Alzheimer's Early Stages: First Steps for Family, Friends and Caregivers

Contents......Page 8
Foreword......Page 12
Acknowledgments......Page 15
Introduction to the Second Edition......Page 16
Introduction to the First Edition: Why I Wrote this Book......Page 18
PART I: What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?......Page 24
CHAPTER 1. The Need for an Accurate Diagnosis......Page 25
WHAT IS NORMAL IN THE AGING BRAIN?......Page 26
HOW ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE CHANGES THE BRAIN......Page 28
GETTING AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS......Page 32
THE VALUE OF A DIAGNOSIS......Page 36
DISCLOSING THE DIAGNOSIS......Page 38
CHAPTER 2. Symptoms of the Early Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease......Page 42
BEGINNING SIGNS......Page 43
AN EMERGING PATTERN......Page 47
OTHER TROUBLING SYMPTOMS......Page 51
ONE OR MORE SYMPTOMS SOMETIMES PRESENT......Page 52
NONCOGNITIVE OR BEHAVIORAL CHANGES......Page 56
IDENTIFYING RISK FACTORS......Page 61
DEFINITE RISK FACTORS......Page 63
POSSIBLE RISK FACTORS......Page 68
EXPLORING THE ROLE OF DEPRESSION......Page 74
CHAPTER 4. Progress in Treatment and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease......Page 78
CURRENT TREATMENTS......Page 80
PROGRESS IN TREATMENT ANDPREVENTION......Page 83
PARTICIPATING IN CLINICAL DRUG TRIALS AND OTHER STUDIES......Page 90
THE LIMITS OF MEDICINE......Page 93
PART II: Giving Care......Page 96
CHAPTER 5: What Is It Like to Have Alzheimer’s Disease?......Page 97
SOME COMMON EXPERIENCES ANDFEELINGS......Page 98
VARYING DEGREES OF AWARENESS OFSYMPTOMS......Page 103
THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT......Page 109
WHAT DO PEOPLE WITH AD REALLY NEED?......Page 110
WHAT SOME FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY......Page 113
CHAPTER 6. How Relationships ,Roles, and Responsibilities Change......Page 116
ACCEPTING THE DIAGNOSIS......Page 117
STEPPING INTO THE LEADERSHIP ROLE......Page 119
WHEN YOUR PARTNER HAS AD......Page 122
WHEN YOUR PARENT HAS AD......Page 125
TELLING OTHERS ABOUT THE DIAGNOSIS......Page 129
THE REACTIONS OF OTHERS......Page 133
CHAPTER 7. Making Practical Decisions......Page 136
ENSURING SAFETY ON THE ROAD......Page 137
MAINTAINING GOOD HEALTH......Page 142
ENSURING FINANCIAL WELL-BEING......Page 145
ALTERNATIVE LIVING SITUATIONS FORTHE PERSON WITH AD......Page 148
DOING THE RIGHT THING......Page 150
CHAPTER 8. Improving Communication......Page 153
COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES......Page 154
REDEFINING YOUR RELATIONSHIP......Page 161
WAYS OF LISTENING TO AND TALKING WITH A PERSON WITH AD......Page 163
WHOSE PROBLEM IS IT?......Page 171
CHAPTER 9. Helping a Person with AD to Plan for the Future......Page 173
FINDING THE TIME......Page 174
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS......Page 175
FINANCING THE COST OF CARE......Page 181
RETHINKING THE LIVING SITUATION......Page 186
FINDING THE RIGHT PROFESSIONALS......Page 191
CHAPTER 10: Keeping a Person with AD Active and Healthy......Page 195
INVOLVING OTHERS......Page 196
SELECTING APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES......Page 198
THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES......Page 201
INTELLECTUAL ACTIVITIES......Page 202
TRAVELING......Page 204
REMINISCING......Page 205
SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES......Page 206
HELPING THE PERSON WITH AD MAINTAIN PHYSICAL HEALTH......Page 207
SUPPORT GROUPS, VOLUNTEER WORK, AND OTHER ACTIVITY PROGRAMS......Page 209
BEING AROUND PETS AND PLANTS......Page 212
GETTING CHILDREN INVOLVED......Page 214
PART III: Caring for Yourself......Page 216
CHAPTER 11: Self-Renewal for Family and Friends......Page 217
LISTENING TO YOUR BODY AND MIND......Page 219
THE IMPORTANCE OF GRIEF......Page 222
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING......Page 224
EXPLORING SPIRITUAL RESOURCES......Page 226
KEEPING A JOURNAL......Page 229
MAINTAINING A SENSE OF HUMOR......Page 230
CHAPTER 12: Obtaining the Help You May Need......Page 232
USING COMMUNITY RESOURCES......Page 233
PARTICIPATING IN A SUPPORT GROUP......Page 234
USING HELP AT HOME......Page 236
CHOOSING AN ADULT DAY CENTER......Page 240
THE NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM......Page 243
LEARNING MORE ABOUT AD......Page 244
CHAPTER 13: Voices of Experience......Page 248
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS......Page 249
LESSONS LEARNED......Page 262
EPILOGUE: Advocating for Change......Page 264
THE POLITICS OF HEALTH CARE......Page 265
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT......Page 267
THE ROLE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR......Page 269
Notes......Page 271
Resources......Page 289
Index......Page 312