skill and insight.

Zgola explains that optimal dementia care involves three elements: a good relationship between the caregiver and the person who has dementia, a safe and nurturing environment, and meaningful activities. Evident throughout the book is Zgola's gift for compassionately portraying the difficulties faced by people with dementia and then suggesting ways to act in a manner that accords such people the respect and dignity they deserve. Topics that receive special attention include communicating with persons who have language deficits and coping with problem behaviors--two critical problems in dementia care.

Praise for Jitka M. Zgola'sDoing Things:

"A valuable resource for professionals, paraprofessionals, and family members working with Alzheimer's disease patients." --Educational Gerontology

"This guide shows how to establish a positive environment for Alzheimer's patients by providing social interaction and productive activity, with an emphasis on treating patients with empathy, courtesy, and dignity." --Health Progress

Customer Reviews (2)

alzheimer's care--a practical guide
Excellent!I've worked professionally with persons with Alzheimer's disease and their families for almost 20 years and this is one of the most comprehensive and useful books to come along in recent years.Ms. Zgolahas done it again!Her first book "Doing Things" set thestandards for realistic and meaningful interaction with persons withdementia and her new book continues in the same ground breaking manner. Her insight and practical approaches to caregiving help both the personaland professional caregiver maximize the remaining abilities of the personwith dementia.A "must read" for anyone who works with or knowssomeone with dementia.

an eye-opener about caring for persons with dementia
This is the most practical and informative book about caring for persons with Alzheimer's I have seen.It helped me see the person I am caring for as someone who is trying hard to cope with problems.Now that I canunderstand more clearly what he is dealing with, I am better able to helphim instead of just doing things for him.It is informative, enjoyable andeven made me laugh. I loved it and will keep refering to it often. ... Read more

Product Description
PAPERBACK& DOWNLOAD EDITIONSWHAT'S IT LIKE to be the only son of a widowed mother who is rapidly sinking into the opaque fog of dementia, and who lives alone half a continent away? ROBERT TELL tells this tale with compassion and humor. DEMENTIA DIARY reads like fiction and covers the fifteen year period from his father's shocking death in a department store to his mothers 92nd birthday. It is meant to be a portable support group. If you have watched helplessly as your parent, spouse or friends identity disappeared into the sinkhole of Alzheimers Disease (or another dementia), this heart-wrenching memoir will touch you deeply ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Dementia Diary is a good companion
Dementia Diary is a good companion for the book "36 Hour Day:A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer Disease and Other Dementing Illnesses".Robert Tell's book illustrates what the 36 Hour Day is preparing one for.It's poignant and tells the plain truth of the frustration and the fact of the experience of one son who indirectly cared for his mother with Dementia.

I laughed at times as I nodded my head in knowing as his mother did things that our family member is doing.Whew, it is nice not to be the only one!

Dementia Diary Good Medicine For Caregiver Isolation
"Dementia Diary: A Caregiver's Journal," is personal, warm and witty. It's also heartbreaking. Tell is open with the pain one suffers watching the personality changes dementia brings to a beloved parent. He is an only child. This brings a unique loneliness in handling the sometimes slow, often startling changes dementia can bring. There is a deep feeling that no one can truly understand. Tell brings this home powerfully in his memoir. I have already recommended it to readers of my column and by email, when I coach people through their personal caregiving pain.

Tell's story about his mother's watch had me laughing out loud, as I experienced the same thing with my mother, my mother-in-law and my dad. There is no logical need for a watch battery to be replaced immediately, when an elder is in a nursing facility. There are clocks all over and people to take the elder wherever they need to go. But they must have their watch. My dad couldn't even see the extra large face of his, but he somehow knew if the battery quit. The watch story is just one of the many - nearly universal - stories Tell offers the reader.

There are many dementias other than the well-known Alzheimer's. I had three elders with dementia. Each was different. It's good to get the word out that all dementia is not Alzheimer's.

I will continue to recommend Robert Tell's book to anyone feeling the isolation of a caregiver - especially an only child.

Carol Bradley Bursack
Author/Speaker/Columnist
Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories www.mindingourelders.com

A sensitive and well written semi-autobiography
Robert Tell presents an account of his mother's slow descent into
dementia and its impact on him as the only son. Although the author
suggests this is not a "how to" book it definitely educates the reader
about many significant issues such as geriatricare management, driving
and preneed funeral planning--to mention a few. This book is unusal for
its male (son) caregiver perspective and a must read for all who are
going through the chalenging years of caring for an elderly parent.
Although I am now an adult orphan I read the book and garnered insights
about the journey that I and my family recently completed with the
passing of my 94 year old mother several years ago.

A Neil Simon laugh and cry scenario...
As a CEO of a mental health agency and as the bereaved familymember of an
Alzheimer's victim I found this book to be OUTSTANDING-entertaining-
informative......a primer on the family implications of the deadly and devastating impact of dementia on the afflicted and their loved ones. Other books focus on the
technical and miss the emotional and personal reality that engulfs both the afflicted and the caregiver. Dementia Diary fills this gap with dignity and warmth.Every reader will benefit greatly, as didI.
... Read more

Book Description
Two of the most common psychological disorders of later life are dementiaand depression. The diagnosis of these conditions presents a challenge toclinicians because the symptoms of depression and dementia often overlap;in addition, the symptoms of either of these disorders in their earlystages may be attributed to the normal effects of aging. To successfullyidentify and treat depression and dementia in older adults - therebyavoiding or delaying unnecessary and costly long-term care - psychologists must increase their skills in communicating and working with the olderpopulation. Neuropsychological Assessment of Dementia and Depression inOlder Adults reviews the most up-to-date research on the diagnosis ofdementia and depression and offers concrete recommendations for evaluating this unique population. A helpful appendix refers readers to cognitivetest norms for older adults. The contributors to this volume, all expertsin the psychological assessment of older adults, give clinicians andpractitioners clear and practical guidance on differentiatingpsychological disorders from normal events in the aging processidentifying symptoms of depression and symptoms of dementia performingdifferential assessment of dementia and depression determining legalcompetency of older adults providing clinical interpretations to clientsand their families applying assessment to therapy and interventions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Useful for students and clinicians
Solid coverage of fundamentals, makes it valuable for students and for clinicians who may not be doing these kinds of assessments frequently enough to feel on top of them.Still has some benefit for more experienced practitioners.Especially helpful are the attention to presentation of depression in older adults, talking about results of assessment with patients and families, and assessment for competence.

Good overview
This book provides a useful and well documented review of the issues and procedures involved in assessment of cognitive functioning and depression in the geriatric population. I used the book to obtain continuing education through the American Psychological Association. I perform a couple of these assessments every month, so much of the book was not new to me but the reference list alone is worth a lot. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
Dementia is one of the most devasting illnesses as it invovles aprogressive decline in mental functioning leading to eventual totalincapacity. Thus, it affects all aspects of diagnosed individuals --eventualy robbing them of their very identities. There are many types ofdementia, but the most common form is Alzheimer's disease (AD) whichaffects over 4 million Americans, the majority f whom are age 65 or older. However, although associated with aging, the illness is also found inpersons in mid-life where the impact can be particularly servere as itaffects employment, income, and the expected life course. The theme ofthis book underscores the many factors associated with dementia and itscare, and the ways in which social work involvement can be most valuable.The chapters, written by leaders in the field of dementia care, examinethe development and impact of dementia and the many ways in which socialwork expertise can be most effectively utilized by clinicans, researchers, and advoctes. ... Read more

Book Description
This book focuses on language and communication issues with older people with mental health problems. Radically revised and updated from the authors’ earlier book, “Communication Disability and the Psychiatry of Old Age”, this book recognizes that language and communication is not just the business of speech and language therapy but is relevant to all staff involved with people who have mental health difficulties. 

This book focuses on what older people with mental health difficulties require to maintain their independence and to minimize the effects of degenerative disease processes for as long as possible from a speech and language perspective.

• Relevant to all members of the multidisciplinary team involved within older people’s mental health services
• Each chapter is evidence-based and factual
• Reflects the substantial advances in the diagnosis and treatment of dementias

Book Description
Offering practical advice for arts therapists and health care professionals, this book emphasizes the importance of putting the individual before the illness to provide holistic, person-centered support for people with dementia.

The contributors are all practicing healing arts therapists who show how music, dance and the visual arts can be used in partnership with person-centered care to promote improved memory, reduced anxiety, increased self-esteem, better communication and successful group interaction. They use case studies to demonstrate the ways in which therapists can encourage engagement of those with dementia with sound, touch, movement and visual forms, making this a positive and practical book for all those working to provide person-centered dementia care. ... Read more

Book Description
In the past decade there have been enormous advances in our understanding of frontotemporal dementia and related syndromes. The impetus for these advances has come from a number of directions including genetic discoveries, new approaches to neuroimaging and improved neuropsychological understanding of the cognitive aspects of the condition. This book provides a much needed review of the current status of our knowledge of these syndromes. The book starts with chapters reviewing the history of the condition and describes the presenting clinical, neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological features, before reviewing, in detail, the areas of greatest recent research progress. The book concludes with a chapter proposing a multidisciplinary approach to patient management. Frontotemporal Dementia Syndromes will be essential reading for neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrists and other clinicians interested in cognitive and behavioural disorders, as well as to basic scientists working in the area of neurodegeneration. ... Read more