Dementia : Alzheimer's and other dementias : the "at your fingertips" guide - the fully updated and comprehensive reference book for Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia

Dementia: Alzheimer's and other Dementias at your fingertips is a practical guide giving comprehensive, medically accurate information on Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia in an easy to understand format. This new fully revised and updated edition outlines the different care options that are available and suggests a variety of strategies for coping. It tells people where to go for help and guidance on legal, financial and other matters and gives advice on how to prepare for the future and make difficult decisions. Contents......Page 6 Foreword by Dr. JONATHAN MILLER, CBE......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 11 Introduction......Page 12 1 What is dementia?......Page 16 Defining dementia......Page 17 Who will get dementia?......Page 19 Causes of dementia......Page 20 Types of dementia......Page 22 2 What is Alzheimer’s disease?......Page 32 Defining Alzheimer’s disease......Page 33 Who will get Alzheimer’s disease?......Page 35 Causes of Alzheimer’s disease......Page 37 Symptoms and signs......Page 40 Outlook......Page 44 3 Getting a diagnosis......Page 45 The need for diagnosis......Page 46 Seeking a diagnosis......Page 48 The process of diagnosis......Page 51 Memory tests......Page 55 Blood tests......Page 56 Genetic tests......Page 58 Brain scans......Page 59 Talking about the diagnosis......Page 62 4 Practical care day to day......Page 65 General questions......Page 66 Dressing......Page 68 Personal hygiene......Page 69 Food and drink......Page 75 Taking pills......Page 80 Sleeping......Page 82 5 Communication and activities......Page 84 Improving communication......Page 85 Memory aids......Page 87 Activities......Page 89 Holidays......Page 92 6 Personal safety......Page 94 Dangers at home......Page 95 Wandering......Page 98 Driving......Page 100 7 Behaviour that may cause difficulties......Page 102 Annoying behaviour......Page 103 Losing things......Page 104 Non-recognition......Page 105 Hallucinations......Page 106 Restlessness and agitation......Page 107 Anger and aggression......Page 109 Sexual behaviour......Page 112 Other people’s attitudes......Page 113 8 Carers’ emotions......Page 114 Emotional support......Page 115 Loss and despair......Page 117 Anger and bitterness......Page 118 Sexual feelings......Page 120 Guilt......Page 121 9 Getting help......Page 123 Sources of help and information......Page 124 Spiritual needs......Page 125 Community care......Page 126 Services for people at home......Page 132 Day care......Page 135 Respite care......Page 136 10 Residential and nursing homes......Page 138 Is a home necessary?......Page 139 Information sources......Page 141 Types of homes......Page 142 Choosing a home......Page 144 Making the move......Page 147 Privacy or company?......Page 148 Possible ill treatment......Page 149 Visiting......Page 150 11 Legal and financial advice......Page 151 Getting advice......Page 152 Legal safeguards......Page 153 Financial incompetence......Page 156 Benefits......Page 158 Paying for care home fees......Page 165 12 Treatment......Page 171 Treatment possibilities......Page 172 Dealing with doctors......Page 175 Drug treatments......Page 177 Treating symptoms......Page 183 Surgery......Page 189 Psychological treatments......Page 190 Complementary medicine......Page 192 13 Research......Page 194 Research overview......Page 195 Experimental treatments......Page 198 Helping with research......Page 199 Drug trials......Page 200 Other areas of research......Page 202 Glossary......Page 205 Useful addresses......Page 213 Some other reading......Page 218 Index......Page 220 This work is a practical guide giving comprehensive, medically accurate information on Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia in an easy to understand format. Title from ebook title screen (viewed on June 13, 2005).