Dementia And Wandering Behavior

Winner of an AJN Book of the Year Award! Alzheimer's is quickly becoming the epidemic of the 21st century. Today, an estimated four million Americans suffer from this devastating disease. This number could explode to 14 million by the year 2050, when baby boomers come of age. Written in a clear and accessible style, Dementia and Wandering Behavior brings attention to this life-threatening problem and helps professionals and family caregivers understand that there are preventative measures available. By focusing on specific responses to wandering behavior and describing ways to create a safe environment in the home, community, and care facility, this book teaches you how to maximize autonomy while minimizing risk for people with dementia in your care.

Winner of an AJN Book of the Year Award! Designated a Doody's Core Title! "I have not seen a book that does a better job with synthesis or provision of good concise information to those in need." (3 Stars)--Doody's Book Review Service Wandering behaviors are among the most frequent, problematic, and dangerous conditions associated with dementia and a continual challenge in health care and the community. Strongly research-based, this book presents and analyzes the latest research on wandering from the clinical, health care management, and policy literature and offers practical assessment and management tools. Nurses, physicians, gerontologists and others address the range of wandering behaviors of patients with Alzheimer's and other dementias, including prevention of elopement, getting lost, falls, fractures, and the subsequent need for extended nursing home or other supervised care that may result. The book places special emphasis on the difficult and stressful problems of daily patient care, improving safety for those with cognitive impairments, and enabling those with dementia to remain independent longer. This book is for all caregivers intent on improving care for the nearly 5 million Americans who are at risk. Key Features of this book: Offers practical tools for measuring and assessing wandering Emphasizes difficult and stressful daily problems of patient care Assesses medication and nonpharmacological interventions Describes the Alzheimer's Association's Safe ReturnÆ Program Weighs environmental design factors that influence wandering behaviors

Winner of an AJN Book of the Year Award! Alzheimer's is quickly becoming the epidemic of the 21st century. Today, an estimated four million Americans suffer from this devastating disease. This number could explode to 14 million by the year 2050, when baby boomers come of age. Written in a clear and accessible style, Dementia and Wandering Behavior brings attention to this life-threatening problem and helps professionals and family caregivers understand that there are preventative measures available. By focusing on specific responses to wandering behavior and describing ways to create a safe environment in the home, community, and care facility, this book teaches you how to maximize autonomy while minimizing risk for people with dementia in your care.

DescriptionWandering Explorers is a guide for families who are making the lengthy and agonizing journey through the course of a loved one's dementia. The title itself reminds us of the devastation that occurs in the brain - leading to wandering and confusion. And yet, there remains a curious human drive to explore and find purpose of life. Understanding this duality in dementia patients turns what is otherwise an apathetic family tragedy into a meaningful terminal event. This book is written in easy to understand terms and describes a multitude of aspects of brain disease including the many types of dementia, medical issues, drugs, behavioral management and the severe social consequences of this disease. This book is unique not only because of its concise nature but that it is essentially a compilation of all the common questions our practice has been asked over the years. It provides answers about what to expect in the various stages of dementia, how the diagnosis is made, and proper treatments relative to the stage of disease. Wandering Explorers does not provide any false hope. It is made clear that this is a fatal neurologic disease where end of life preparation needs to be dealt with head on. But Wandering Explorers takes a family to another level by providing information about realities of elder care you will not find in any other book. Dispelled, is the myth propagated by "Big Pharma" and the academic community over emphasizing the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in the face of the normal aging process. This has side tracked the geriatric medicine community onto CNN waiting for a cure that will never come just as sure as people will keep getting old. Meanwhile companies get rich and professors who don't actually treat dementia patients get famous. And there's the popular and inappropriate use of anxiety drugs to calm agitation in confused patients or the appropriate use of antipsychotics in the elderly despite the FDA warning against them. These are some of the eye openers you will find in this book. With this knowledge a family can better understand actual mechanisms of disease, make proper treatment decisions, and even begin their own personal brain health programs. About the AuthorDouglas Wornell, MD is a geriatric psychiatrist with a large practice in the Seattle-Tacoma area of Washington State, USA. He was born in 1955 in Tacoma and has lived throughout the United States. Dr. Wornell got his bachelor's degree in chemistry at the University of Puget Sound and his medical degree at the University of Miami. He did his internship in general surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and his residency in psychiatry at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City. Dr. Wornell lived in New York City for 13 years, eventually becoming the Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services for St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is now back home in Washington State and is the Medical Director of the Behavioral Wellness Center at Auburn Regional Medical Center. He has participated in the treatment of over twenty thousand dementia patients in the past ten years. Additionally he is the Medical Director of Wornell Psychiatry and Associates, a geriatric and neurological psychiatry consultative service covering over 2000 long term care patients. He has given over 200 presentations on geriatric psychiatry. Dr. Wornell does prefer to be called Doug. He lives on a small farm on Fox Island in the Puget Sound where he, his wife Michelle, and two daughters raise their own organic beef and poultry. He is an eagle scout, an avid skier, plays jazz piano, paints and has written 6 screenplays. Dr. Wornell is a commercial flight instructor and floatplane charter pilot....when he finds the time.

2008 AJN Book of the Year Winner! Like its popular predecessor, the new edition of Bathing Without a Battle presents an individualized, problem-solving approach to bathing and personal care of individuals with dementia. On the basis of extensive original research and clinical experience, the editors have developed strategies and techniques that work in both institution and home settings. Their approach is also appropriate for caregiving activities other than bathing, such as morning and evening care, and for frail elders not suffering from dementia. For this second edition, the authors have included historical material on bathing and substantially updated the section on special concerns, including: Pain Skin care Determining the appropriate level of assistance Transfers The environment An enhanced final section addresses ways to support caregivers by increasing their understanding of the care recipient's needs and their knowledge of interventions to improve care and comfort. It also emphasizes self-care and system-level changes to promote person-directed care. Several chapters include specific insights and wisdom from direct caregivers.

Dementia is the most significant health issue facing our aging population. With no cure to date, there is an urgent need for the development of interventions that can alleviate symptoms of dementia and ensure optimal well-being for people with dementia and their caregivers. There is accumulating evidence that music is a highly effective, non-pharmacological treatment for various symptoms of dementia at all stages of disease progression. In its various forms, music (as a medium for formal therapy or an informal activity) engages widespread brain regions, and in doing so, can promote numerous benefits, including triggering memories, enhancing relationships, affirming a sense of self, facilitating communication, reducing agitation, and alleviating depression and anxiety. This book outlines the current research and understanding of the use of music for people with dementia, from internationally renowned experts in music therapy, music psychology, and clinical neuropsychology.

The revolutionary how-to guidebook that details ways to make it easier to provide dementia home care for people experiencing Alzheimer's or dementia. Alzheimer's home care is possible! Dementia with Dignity explains the groundbreaking new approach: the DAWN Method(R), designed so families and caregivers can provide home care. It outlines practical tools and techniques to help your loved one feel happier and more comfortable so that you can postpone the expense of long-term care. In this book you'll learn: -The basic facts about Alzheimer's and dementia, plus the skills lost and those not lost; -How to recognize and respond to the emotions caused by Alzheimer's or dementia, and avoid dementia-related behaviors; -Tools for working with an impaired person's moods and changing sense of reality; -Home care techniques for dealing with hygiene, safety, nutrition and exercise issues; -A greater understanding and appreciation of what someone with Alzheimer's or dementia is experiencing, and how your home care can increase home their emotional wellbeing. Wouldn't dementia home care be easier if you could get on the same page as your loved one? When we understand what someone experiencing Alzheimer's or dementia is going through, we can truly help them enjoy more peace and security at home. This book will help you recognize the unmet emotional needs that are causing problems, giving you a better understanding and ability to address them. The good news about dementia is that home care is possible. There are infinitely more happy times and experiences to be shared together. Be a part of caring for, honoring, and upholding the life of someone you love by helping them experience Alzheimer's or dementia with dignity. Judy Cornish is the author of The Dementia Handbook-How to Provide Dementia Care at Home, founder of the Dementia & Alzheimer's Wellbeing Network(R) (DAWN), and creator of the DAWN Method. She is also a geriatric care manager and elder law attorney, member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and the American Society on Aging (ASA).