"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

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 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.

More than 5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease or a related form of dementia. By the year 2030, experts estimate that as many as 66 million people around the world will be faced with this life-altering disease. Unfortunately, these staggering statistics impact millions of caregivers, too. Compared with all types of caregivers, those who assist someone with dementia experience the highest levels of burnout, depression, poor health, and premature death. A Dignified Life, Revised and Expanded offers hope and help with a proven approach. Ten years ago, the first edition of A Dignified Life changed the way the caregiving community approached Alzheimer's disease by showing caregivers how to act as a Best Friend to the person, finding positive ways to interact even as mental abilities declined. Firmly grounded in the latest knowledge about the progression and treatment of dementia, this expanded edition offers a wealth of immediately usable tips and new problem-solving advice. It incorporates practical ideas for therapeutic activities--including the latest brain-fitness exercises--stimulate the brain while adding structure, meaning, and context to daily routines. With new stories and examples as well as an updated resources section, A Dignified Life, Revised and Expanded gives caregivers the support and advice they need to be successful and inspired in their demanding roles. While medical treatment of the disease hasn't changed in the past ten years, our understanding and awareness of treating people in a more caring way has changed substantially. With no cure on the immediate horizon, respectful care by effective and compassionate care partners is the only real "treatment" available to people with dementia. The Best Friends(tm) Approach is successful because it sustains people's connection to their world, their loved ones, and themselves. It's a universal program which has been embraced by professional and family caregivers throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. In its revised form, A Dignified Life offers caregivers an antidote to the burnout and frustration that often accompanies the role of caring for a person with Alzheimer's and dementia. Rather than struggling through a series of frustrations and failures, A Dignified Life shows the new generation care partners how to bring dignity, meaning, and peace of mind to the lives of both those who have Alzheimer's and dementia and those who care for them.

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.

ESSENTIAL STRATEGIES FOR THE DEMENTIA CAREGIVER offers a fresh and practical approach to the challenges faced by wives, husbands, and adult children who care for loved ones with dementia. Using the 4 D's of Dementia Care - detach, document, diffuse, distract - caregivers can find solutions for behaviors ranging from shadowing to wandering to medication refusal. The PACE model emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the caregiver's well-being while navigating the dementia journey: P = Permission for Trial and Error, A = Acknowledge Their Reality, C = Compassionate Care, E = Empower Yourself.

Creativity is preserved in dementia long after other abilities are lost, so that making art provides rich opportunities for meaningful engagement for people with this disease. Creative Connections(TM) in Dementia Care provides care partners with the knowledge and easy-to-follow steps they need to successfully implement art projects in a group or one-on-one setting--and no art experience is required! Written for anyone who cares for a person with dementia--family members, friends, and professionals-- this how-to guide is packed with guidance to help enhance communication, interactions, task breakdown, and problem-solving efforts while also encouraging the abilities of each participant. People with dementia enjoy valuable benefits when they actively engage in a creative activity: ? stress is reduced ? memories can be accessed ? mood and self-esteem are elevated ? a sense of personal identity and achievement is experienced To help create these opportunities, Creative Connections(TM) in Dementia Care provides 10 basic art project "recipes," detailing supplies, instructions, and activity modifications, as well as colorful, step-by-step photographs that show how to demonstrate and lead the activity for the person with dementia. Each art activity is failure-free and does not require memory skills to complete. Bring joy and a powerful sense of connection to the lives of people experiencing dementia with this one-of-a-kind guide!