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You or someone you love has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Chances are, through your shock and alarm your mind is teeming with questions. What will happen to me? Does this mean my husband will have to go into a nursing home? Can I still drive? Is it OK for my mother to continue to babysit my children? Are there any pills that can help? And most of all, what on earth should I do next?

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Customer Reviews (28)

Aging: the good, bad and ugly
Excellent story of health decline from a physician who became "the patient". Very informative of the disease process and how it impacts the patient.

Cathartic
Reading "Life in the Balance" was a therapeutic, actually cathartic, experience.My spouse has Parkinson's and, for the first time, I was able to partially understand what he is experiencing. It demonstrated so many of the unknowns and allowed me to validate my own feelings.I thank Dr. Graboys for having the courage to pen his thoughts in such a meaningful way.

Life in the Balance
This was an informative and easy read.I read it in one session.I bought 3 more and gave to caregivers of people with this problem and gave one to my doctor. My husband has this illness and I am thinking of asking him to read the book.It is for once a book with some positive attitude and full of helps.

A moving story
Dr. Thomas Graboys was a distinguished heart doctor who seemed to have it all. He had lost his first wife to cancer but was newly married to a wonderful, smart, sexy woman and he was at the top of his profession. Then he was struck by an aggressive form of Parkinson's Disease called Lewy body disease that not only attacked his body but also his mind.

I have a personal interest in this book. Someone I love deeply has been fighting Parkinson's for years, though thankfully not the same kind that struck Graboys. Her mind is still intact. He is suffering from creeping dementia.

Graboys is painfully honest in this book. He talks about how he tried for months to continue his work, battling through exhaustion and mental lapses, until he was forced to admit he could not carry on. Being a doctor defined him -- and now it is gone.

He also discusses his attempts to preserve a form of physical intimacy with his wife and the pain of watching a virile, physically fit body decay along with his sexuality.

Graboys also frankly speaks about his marriage. He was already experiencing early symptoms of the disease when he married his wife Vicki -- but he was in a state of deep denial. She thought she was marrying a capable, virile man. Instead, she got an invalid who needs virtual around-the-clock care. This "original sin" placed a tremendous burden on the marriage.

The most significant service this book performs is to restore the dignity of a man who has lost so much. Graboys teaches us that a person should not be defined by his sickness. His determination to fight every step of the way against his inevitable decline is inspiring.

The weakest part of the book are the segments contributed by the author's children, step-children and in-laws. They are repetitive and seemed designed to pad out the book. They weaken the overall message by diluting the force of the author's own words.

Experiencing Parkinson's Dementia with Lewy Bodies
This is a well written book giving a window into what it is truly like to have Parkinson's with Dementia. Hearing the experience of a physician with the disorder as well as personal accounts from all of his family members is incredibly informative in understanding what a loved one is dealing with. ... Read more

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HARDCOVER: An original method of understanding and relating to people with dementia revealed through the passionate story of succeeding beyond conventional wisdom, to stay in communication with, in relationship to, and in love with a husband, a father, and a friend, who goes in and out of very remote states of consciousness. This new research helps relieve suffering and the stigma around Alzheimer's, end of life dementia, and death; while opening to the dreaming present during the elder phase of our lives. ~ Sentient communication skills provide insight into people's Alzheimer'sdementia, encouraging emotional and spiritual growth processes. ~ Detailed descriptions, comprehensive summaries, demonstrations, exercises for the reader, and extensive bibliography weave together a proposed prescription for prevention of Alzheimer's dementia. ~ "I strongly recommend this as an original method for understanding and dealing with Alzheimer's dementia." Dr. Arnold Mindell ... Read more

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Mealtimes are about much more than just re-fuelling, and the importance of mealtimes in the care of people with dementia cannot be overestimated. Using her extensive experience of working with older people with dementia, Grethe Berg explains how mealtimes can be used as natural opportunities for meaningful interaction, socialising and reminiscing, and useful forums for taking part in familiar tasks. The book considers the social significance of mealtimes and their role in maintaining patients' feelings of social attachment and well-being as well as the impact of the symptoms of dementia on food and mealtimes. It also explores different types of residential care and how they can make mealtimes a focus of activity for patients. Finally, the author discusses practical implementation strategies, considering variables such as building design, interdisciplinary collaboration, organization of staff and residents, and staff participation and conduct at mealtimes. This book provides much-needed help and practical strategies for care managers and carers to reclaim mealtimes as positive experiences for people with dementia. ... Read more

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The development of 'ageless' mental health services means that an increasing number of clinicians are now required to work with older people. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is recognized by all recent meta-analyses as the most effective therapy, yet few clinicians are trained specifically in its usage with the elderly. This book is the first ever detailed guide to using CBT with older people both with and without cognitive difficulties, and reviews its use in different settings, covering both conceptual and practical perspectives. Ian James discusses CBT and its adaptation, moving on to review therapy in terms of the key stages of assessment, formulation and interventions. Case studies in both depression and dementia, together with observations from real-life practice, are then used to provide practical advice. Much of the material draws from standard therapeutic processes and techniques, but it is presented in a manner that makes it more appropriate to an older generation. Rather uniquely, the book provides practical guidance on how to work therapeutically with people with dementia, particularly those living in care.Indeed, one of the final chapters provides 'state-of-the-art' descriptions on how to help staff who are faced with challenging behaviors. This book is suitable for trainees and experiences therapists. It contains material relevant to therapists working across all age ranges. It deals with the therapy of choice for working with people with depression and anxiety across the age ranges. All meta-analyses suggest that CBT is the preferred therapy for working with older people. This should be first sentence. There are relatively few teaching texts on using CBT with older people. None provide a detailed account of using CBT with people with dementia - USP. It presents the following structure: causes, overview of treatments, (inc medication), working into different settings, case studies, general overview. Really nothing else is available that incorporates CBT with dementia and challenging behavior. ... Read more

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Individuals or families receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or brain-damage from a stroke face daunting questions: how to provide for care when the patient can no longer manage his or her own affairs, what to do to protect their rights and property, where to go for help, and how to cope with the day-to-day challenges of fading memory and diminished cognition. Here is a comprehensive guide specifically for Nevadans embarking on this difficult journey, and for family members, professional caregivers, and health-care workers who help them.

The authors—a certified Nevada elder-law attorney and a Las Vegas specialist in geriatric-care management—offer readers useful advice from the perspective of Nevada resources and Nevada law, addressing such topics as finding the right physician and dealing with a diagnosis; legal and financial steps that patients and their families can take to protect themselves and their assets, pay for long-term care, provide advance directives for health care, and arrange for guardianship; and tending to the details that follow the death of a loved one; as well as practical suggestions for helping someone afflicted with one of the geriatric dementias, dealing with such matters as eating, personal hygiene, medication management, emotional changes, and communication. There is also information about locating support groups, nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and other resources in each section of the state, as well as examples of pertinent legal forms consistent with Nevada law. ... Read more

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This volume is the proceedings from the Swiss Society forNeuropathology XVIIIth International Winter Meeting on Neuropathologyand Genetics of Dementia, held March 23-26, 2000, in St.Moritz, Switzerland.
For more than 35 years the Swiss Society of Neuropathology hasorganised its traditional International Winter Meeting, whose main aimis to bring together neuropathologists and clinicians as well asneuroscientists interested in disease mechanisms. The topic of the2000 Meeting was Neuropathology and Genetics of Dementia. Aprogramme of invited plenary lectures of high educational value aswell as platform and poster presentations given by many participantscovered the broad spectrum of dementing disorders. Encouraged by thehigh standard of the meeting, and probably also influenced by theadvent of a new Millennium, it was decided to publish the Proceedingsof the 2000 Meeting in the present book. ... Read more

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Univ. of South Florida, Tampa. Spotlights the latest preventive measures, intervention strategies, and staff-training methods associated with dementia in long-term settings. For managers of nursing homes, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. ... Read more

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Two of the most common psychological disorders of later life are dementia and depression. The diagnosis of these conditions presents a challenge to clinicians because the symptoms of depression and dementia often overlap; in addition, the symptoms of either of these disorders in their early stages may be attributed to the normal effects of aging. To successfully identify and treat depression and dementia in older adults - thereby avoiding or delaying unnecessary and costly long-term care - psychologists must increase their skills in communicating and working with the older population. Neuropsychological Assessment of Dementia and Depression in Older Adults reviews the most up-to-date research on the diagnosis of dementia and depression and offers concrete recommendations for evaluating this unique population. A helpful appendix refers readers to cognitive test norms for older adults. The contributors to this volume, all experts in the psychological assessment of older adults, give clinicians and practitioners clear and practical guidance on differentiating psychological disorders from normal events in the aging process identifying symptoms of depression and symptoms of dementia performing differential assessment of dementia and depression determining legal competency of older adults providing clinical interpretations to clients and their families applying assessment to therapy and interventions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Useful for students and clinicians
Solid coverage of fundamentals, makes it valuable for students and for clinicians who may not be doing these kinds of assessments frequently enough to feel on top of them.Still has some benefit for more experienced practitioners.Especially helpful are the attention to presentation of depression in older adults, talking about results of assessment with patients and families, and assessment for competence.

Good overview
This book provides a useful and well documented review of the issues and procedures involved in assessment of cognitive functioning and depression in the geriatric population. I used the book to obtain continuing education through the American Psychological Association. I perform a couple of these assessments every month, so much of the book was not new to me but the reference list alone is worth a lot. ... Read more

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Everything you need to know to care for your loved one at home!
You can do it! Our home care manual provides you with over 1200 excellent caregiving tips and suggestions to make your life easier. Written in a down-to-earth, non-clinical language, you will have no problem implementing the basic elements in your daily routine.
Whether you are caring for a parent, spouse or residents in your home, this ready-reference guidebook will give you peace of mind in knowing that solutions are at your fingertips.

Easy reading-readily understood
Simplified table of contents
Grooming, cleaning, organizing & playing tips
Practical, hands-on advice
Suggestions for caregiver burn-out
How to enlist the support of your relatives
Colorfully Illustrated by Dr. Charles A. Belfi

This is the only home caregiving manual you will ever need! To preview this book go to: http://caregiversadvice.net/content/book3.php
... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Practical Advice for Family Members and Caregivers
This book has lots of practical suggestions for how to approach difficult situations without a blowup (by either you or your loved one). It also allows you to appreciate the issues you have already negotiated and those that are likely ahead.

Not for non-christians
I thought this book might be helpful with the stress I experience on a almost daily base, I am a professional caregiver and as such
I need to be especially careful not to be "abusive". However, I do not consider myself a Christian and I do not believe that people
are with Jesus after they die. I think I can find the right words for my clients and their relatives without biblical wisdom.
In short: this book might be helpful to you and your LO* if you are a firm believer into scripture. Otherwise you might be appalled
by some of the suggestions. From my point of view, it would be a one star, for true believers it might be five star, so I gave it
three stars and I try not to push my believes onto others.

*LO - Loved one, used in the book

Dealing with dementia
This is a tough subject, and the book is for more advanced dementia and Alzheimer's than the person has that I care for. Still, there are some good tips and the book is recommended for caregivers of people with advanced dementia or Alzheimer's. It takes a lot of understanding and this book deals with the nitty gritty and could make dealing with a really unpleasant job a little easier.

Excellent!
Starr has outdone herself with this book! All of the tips are "real life" answers to everyday problems in dealing with the elderly, and people of all ages. Her tips and sugestions don't require additional money or effort, they incorporate everyday scenarios with everyday ideas. Loved it!

Caregiving Tips A-Z, Alzheimer's and Other Demential
This book really helped me when caring for my Grandmother.The tips in the book were helpful in everyday living.This book in particular helped so much since my Grandmother had Dementia.It is very USER FRIENDLY whether you read it completely or just skim through and use it as a tips guide.You can tell that the author had a real background in caregiving.The Illustrations and song titles were absolutely precious and and very appropriate, each chapter having its own song that identifies with the Baby-boomer population.So many of that generation are now looking at caring for their loved ones.Five stars to the author and illustrator for their creativity and real help for those of us now caring for their loved ones.I enjoyed the book and was helped enough by it that I purchased her other 3 books, "Caregiving Tips A-Z", "Hospice Care at Home", and "The Caring Caregivers Guide to Dealing with Guilt".(Five Stars for those books too!) ... Read more

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Improvements in health care in the 21st century mean people are living longer, but with the paradox that chronic illness is increasingly prevalent.Dementia, a term used to describe various different brain disorders that involve a loss of brain function that is usually progressive and eventually severe, is a condition associated with an ageing population and is becoming increasingly common.Worldwide there are approximately 25 million people with dementia, expected to rise to 63 million by 2030, and 114 million by 2050.

Inevitably, people living with dementia will die, but their needs at the end of life are not well known.This book describes what might be achieved if the values and best practice of both dementia care and palliative care are brought together, to achieve quality end of life care for this specific group of patients.It explores what is known about the experience of dying with dementia, using a narrative approach, and develops a model that draws together a 'person-centered' approach to care.The book examines the possibiities and the challenges faced when trying to improve quality of life for people with dementia, and presents examples of good practice from across the world. ... Read more

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Is it inevitable? Does everyone who lives long enough eventually develop dementia? Might dementia be prevented, modified, or even reversed? Aging is as natural as leaves changing color at summer s end. We may be powerless against time and occurrences of nature, but we re not helpless when it comes to growing old with health and grace. Tending to good health throughout life results in aging with dignity. In Autumn Leaves, Dr. Steven Rubin, a psychiatrist specializing in geriatric medicine, offers common-sense insights into the biological and psychological changes that confront us all, beginning in the middle years and progressing through late life, a stage the author has termed gerolescence. Who gets dementia, who doesn t, and why? Autumn Leaves not only addresses intellectual, emotional, and behavioral declines, but also provides a framework for evaluating, correctly diagnosing, and treating them, with and without medications. You ll learn how to approach and manage the losses, challenges, and opportunities that accompany the aging process. Steven Rubin, M.D., has written a book that looks at growing older, with and without dementia. Autumn Leaves asks- and answers- the crucial question, How do you want to live your remaining seasons? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

a must read....
This book has changed my life and how I view and interact with individuals with dementia. This book is a definite must read for anyone whom interacts with individual/s with dementia.

Autumn LeavesAging, With and Without Dementia
I feel that this book is very helpful.I purchased it to gain knowledge about dementia, so that I could better understand what may be going on with my family members.I found that it is a tool that can be helpful for anyone.Dr. Steven Rubin shares techniques that are valuable for everyday life.He offers insight on stress, trauma, medical, and family issues.I also appreciated the section that breaks down how many of todays prescription and over the counter medications work.Many of these medications are taken blindly without knowing how they work, or the possible side effects to your mental health.
This book is easy to read and understand.I would recommend this book to anyone that is dealing with dementia in their family, and for anyone looking for helpful tools to deal with stress and mental issues in their own life.

A Path We Do Not Want To Take But?
"Autumn Leaves" is an introduction to the scope of dementia but it is far more than that.It is a guide to how one can chart the course of one's life. It is a valuable resource with reference to medications applicable to the treatment of dementia and the consequences of their use --- not all good.But most of all it is a testimonial to the compassion of the author and the analytical approach he applies to the diagnosis and treatment of this affliction.

It is with surprise that I found that Dr. Rubin has a subtle sense of humor that permits the reader to escape the serious nature of the topic for a moment. And one can appreciate the individual behind the text. An individual devoting his life to providing care to the inflicted as well as assistance to those upon whose shoulders the care for the patient falls.

To conclude, this book will assist all concerned to comprehend this disease in a concise but most informative manner.

Boomers:Read This Book
Dr. Rubin's clear, engaging prose provides illustrative metaphors reinforcing the "why" behind what we already know but often avoid:moderation.

This timely guidebook aids those proactively engaged in staving off Alzheimer's and dementia; if you are serious about improving your quality of life and/or delivering informed care to afflicted loved ones, Rubin's commonsense approach lends great insight.

Autumn Leaves is perfectly timed for the Boomers' imminent withdrawal from the workforce ... and reinsertion into their period of "gerolescence" ... the author's term for one's second adolescence.

Warning:drug reps, government pharmaceutical lobbyists, and pill-pushing physicians might consider self-medicating with blood-pressure drugs before reading this dead-on rebuke from an experienced practitioner who backs up his claims with telling anecdotes.

Great insights for a troubling problem
From what I can tell, no one in my family is yet showing signs of dementia.However, my father's parents suffered from multiple strokes and Parkinson's disease, and I know how difficult it was for him and his siblings to make sense of the wild shifts in his parents' personalities and behaviors.I read this book in the hopes that I could glean some insight into this debilitating process of the mind that so often accompanies aging of the body.

I think Autumn Leaves provides solid, basic information about dementia, including causes and types of dementia as well as treatments.But you could read that elsewhere.This book's strongest feature is the anecdotal evidence and metaphor the author uses to aid the reader in understanding the patient with dementia.Dr Rubin's years of experience in treating the geriatric population has provided him with insight that he generously shares with his readers, many of whom will be or already are caregivers to someone with dementia.The running theme in this book for me was 'You are not alone.'

Autumn Leaves also gives us tips to help prevent our own mental decline, so I recommending reading it now! ... Read more

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When discussing dementia, the medical literature tends to focus on Alzheimer's disease, leaving other dementias, such as those relating to cerebrovascular disease, somewhat neglected, despite being a common cause of cognitive decline in later life. However, in recent years there has been a remarkable transformation in our knowledge about the role of vascular factors in cognitive decline and dementia. It is now recognized that cerebrovascular disease influences clinical expression of cognitive and non cognitive features in a variety of cognitive disorders, including Alzheimer's disease itself.

Cerebrovascular Disease, Cognitive Impairment and Dementia reviews what is now known about the relationship between cerebrovascular disease and dementia. It describes new knowledge of how vascular processes interact with neuro-degenerative ones, and how both appear to be risk factors for the other. The book contains contributions from leading international experts and covers epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical features, investigations (including neuroimaging), management, and service and caregiver issues. The second edition of this pioneering text is completely revised and emphasizes the primary and secondary prevention of cerebrovascular disease and the treatment of cognitive impairment.

A truly comprehensive yet accessible text which puts basic research findings in a clinically relevant context, this book will appeal to psychiatrists, neurologists, geriatricians, allied health professionals, and others involved in the care of patients with cognitive impairment and dementia. ... Read more

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This is one program in the Families Caring for Older Adults series of educational modules developed by CoHealth for family members who are trying to understand the physical, mental and emotional changes that accompany aging, how to decide what is best for their loved one, and how to improve their skills as caregivers.This program, Caregiving Tips for Families Managing Dementia, guides the reader through an understanding of why difficult behaviors occur in dementia, what can trigger them, and how to manage some very challenging behaviors, including wandering, incontinence, agitation, sleeplessness, and Sundowning. ... Read more

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Learn dementia care from an experienced colleague!

From a senior faculty member of the Copper Ridge Institute comes peer-to-peer guidance on how you can give the best possible care to dementia patients and their families.

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The relevance of cognitive rehabilitation for people with dementia is becoming increasingly accepted by researchers and practitioners in the field. This special issue draws together examples of state-of-the-art research and systematic review by experts in this exciting and growing area.
The contributors show how cognitive rehabilitation approaches can be applied, in different ways, to help optimise functioning and address specific difficulties across the full spectrum of severity. While the main focus is on the more commonly diagnosed forms of dementia, treatment possibilities for people with fronto-temporal dementia are also explored. Cognitive rehabilitation interventions need to be grounded in a clear assessment of the profile of strengths and limitations in cognitive functioning, and to demonstrate where possible that treatment effects extend beyond improvement on target measures to have a meaningful impact on wellbeing and quality of life. For this reason, the special issue includes contributions that explore detailed aspects of cognitive functioning or describe new developments in evaluating quality of life in dementia. Cognitive rehabilitation, it is suggested, should be viewed as one important component of a holistic approach to helping people with dementia, their families, and those who care for them. This special issue seeks both to provide information about what has already been achieved and to encourage and stimulate further progress. ... Read more

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Dementia is the most common reason for nursing home placement, and related behavioral symptoms are the primary factors precipitating the decision. Disruptive behaviors such as depression, sleep disturbance, agitation, aggression, and psychosis can tax family members' abilities to care for a loved one who has reached that stage of the illness. Working with families to institute effective management strategies may help delay institutionalization. In this article, Drs Burke and Morgenlander present a systematic approach to identifying and treating common problems in dementia. ... Read more

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This book focuses on language and communication issues with older people with mental health problems. Radically revised and updated from the authors’ earlier book, “Communication Disability and the Psychiatry of Old Age”, this book recognizes that language and communication is not just the business of speech and language therapy but is relevant to all staff involved with people who have mental health difficulties. 

This book focuses on what older people with mental health difficulties require to maintain their independence and to minimize the effects of degenerative disease processes for as long as possible from a speech and language perspective.

• Relevant to all members of the multidisciplinary team involved within older people’s mental health services
• Each chapter is evidence-based and factual
• Reflects the substantial advances in the diagnosis and treatment of dementias