Navigating Life With Dementia

"Since you have opened this book, you or a close friend or family member have likely been impacted by the upsetting and frightening diagnosis of dementia. You may have been told about this diagnosis in a number of different ways. Either the term dementia was used, or other words associated with or more specific than dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy Body disease, frontotemporal dementia, or Pick's disease, were used. You may even have been misinformed at first and told that you were simply facing the normal changes of aging, such as forgetfulness or mild depression. Sometimes these terms are relatable based on others we know who have been affected by them. But they can be shocking to hear and hard to understand when talking about yourself or a loved one. Even more difficult is that none of the most common forms of dementia currently have treatments that can cure or slow the disease"--

Caregiving for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or dementia is hard but with this book, you and your family will successfully face the challenges that these diseases present. Dementia is a very common neurological disease of aging affecting millions of people in complex ways. There are multiple forms of the dementia, including Alzheimer's Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, and vascular dementia, among others, and many share features of slowly progressive and profound changes affecting memory, thinking, behavior, and personality. The disease often introduces personal and even financial strains, which can be at times hard to understand. Unfortunately, most forms of dementia have no definitive treatments to prevent, slow, or stop the progression, but there is a concerted effort in the scientific community to change this. There is a consistent hope that there will soon be a new era of scientific breakthroughs impacting dementia. Now, and in the future, patients with dementia, their friends, and their families need resources to successfully face the challenges introduced by the disease. Navigating Life with Dementia is designed as a handbook including tools to manage both day-to-day issues and to anticipate the long-term impact of the disease for dementia patients as well as their friends and families. This volume will help families in all stages of dementia care, beginning with the earliest hints of cognitive problems through advanced stages. In easily understood language, the book thoroughly covers the complexities of the dementias, the establishment of a diagnosis, what to expect throughout the stages of disease, and how to best anticipate and manage common problems.

Navigating Life with Multiple Sclerosis will serve as a practical guide for meeting the challenges of this life-long disease. MS may cause a myriad of symptoms and varies greatly from person to person. The authors demystify MS and offer practical solutions and guidance based upon their extensive combined clinical and research experience. The book tackles many of the common symptoms experienced by the person with MS and looks into the future to explore where research is headed. If you are newly diagnosed or have been living with MS for years, this book is an invaluable guide.

Navigating Life with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis provides accessible, comprehensive, and up-to-date information about the challenges patients, family members, and caregivers face when confronted by ALS, a disease that affects approximately 5,600 Americans every year, with as many as 30,000 people managing the disease at any given time. ALS is a difficult disease for the patient and is also challenging for the caregiver and family as there are many questions, issues relating to care, and problems to manage. This guide covers all aspects of managing ALS, from the onset of symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, and coping strategies, to the use of home health care or hospice, and new research in the field. The book also sheds lights on difficult topics, such as end-of-life care and managing legal affairs. Navigating Life with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is unique because it covers two perspectives: one author is a neurologist with 30 years of experience treating ALS patients, and the other author experienced first-hand the issues in providing care for a parent with ALS. Formatted in a question-and-answer style, peppered throughout with patient stories, and with sections devoted to family members and caregivers, this compassionate resource provides guidance to those seeking to understand how to live with this disease.

In the U.S. today, over 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's Disease or related dementia. Each of these individuals has a story. And each one has caregivers, with stories of their own.You have questions - so many questions about what is happening now, and what is to come. How do I cope with this new manifestation of the disease? How do I prepare for an uncertain future?This is especially true when just navigating your way through each day can be overwhelming.Contained within these pages are answers to some of your questions as well as strategies for your future. In navigating this journey, it is important to remember two essential truths. The first is that the body may fail, and the mind may wander, but the spirit - the person inside - remains intact. The caregiver's role is to maximize the remaining strengths of the person they care for.The second is that you are not alone. Caregiving is often an isolating experience.Stories from the lives of others let us know that our experiences are not unique. Be assured that many have gone before, and others are walking the same road today.This is "I Know You by Heart: Navigating the Dementia Journey"

How did it begin for you? In our family, we went through theories to explain it all away. This game went on for at least a year or two before one day, it clicked. Mom had Alzheimer's. This book is meant to be a guide to help you and those you love navigate the overwhelming diagnosis of dementia, especially Alzheimer's Dementia, and the months and years that follow. It includes what we wish we had known, what we learned, and the resources that helped us along the way. "This book is an excellent and practical guide to help you navigate this tough challenge from the beginning to the end." --Suzy Nootz, MSN, RN, CDP, Country House Residence for Memory Care "An empathic and helpful guide in understanding and negotiating the process of recognizing, diagnosing, treating, and coping with a loved one with Alzheimer's Dementia." --Dr. Robert G. Arias, PhD, Arias Neuropsychology & Behavioral Medicine, PC

When Waves Rise is a must read for care providers taking care of a loved one at home, direct services providers who want to be more effective with patients, and professionals who wish to support the care providers they serve. Sarah handles a difficult topic with care as she condenses 11 years of experience serving those living with dementia. Her experience has helped care providers, both personal and professional, better understand the "why" behind difficult moments. The ever-present changes that dementia creates lead to challenges that are not easily understood. When Waves Rise helps to explain these changes and challenges with practical examples that provide technical explanations and takeaways. Care providers can use the tools in this book for day-to-day support and ongoing as the disease progresses. Readers have stated that When Waves Rise "offers insight on how to react to changes in behavior" and "does excellent job of explaining the progression of dementia and how it is viewed from the dementia sufferer and the caregiver." Further stating "excellent, practical and useful book filled with picture language to make a complicated subject understandable."

Navigating Life with Parkinson's Disease is a guide for anyone affected by Parkinson's, providing useful information to those with Parkinson's and their caregivers, family, and friends. This extensively revised second edition contains up-to-date information on recent research and the latest adaptive equipment available to those living with Parkinson's disease. Discussing available treatments and providing practical advice, this book emphasizes lifestyle adjustments that provide a better quality of life for patients and their loved ones. The material is organized so that chapters can be read sequentially or individually, and the index and glossary facilitate the use of the book as a quick reference. Q&A sections, thoughts from people living with Parkinson's and Ask the Experts boxes address often-overlooked topics in physician-directed disease management, such as how to talk to family and friends about one's life with Parkinson's. Promoting a patient-centered approach, Navigating Life with Parkinson Disease empowers patients and their families to manage their health care.