At wit's end : plain talk on Alzheimer's for families and clinicians / George Kraus, Ph.D.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kraus, George, 1950- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Alzheimer's disease.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (243 pages) : illustrations

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

West Lafayette, Indiana : Purdue University Press, [2017]

Summary:

At Wit's End: Plain Talk on Alzheimer's for Families and Clinicians , now in its Second Edition, is a straightforward summary of leading advice for understanding and caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease, written without technical jargon and impractical nuance. About one-third of our population will eventually provide care for someone with Alzheimer's. The strain of caring for a loved one with this disease can be enormous, yet the reward of enhancing a loved one's quality of life is beyond measure. So, where to begin? Many books delve into other specific areas of Alzheimer's care, emphasizing the financial and legal challenges, as well as myriad medical treatment needs of those experiencing the disease. Unique among these offerings, At Wit's End explains the psychiatric and psychological aspects of Alzheimer's, and does so in a holistic and practical manner. Dr. Kraus focuses on the whole person across his or her full social, psychological, physical, and spiritual life to provide as complete a picture as possible of the changes that are in play. With this broad, thoughtful, and grounded approach, family members, clinicians, and caregivers are better able to discover and make wise choices from a wealth of effective interventions in all areas of care. It also allows them to care for themselves and their families in the dynamic and supportive care process.

Contents:

Cover

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

Second Edition Introduction

Part 1: What is Alzheimer's?

1. The Basics

2. Normal Aging

3. Alzheimer's Is a Type of Dementia

4. Evidence of Alzheimer's

5. Distinguishing Between Delirium, Alzheimer's, and Other Dementias

6. Two Case Studies: Applying the Basics

Part 2: How to Evaluate for Alzheimer's

7. This Person I Used to Know: Measuring the Status of Mental Functioning in Alzheimer's

8. Measuring Alzheimer's in Action

9. The Question of Competence

Part 3: Disturbances in Mood and Perception

10. Geriatric Depression and Alzheimer's

11. I Know She Has Alzheimer's, But Why Is She Acting Like This? Recognizing Psychotic Symptoms in Alzheimer's

Part 4. Medical and Psychological Treatment Approaches

12. Treatment of Alzheimer's with Medicines

13. Changing the Person's Surroundings

14. Talking to People with Alzheimer's

15. Preventive Activities for Ourselves and Others: Lowering Our Odds of Getting Alzheimer's

Appendix A: Additional Resources and Information on Alzheimer's Dementia

Appendix B: What to Do about Aggressive Behavior

Appendix C: Effective Uses of Psychological Interventions in Long-Term Care Facilities

Appendix D: Additional Tables and Figures

Notes

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-61249-471-4

1-61249-470-6

OCLC:

966883591