The Dementia Caregiver's Toolbox

Dementia Book Review: The Long Hello

I'm grateful to the many readers of this blog because they often tip me off to new products or books that you may find helpful.  Here is a brief review of a new book called, The Long Hello:  The Other Side of Alzheimer's, sent to my by the author, Cathie Barrie.

Dementia Book Review - Memory Triggers

Memory Triggers is a new series of picture/stimulation books by Nadine Rudner Brechner that were specifically designed for use with persons with dementia by their caregivers. 

Each of three books in the series focuses on one decade:  the 1940's, the 1950's and the 1960's and shows 3 wallet-sized, colored pictures per page, of items that relate to the specific timeperiod.  Using her background as a former activities director and health care manager, Nadine created these books to use with her own mother Charlotte, who has dementia.  Nadine wasn't satisfied with the quality of products available so she decided to create her own.

Each of the three books is 8.5 by 11 size so it is easy to grip and hold.  There are 38 pages to each book and over 100 pictures per book with some additional notes in the front and back.  The pictures are things we all remember like:  movie stars, board games, breakfast cereals, styles, products, TV shows, etc.  They will provide hours of great conversation starters.  Nadine gives you an index on the inside cover of each book to help you locate specific items.

The price for each book is $18.95 plus $3.50 for shipping and handling.

I can definitely see the books being used by activities and recreation directors in facilities as well as by caregivers at home.  In reprinting the editions, I might recommend using spiral binding so pages can lay flat while viewing and I would suggest that the pictures being professionally taken and sized to fit.  I did talk to Nadine about having the proper permissions to use some of the pictures.  As a publisher myself, use of trademarks and intellectual property can be tricky so it is best to be cautious.

Despite any technical "publisher" comments, the end user:  the person with dementia, will certainly enjoy the books.  Nadine also has a Giant Photo Crossword puzzle as well that a dementia caregiver can work on with a person with dementia.

For more info on Memory Triggers, please visit The Idea Factory at:  www.memory-triggers.com or call 732-494-0703.

Dementia Book Review: Buffalo Lockjaw

We don't usually think of dementia as a secondary topic for a novel but Buffalo Lockjaw by Greg Ames provides an exception.  A first novel for Mr. Ames, published in April 2009 by Hyperion, tells the story of James Fitzroy returning to his hometown of Buffalo, NY during a chilling winter.

Waiting for James were all the local people who stayed behind but most importantly his parents:  his mother, has taken a turn for the worse in her dementia and his father who is coping with her illness and the fact that she is in a nursing home.

Dementia Book Review: I'm Still Here

I'm still enjoying the recent group of books that have come out lately about the dementia or Alzheimer's experience.  I am slowly getting to all of them.  I want to recommend one of the new books by John Zeisel, PhD called, I'm Still Here:  A Breakthrough Approach To Understanding Someone Living With Alzheimer's.

Dementia Book Review: Memory Lessons

A new book will be out by Hyperion in 2009 called, Memory Lessons:  A Doctor's Story  by Jerald Winakur.  As a geriatric physician for over 30 years, Jerald found himself facing down dementia as his father developed the disease.  Dr. Winakur gives his personal account that illustrates a point that I've often discussed with colleagues:  Why don't professional dementia caregivers have some advantage in handling the disease?

Unfortunately, professional caregivers lose prospective when the disease strikes their own family members.  Despite inside information, professional caregivers like Dr. Winakur, have the same problems with denial, explaining away symptoms, etc.

As Dr. Winakur talks about his lifelong commitment to geriatric medicine, he weaves in the heartbreaking account of his father's journey with dementia. He gives us his own medical profession history with the story of his father's disease including his father's death, funeral and his own afterthoughts about what he could have done differently.  To hear those internal struggles of a geriatric physician about his own dad is very emotional.

What did you think of the book?  To order the book or get more information, go to www.hyperion.com. 

Dementia Care: The Best Friends Approach

If you haven't heard about the "Best Friends" Approach to dementia care, you need to learn the simple philosophy.  Virginia Bell and David Troxel, two dementia care professionals, came up with the easy concept a number of years ago and have published books and videos that explain the process. 

Here is a summary of the Best Friends Model of Dementia Care:

1.  Caregivers need to learn about dementia:  the basics of the disease and what to expect

2.  Learn what it feels like to have dementia so behaviors can be understood, especially the cause   

3.  Focus on a "can do" approach:  what are the things the person with dementia can still do?

4.  Master communication techniques including active listening, simple instructions, boosting self-esteem.

5.  Persons with dementia need a "best friend", a person who with be supportive and be with them through the disease process.

 The authors also talk about "knack" or "the art of doing difficult things with ease".  They give lots of tips and specific activities to support their concepts.

To learn more or to order any of the books or tapes, please visit www.bestfriendsapproach.com or www.healthpropress.com.

Has anyone used the best friend techniques and want to share experiences?   

Voices Of Alzheimer's: Book Review

With the year coming to a close, I wanted to remind everyone of a great book that supports a worthy cause:  Voices of Alzheimer's:  Stories For Courage, Comfort and Strength from The Healing Project.

Alzheimer's Journey Revealed In The Glass Seed

In the book, The Glass Seed:  The Fragile Beauty of Heart, Mind & Memory by Eileen Delhanty Pearkes, readers are taken on a narrative journey of her own inner discoveries as she sees her mother passing through the stages of Alzheimer's Disease.

Dementia Caregivers: New Book Brings The Land of Alzheimer's To Life

A friend just referred a new dementia book to me that sounds so different that I can't wait to read it.  The book is called:  "Dancing With Rose:  Finding Life In the Land of Alzheimer's" by Lauren Kessler. 

Yes, there are many books out there on the struggle caregiver's face with understanding and coping with dementia.  What makes this book different is the fact that the author not only lost her own mother to Alzheimer's but then went on a journey of self-discovery, working as an aide in a long term care facility.