A Dignified Life: The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care, A Guide for Family Caregivers
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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.
DedicationxiiiAcknowledgmentsxvIntroductionxixIAlzheimer's Disease and Dementia1What's Happening? The Experience of Alzheimer's Disease3Worry and AnxietyFrustrationConfusionLossSadnessEmbarrassmentParanoiaFearAngerIsolation and LonelinessThe Best Friends Approach2What Is Known? Diagnosis, Treatment, and Research21Is It Normal to Have Memory Lapses Now and Then? Can a Doctor Help Someone Determine if There Is a Problem?What Does It Mean if the Doctor Diagnoses Some Form of Dementia? Is That the Same as Senility?Disorders That May Be TreatableDisorders That Are Currently IrreversibleWhat Does It Mean if My Doctor Is Using the "A" Word--Alzheimer's Disease?Do All People with Alzheimer's Disease Have the Same Course of Illness?What Kind of Medical Treatment Is Appropriate?Can Other Health Problems Worsen the Effects of Dementia?What Are Psychotropic Drugs and Can They Help?Is Alzheimer's Disease Inherited?Can Alzheimer's Disease Be Prevented?How Does a Person with Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia Become Part of a Research Study?What Happens at the End?3What Now? Making Sense of the Diagnosis45Be Open with the Person About His or Her SituationDeal with DenialBe Open with Others About Your Family SituationGet Legal and Financial Affairs in OrderMake a Financial Plan for Health Care ServicesMake a Realistic Assessment of Yourself and Your CommunityMake a Realistic Assessment of Your Loved One with DementiaWork to Preserve, or Even Enhance, Family RelationshipsContinue to Be Part of the CommunityMake the Environment Simple and SafeIIThe Best Friends Approach4A New Start: The Art of Friendship63Friends Know Each Other's Personality and HistoryFriends Do Things TogetherFriends CommunicateFriends Build Self-EsteemFriends Laugh Together OftenFriends Are EqualsFriends Work at the Relationship5Memory Making: Honoring a Person's Life Story97Ingredients of the Life StoryChildhoodAdolescenceYoung AdulthoodMiddle AgeLater YearsOther Major IngredientsHow to Use the Life StoryGreeting the Person and Improving RecognitionIntroducing the Person to OthersReminiscingImproving Communication through Clues and CuesDesigning Appropriate ActivitiesPointing Out Past AccomplishmentsHelping to Prevent Challenging BehaviorsIncorporating Past Daily RitualsBroadening the Caregiving Network and ResourcesLife Story of Rebecca Matheny Riley6The "Knack": Basic Principles of Dementia Care137Being Well-InformedHaving EmpathyRespecting the Basic Rights of the PersonMaintaining Caregiving IntegrityEmploying FinesseKnowing it Is Easier to Get Forgiveness than to Get PermissionUsing Common SenseCommunicating SkillfullyMaintaining OptimismSetting Realistic ExpectationsUsing HumorEmploying SpontaneityMaintaining PatienceDeveloping FlexibilityStaying FocusedBeing NonjudgmentalValuing the MomentMaintaining Self-ConfidenceUsing Cueing Tied to the Life StoryConnecting with the SpiritualTaking Care of YourselfPlanning AheadIIIThe Best Friends Approach in Action7Connecting: Communicating with "Knack"163Communicating with KnackAvoid ArgumentsMake Directions ClearCoping with a Mother's AccusationsDoing Extra Work to Understand Seemingly Incomprehensible WordsEncouraging a Bathroom StopDealing with Loss8Being Together: Managing and Valuing Activities183Be Productive or Make a ContributionExperience SuccessesPlayBe with OthersBuild SkillsHave a Sense of ControlFeel Safe and SecureFill Religious or Spiritual NeedsExperience Growth and Learning9Inner Passage: Spiritual Journeying and Religion209Celebrate the Person's Religious HeritageEmbrace SimplicityLook to the Creative ArtsNourish Your Own Spiritual LifeGive Spiritual Care Throughout the Illness10Finding Help: Navigating the Long-Term Care Maze223Care in the HomeAdult Day Center CareResidential Care (Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Continuing Care Retirement Communities)IVLiving with Dignity11Self-Care: Being Your Own Best Friend251Ways to Take Care of Your Own NeedsWhen Everything Is Going WrongConsider the FutureThe Power of a Diary: Rebecca and Jo Riley12Transformations271ContentmentSerenity and PeacefulnessOrientationFulfillmentCheerfulnessConfidenceTrustSecurityCalmConnectednessCommunity Resources for Making In-Home Care Easier279Organizations, Web Sites, and Recommended Readings287Biographies299About the Authors321
