36-Hour Day

Caring for someone with dementia means devotedly and patiently doing a hundred little things each day. Few care providers are trained to meet the challenges of dementia, however-and that is where A Loving Approach to Dementia Care can help. The book offers practical, compassionate advice on overcoming caregiving obstacles and maintaining meaningful relationships with loved ones who have dementia and memory loss. Laura Wayman's program of care emphasizes communication, affirmative response, and empowerment-transforming the caregiving process from a burden into a fulfilling journey. Her true stories of caregiving illustrate the principles of this loving approach, giving listeners essential tools for connecting with people who have dementia. A practitioner whose strategies have seen great success in thousands of individual homes and facilities across the country, Wayman shows how understanding the limits and possibilities of the person who has dementia can make all the difference in the world. In this thoroughly revised edition, Wayman adds fresh caregiving insights, two completely new chapters that explore the dangers of denial by both caregivers and people with memory loss, and the "Dementia-Aware Guide to Caregiving"-a quick reference tool for advice on how to respond to specific difficult behaviors.

Each year, more than 500,000 people are diagnosed with dementia in the United States. As stunning as that figure is, countless family members and caregivers are also affected by each diagnosis. Families are faced with the need to make vital end-of-life decisions about medical treatment, legal and financial matters, and living situations for those who no longer can; no one is prepared for this process. And many caregivers grapple with sadness, confusion, guilt, anger, and physical and mental exhaustion as dementia enters its final stage. In Making Tough Decisions about End-of-Life Care in Dementia, Dr. Anne Kenny, a skilled palliative care physician, describes how to navigate the difficult journey of late-stage dementia with sensitivity, compassion, and common sense. Combining her personal experience caring for a mother with dementia with her medical expertise in both dementia and end-of-life care, Dr. Kenny helps the listener prepare for a family member's death while managing their own emotional health.