Book

Dezell, Maureen.

The everything health guide to Alzheimer's disease : a reassuring, informative guide for families and caregivers / Maureen Dezell with Carrie Hill.

Avon, MA : Adams Media, 2009.

xiv, 290 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm.

Synopsis: With more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, families and caregivers of Alzheimer's patients need guidance and support more than ever before. This guide offers an overview of the medical, legal, and practical questions and decisions caregivers and families of Alzheimer's patients face. With this book, you will learn how to: Find the right doctor for your loved ones; Choose treatments and medications; Build and maintain brain health; Handle living, medical, financial, and legal issues; Set up care and support systems for your loved ones; Understand the latest research in Alzheimer's treatment, including genetic testing and diagnostic imaging. This handbook explains the disease, its warning signs, and its diagnosis, while providing complete information on care and treatment. Whether it's early-onset or late-onset Alzheimer's, you will be well informed and prepared to take the right steps toward a better life for your loved ones.

Everything series

Everything health guides

Everything series.

Everything health guides.

Alzheimer's disease -- Popular works.

Hill, Carrie (Carrie L.)

Alzheimer's disease

"Includes the latest treatment options"--Cover.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction -- 1: Alzheimer's Disease Dilemma -- Alzheimer's disease: a brief history -- Who is at risk for AD? -- Symptoms of Alzheimer's -- What causes Alzheimer's? -- How is Alzheimer's diagnosed and treated? -- Costs of Alzheimer's -- 2: What Is Alzheimer's Disease? -- What we know about what goes wrong -- Healthy brain -- Nervous system -- How Alzheimer's disease affects memory -- Early-stage Alzheimer's disease -- Middle-stage Alzheimer's -- Severe and late-stage Alzheimer's -- 3: Making Sure It's Alzheimer's -- Importance of early diagnosis -- What is dementia? -- Irreversible dementias -- Other degenerative diseases associated with dementia -- Treatable causes of dementia -- Distinguishing delirium and dementia -- Is it dementia or depression? -- Dementia as a side effect of prescription drugs -- Diagnosing dementia -- 4: New Normal: How Your Body, Brain, And Memory Change With Age -- Normal physical aging: the basics -- Normal changes in your musculoskeletal system -- Normal cardiovascular system changes -- Normal changes in the senses -- Changes in the brain as we age -- Normal brain changes: a timeline -- Mild cognitive impairment -- 5: Understanding Alzheimer's Risks -- Debunking Alzheimer's myths -- Assessing AD risk -- Genetic risks for Alzheimer's -- Other established risks for Alzheimer's -- Probable risks for Alzheimer's -- Lifestyle risks -- Psychological risks: depression and stress -- Environmental risks for Alzheimer's -- 6: Can Alzheimer's Be Prevented? -- Move your body, maintain your brain -- Exercise and dementia -- Avoid falls -- Always connect -- Importance of being social -- Diet -- Vitamins and dietary supplements -- Researching supplements -- Brain fitness -- 7: Detecting And Diagnosing Alzheimer's -- Signs and symptoms: cause for worry? -- Value of knowing -- Making the appointment -- Before the doctor visit -- Diagnosing Alzheimer's -- Learning the diagnosis -- Continuing care -- 8: If The Diagnosis Is Alzheimer's: First Things First -- Big picture -- Assessing the whole patient's needs -- Determining needs -- Coming up with a care plan -- Living accommodations -- Line up essential resources -- Prepare for change -- Long-distance caregiving -- 9: If You Have Alzheimer's Disease -- Talking with your doctor -- First responses -- Coping with your symptoms -- Coping with your feelings -- Sharing your diagnosis -- Keeping track of money and vital records -- Live the life you lead well -- 10: Staying Safe And Secure With AD -- Car key conundrum -- Addressing driving dilemmas -- Staying safe at home -- Money and fraud protection -- Continuing care communities -- Starting your search -- 11: Money Matters And Legal Issues -- Essential planning -- Directives for financial and estate management -- Health care directives and documents -- Covering the costs of Alzheimer's care -- Ways to pay for Alzheimer's care -- Tax benefits for caregivers -- 12: Treating Alzheimer's Symptoms -- Drugs that treat cognitive symptoms -- Treating psychological problems -- Treating sleeplessness -- Treating behavioral problems -- Helpful tips for monitoring medications -- Paying for medications -- 13: Questions And Answers About Clinical Trials -- What is a clinical trial? -- What happens during a clinical trial? -- Why volunteer for a clinical trial? -- Who can participate in clinical trials? -- How safe are clinical trials? -- Avoiding human error -- How are clinical trials organized? -- Giving your consent -- What is usually involved? -- 14: Changing Behavior -- Behavior basics -- Behavior responses -- Agitation -- Repetition and shadowing -- Suspicion and paranoia -- Sundowning and sleeplessness -- Lewd public behavior -- Aggression -- Communicating calmly -- 15: Coping With Alzheimer's Day To Day --Eating and drinking -- Dressing -- Grooming and hygiene -- Bathing -- Incontinence --Wandering -- Travel -- Day-to-day basics -- 16: Treatments On The Horizon -- Curing Alzheimer's: a cautionary tale -- Disappointing d rug experiments -- Drug therapies -- Finding new pathways -- Gene therapy -- Significance of the ApoE4 gene -- 17: Treating Alzheimer's Symptoms Without Drugs Or Supplements -- Lightening the burden of Alzheimer's -- Exercise: the proven brain and body booster -- Holding steady -- Cognitive rehabilitation -- Complementary therapies -- Other therapeutic activities -- 18: Caring For The Person With Alzheimer's-And Yourself -- Caregivers -- Extra demands of AD care -- Creating a caregiving team -- Becoming the primary caregiver -- When you can't do it alone -- Avoid caregiver burnout -- 19: Living With Alzheimer's -- How bad isn't it? -- Alzheimer's Bill of Rights -- Alzheimer's is not your entire life -- What do you do every day? -- Getting the help you need at home and online -- Communicating with Alzheimer's -- Middle t late stages of Alzheimer's -- Appendix A: Glossary -- Appendix B: Resources --Index.

1605501247

9781605501246

426121814

1

0

1

271885

1

1

616.831 Dezell