Alzheimer's For Dummies
An estimated 4 million people are living with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in America today, with approximately 370,000 new cases diagnosed every year. AD patients live anywhere from 5 to 20 years after their diagnosis; and their inability to care for themselves grows more dramatic as the disease progresses, creating profound implications for their families and healthcare providers. Its impact on families during the caregiving years is overwhelming.\ If you have a family member or close friend...
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An estimated 4 million people are living with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in America today, with approximately 370,000 new cases diagnosed every year. AD patients live anywhere from 5 to 20 years after their diagnosis; and their inability to care for themselves grows more dramatic as the disease progresses, creating profound implications for their families and healthcare providers. Its impact on families during the caregiving years is overwhelming. If you have a family member or close friend who’s suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and you’re looking for current, useful information, then Alzheimer’s For Dummies is for you. This reference guide also is helpful if you Need to know more about its diagnosis and treatment Want to take care of yourself while taking care of your loved one Are not the primary caregiver but want to know how to help Want to know how Alzheimer’s Disease is going to affect you and your loved one Alzheimer’s For Dummies takes a realistic look at Alzheimer’s Disease, what it is and what it isn’t. It offers pertinent, easy-to-understand advice for dealing with the myriad concerns and responsibilities that a primary caregiver must assume when managing an Alzheimer’s patient. Here’s a sampling of the information you’ll find in this valuable guide: Maneuvering through medical, legal, and financial tangles Distinguishing AD from other brain diseases and medical conditions Handling the fears that may accompany the diagnosis Evaluating current drug therapies; watching out for scams and quack treatments Finding the bestdoctors; dealing with attorneys and CPAs Looking at Medicare regulations Evaluating the cost of care The current state of research, diagnosis, and treatment Television personality Leeza Gibbons, whose mother was stricken with AD, writes in the foreword of this book, “There is no upside to keeping your head in the sand. This book is a crucial step in your new fight. Arm yourself with the knowledge waiting for you in these pages. It will help you find answers and resources as you adjust to your new reality.” This is a powerful tool for those who battle this disease."-- Leeza Gibbons
ForewordxixIntroduction1About This Book2Conventions Used in This Book2Foolish Assumptions2How This Book Is Organized3Icons Used in This Book4Where to Go from Here5Part ICould It Be Alzheimer's Disease?7Chapter 1The Facts on Alzheimer's Disease9Defining Alzheimer's Disease10Busting the Myths About AD11Looking at Symptoms and Causes11Discovering Treatment Options12Tackling Financial and Legal Issues12Making Medical Decisions and Providing Care12Finding Respite13What Should I Do Now?13Chapter 2Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors15Getting an Idea of What to Look For16Red Flag or Red Herring?23Looking at Some Theories on the Causes of AD24Examining Risk Factors for Developing Alzheimer's Disease28Chapter 3Getting a Diagnosis31How Doctors Diagnose Alzheimer's Disease32Finding Someone to Do an Evaluation32Before You Seek a Diagnosis: Collecting Medical History37Understanding AD Diagnostic Tests40What to Do When the Diagnosis Is Made50Chapter 4Distinguishing Alzheimer's Disease from Other Medical Conditions53Making Sure that You Have a Reliable Diagnosis53It May Be Dementia, but Is It Alzheimer's?55Ruling Out the Usual (and Unusual) Suspects56Chapter 5Identifying Your Fears: For the Patient and the Caregiver69Concerns for the Alzheimer's Patient70Concerns for the Caregiver80Part IIHelping a Loved One Manage the Illness85Chapter 6Understanding the Stages of Alzheimer's Disease87How to Use the Classifications88Three Stages88Four Stages90Five, Six, and Seven Stages93The Current Thinking: Assessing Alzheimer's Stages Via Cognitive and Functional Impairment94Chapter 7Evaluating Drug Therapies99A Little Background on Brain Chemistry99Reviewing Current FDA-Approved Drugs102Considering Other Types of Drugs107Chapter 8Avoiding Snake Oil and Other Ineffective Treatments111Treatments and Tests That Aren't Worth Your Time or Money112Sniffing Out Scams: Five Warning Signs to Look For118Chapter 9Taking Part in Clinical Trials121What Is a Clinical Trial?122Weighing the Benefits and the Risks When Participating in a Clinical Trial123Finding Clinical Trials126Enrolling in a Clinical Trial127What Happens During a Trial129Current Alzheimer's Trials132Chapter 10Promising New Drugs and Diagnostic Tools137The Current State of Affairs138Promising (and Not-So-Promising) New Drugs138An Ounce of Prevention: The Hunt for an Alzheimer's Vaccine142Drugs and Therapies Already Approved for Other Uses143Testing Positive: Looking for the Definitive Diagnosis150Chapter 11Finding Alternative Therapies157Calming Alzheimer's Disease Patients158Having Some Fun and Easing Isolation162Part IIIProviding Care for the AD Patient165Chapter 12Making Medical Decisions167Finding the Right Healthcare Provider168Building a Team169Keeping Good Records170Using Alternative Therapies171Evaluating Clinical Trials172Understanding the Importance of Cholinesterase Inhibitors173Deciding on End-of-Life Care Options174Considering Brain Donation177Chapter 13Understanding Legal Issues for Alzheimer's Patients181Getting Started182Evaluating Your Legal Options183Durable Power of Attorney184Guardianships or Conservatorships191Living Trusts195Making Choices for Medical Care197Drawing Up a Will199Chapter 14Working through Financial Issues for Alzheimer's Patients203Reviewing Financial Needs and Resources204Taking Over the Financial Reins207Understanding Changes in Tax Status209Deciding Whether You Need a Financial Advisor210Quitting Work214Evaluating Insurance Coverage217Running Out of Resources: What Next?223Chapter 15Evaluating Care Options227Identifying Your Options228Respite Care Options231Making the Transition to Residential Care242Residential Care Options244Chapter 16Caring for the Alzheimer's Patient251Making a Care Plan252Defining Practice Parameters and Standards of Care253Standards of Care and Practice Parameters for AD Patients256Caring for AD Patients257Planning Activities and Exercise273Preparing for Bed276Making the House Safer277Dealing with the Patient's Emotions280Part IVRespite Care for the Caregiver283Chapter 17Coping While Caregiving285Caregiving Is Hard Work286Caring for an AD Patient Affects You Emotionally287Caregiving and Your Physical Health292Using Humor to Cope294Knowing When to Ask for Help295Chapter 18Finding Support297Finding Out What's Available298Looking into Support Groups302Finding a Counselor304Chapter 19Taking Care of the Caregiver305Giving Yourself a Break306Being Good to Yourself308Avoiding Isolation311Chapter 20Handling Work and Family as Caregiver315Understanding the Importance of Routines316Juggling a Job and Caregiving Responsibilities316Balancing Family and Caregiving321Making Time for Your Family324Chapter 21Helping When You're Not the Primary Caregiver325Understanding How Family Dynamics Affect Caregiving Decisions326Learning How to Help329Dealing with Out-of-Towner's Guilt332Part VThe Part of Tens333Chapter 22Ten Tips for the Alzheimer's Caregiver335Good: Ask for Help335Bad: "I'd Rather Do It Myself"336Good: Modesty Garments336Bad: Birthday Suit336Good: Ask for Volunteer Assistance337Bad: "I Don't Need Help from Anyone"337Good: Cook Once, Eat Twice337Bad: Fast Food Bingo337Good: Remember to Laugh Daily338Bad: Wallow in Your Misery338Chapter 23More Than Ten Internet Resources for Alzheimer's Caregivers339ADEAR (Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral)340Administration on Aging340AgeNet Eldercare Network341Alzheimer's Association341Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Online342The Alzheimer's Foundation of America342benefitscheckup.org342Caregiver.com342CareSsentials343Family Caregiver Alliance343The Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation343Long-Distance Caregiving343National Family Caregivers Association344Needymeds.com344Medlineplus.gov344Index345
\ This is a powerful tool for those who battle this disease."\ -- Leeza Gibbons\ \
