If you're thinking about starting a support group for dementia care partners, this downloadable leader's manual is for you. The Dementia Care Partner's Workbook is a new resource from Companion Press that is both a support group participant's manual and self-study guide for care partners who have a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. Its ten concise lessons not only walk you through the types, brain biology, and progressive symptoms of dementia but also offer practical tips for managing behaviors, coping with emotional issues, prioritizing self-care, and planning ahead—everything from diagnosis to end-of-life.If you are a medical, mental health, or other healthcare professional wanting to lead a support group for dementia care partners, or a layperson with a heart for those &“on the journey,&” A Leader's Manual for Dementia Care-Partner Support Groups is the comprehensive resource you need. The Manual provides general information about establishing and leading support groups, counseling skills for leaders and co-leaders, how to handle challenging group participants, step-by-step instructions on how to run each of the ten individual weekly meetings (including meeting-specific handouts), and lots of practical advice from co-authors Dr. Edward Shaw, physician, mental health counselor, and former dementia care partner, and Dr. Alan Wolfelt, world-renowned thanatologist, grief counselor, and author. The handouts and worksheets are number coded for easy cross-referencing with the content of The Dementia Care-Partner's Workbook.

The Dementia Care Partner's Workbook is a support group manual as well as a self-study guide for care partners' of a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia such as vascular, frontotemporal, Parkinson's, or Lewy body. It provides 10 lessons for support group participants or individuals who desire independent study, as well as a free downloadable leader's manual valuable to professional or lay leaders from secular or faith-based organizations. Each lesson offers understanding, education, and hope and covers topics that include the different types of dementia, brain structure and function, stages of dementia, changing relationships and grief, emotional and mental health challenges, communicating love, attachment loss and problematic behaviors, care at home versus residential care facility placement, wellness and self-care, existential and spiritual issues, important questions for the dementia doctor and elder law attorney, and helpful resources for the journey. The leader's manual provides instructions ranging from establishing a support group program to a step-by-step guide on how to run individual sessions.

The Dementia Care Partner's Workbook is a new resource from Companion Press that is both a support group participant's manual and self-study guide for care partners who have a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. Its ten concise lessons not only walk you through the types, brain biology, and progressive symptoms of dementia but also offer practical tips for managing behaviors, coping with emotional issues, prioritizing self-care, and planning ahead--everything from diagnosis to end-of-life.The Manual provides general information about establishing and leading support groups, counseling skills for leaders and co-leaders, how to handle challenging group participants, step-by-step instructions on how to run each of the ten individual weekly meetings (including meeting-specific handouts), and lots of practical advice.

"The Dementia Care Partner's Workbook is a support group manual and a self-study guide for care partners of a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia such as vascular, frontotemporal, Parkinson's, or Lewy body. It provides 13 lessons for support group participants or individuals who desire independent study, as well as a free downloadable leader's manual valuable to professional or lay leaders from secular or faith-based organizations. Each lesson offers understanding, education, and hope and covers topics that include the different types of dementia, brain structure and function, stages of dementia, changing relationships, emotional and mental health challenges, communicating love, attachment loss and problematic behaviors, care at home versus residential care, wellness and self-care, existential and spiritual issues, important questions for doctors and attornies, and helpful resources for the journey."--Amazon

Across America and around the world, the five love languages have revitalized relationships and saved marriages from the brink of disaster. Can they also help individuals, couples, and families cope with the devastating diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD)? Coauthors Chapman, Shaw, and Barr give a resounding yes. Their innovative application of the five love languages creates an entirely new way to touch the lives of the five million Americans who have Alzheimer’s, as well as their fifteen million caregivers. At its heart, this book is about how love gently lifts a corner of dementia’s dark curtain to cultivate an emotional connection amid memory loss. This collaborative, groundbreaking work between a healthcare professional, caregiver, and relationship expert will: Provide an overview of the love languages and Alzheimer’s disease, correlate the love languages with the developments of the stages of AD, discuss how both the caregiver and care receiver can apply the love languages, address the challenges and stresses of the caregiver journey, offer personal stories and case studies about maintaining emotional intimacy amidst AD. Keeping Love Alive as Memories Fade is heartfelt and easy to apply, providing gentle, focused help for those feeling overwhelmed by the relational toll of Alzheimer’s. Its principles have already helped hundreds of families, and it can help yours, too.

The guide tells you how to: Understand how AD changes a person Learn how to cope with these changes Help family and friends understand AD Plan for the future Make your home safe for the person with AD Manage everyday activities like eating, bathing, dressing, and grooming Take care of yourself Get help with caregiving Find out about helpful resources, such as websites, support groups, government agencies, and adult day care programs Choose a full-time care facility for the person with AD if needed Learn about common behavior and medical problems of people with AD and some medicines that may help Cope with late-stage AD

Family members, and sometimes close friends, are often called upon to act as caregivers to ill or aged people they care about or for whom they are responsible. Although there are many rewarding outcomes of the time spent between the courageous and dedicated caregiver and the care-receiver*, the caregivers are usually unprepared, untrained and unsupported. The caregivers are also often isolated. These factors can put a huge amount of stress on non-professional or family caregivers. Attending a caregiver support group focusing on specific issues is of great benefit for caregivers. Such groups can include those facilitated by professionals such as social workers, counselors and group facilitators, and those facilitated by lay persons, often themselves caregivers. The intention of Caregiver Support is to provide content for support group facilitators and caregivers that touches on crucial topics.