Dementia Reimagined

The cultural and medical history of dementia and Alzheimer's disease by a leading psychiatrist and bioethicist who urges us to turn our focus from cure to care. Despite being a physician and a bioethicist, Tia Powell wasn't prepared to address the challenges she faced when her grandmother, and then her mother, were diagnosed with dementia--not to mention confronting the hard truth that her own odds aren't great. In the U.S., 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day; by the time a person reaches 85, their chances of having dementia approach 50 percent. And the truth is, there is no cure, and none coming soon, despite the perpetual promises by pharmaceutical companies that they are just one more expensive study away from a pill. Dr. Powell's goal is to move the conversation away from an exclusive focus on cure to a genuine appreciation of care--what we can do for those who have dementia, and how to keep life meaningful and even joyful. Reimagining Dementia is a moving combination of medicine and memoir, peeling back the untold history of dementia, from the story of Solomon Fuller, a black doctor whose research at the turn of the twentieth century anticipated important aspects of what we know about dementia today, to what has been gained and lost with the recent bonanza of funding for Alzheimer's at the expense of other forms of the disease. In demystifying dementia, Dr. Powell helps us understand it with clearer eyes, from the point of view of both physician and caregiver. Ultimately, she wants us all to know that dementia is not only about loss--it's also about the preservation of dignity and hope.

Do I Look at You with Love? explores the author’s mother’s dementia during her final years. Part narrative psychology, part memoir, Freeman’s story also highlights the beauty that may be found amidst of the ravages of time and memory.

A dynamic and inspiring exploration of the new science that is redrawing the future for people in their forties, fifties, and sixties for the better—and for good. There’s no such thing as an inevitable midlife crisis, Barbara Bradley Hagerty writes in this provocative, hopeful book. It’s a myth, an illusion. New scientific research explodes the fable that midlife is a time when things start to go downhill for everybody. In fact, midlife can be a great new adventure, when you can embrace fresh possibilities, purposes, and pleasures. In Life Reimagined, Hagerty explains that midlife is about renewal: It’s the time to renegotiate your purpose, refocus your relationships, and transform the way you think about the world and yourself. Drawing from emerging information in neurology, psychology, biology, genetics, and sociology—as well as her own story of midlife transformation—Hagerty redraws the map for people in midlife and plots a new course forward in understanding our health, our relationships, even our futures.

Creating dementia-friendly communities can give people with dementia the chance to continue meaningful lives with reciprocal personal relationships. Underpinning successful dementia-friendly communities is an awareness of people with dementia as active citizens and the importance of supporting engagement in community life. This book offers an overview of the dementia-friendly communities movement, showing the many benefits of this approach. It describes community initiatives from across the globe, such as Dementia Friends, memory cafes, and creative engagement with the arts through organizations like TimeSlips. This compassionate book tells another story about dementia, away from negative stereotypes. This alternative approach claims people can retain a sense of dignity, hold onto hope, sustain meaningful relationships, and live with a sense of purpose with support from their communities.

The transformative role music therapy can play in all areas of healthcare, and especially in the care of older adults is increasingly apparent. However, while music activities are present in most care settings, these activities don't provide the therapeutic benefits that are possible with music therapy-informed interventions and programs. Best practices from music therapy are transforming dementia care, and have the potential to improve healthcare-and health-for older people, whatever their needs, wherever they receive care. Dr. Concetta Tomaino, a pioneer in the field of music therapy,. shares more than 40 years of clinical and research experience--not just with Music Therapists but also with healthcare leaders, clinicians, and direct care staff. With chapters on mental health and wellness, dementia, as well as movement and speech rehabilitation, this comprehensive and friendly practice guide will help all caregivers use music therapy best practices to provide better, more fulfilling support across all senior healthcare settings.

A MacArthur Genius Grant recipient pioneers a radical change in how we interact with older loved ones, especially those experiencing dementia, as she introduces a proven method that uses the creative arts to bring light and joy to the lives of elders. In Creative Care, Anne Basting lays the groundwork for a widespread transformation in our approach to elder care and uses compelling, touching stories to inspire and guide us all—family, friends, and health professionals—in how to connect and interact with those living with dementia. A MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, Basting tells the story of how she pioneered a radical change in how we interact with our older loved ones. Now used around the world, this proven method has brought light and joy to the lives of elders—and those who care for them. Here, for the first time, everyone can learn these methods. Early in her career, Basting noticed a problem: today’s elderly—especially those experiencing dementia and Alzheimer’s— are often isolated in nursing homes or segregated in elder-care settings, making the final years of life feel lonely and devoid of meaning. To alleviate their sense of aloneness, Basting developed a radical approach that combines methods from the world of theater and improvisation with evidence-based therapies that connect people using their own creativity and imagination. Rooted in twenty-five years of research, these new techniques draw on core creative exercises—such as “Yes, and . . .” and “Beautiful Questions.” This approach fosters storytelling and active listening, allowing elders to freely share ideas and stories without worrying about getting the details “correct.” Basting’s research has shown that these practices stimulate the brain and awaken the imagination to add wonder and awe to patients’ daily lives—and provide them a means of connection, both with the world and with those caring for them. Creative Care promises to bring light and hope to a community that needs it most.

Cognitive disorders take a toll on everyone—the person living with the condition, their family, friends, caregivers, and the communities they live in. Most of the public's interest has been in the medical research area for this devastating disease, and advice is desperately needed from those who have created innovative solutions with their own first-hand experience. Voices in Dementia Care is based on a series of interviews with dementia care experts across Europe and the United States and with people living day-to-day with the condition. It provides an intimate look at the challenges of delivering high-quality dementia care with limited resources. The book provides readers a list of best practices that can be adapted and applied in the home and in institutional settings. Voices in Dementia Care is a must-read for anyone caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other cognitive disorders. From Voices in Dementia Care— In these pages, we include transcripts of our interviews with the elder care and long-term care providers we have interviewed about dementia care. The voices of these care professionals are important to hear in their entirety, as they describe the nuances of the challenges inherent in delivering innovative high quality dementia care with limited resources. Based on our analysis of these interviews, we have identified the critical best practices that we believe all elder and long-term care providers should consider when delivering care to people living with dementia. These best practices can be adapted and applied by the informal caregiver as well—the sister, brother, child, or other loved one who may be responsible for caring for a person living with dementia outside of a traditional care environment.

If you are caring for or supporting a loved one with Alzheimer's or dementia you know that is not an easy journey. This book will give you practical advice mixed with spiritual wisdom and counsel gained from personal experience. The authors, Jim Henry and Deb Terry, have personally walked through the loss of a spouse and a parent to this disease. From their experiences they will help you through 18 Central Questions that you will undoubtably face from early onset through advanced stages. You will gain strength and comfort as you become the most effective caregiver possible while also taking care of yourself along the way.