Synopses & Reviews
The Art of Dementia Care is an easy-to-read, practical, and helpful guide for all those who provide support, encouragement and care for people with dementia in formal care settings. This valuable tool provides caregivers with insights into the special needs of people with dementia, focusing on communication as the key to making a positive difference in their lives. Caregivers are like artists; it takes creativity, patience, and skill to achieve positive results. This text draws upon examples from everyday care situations to highlight how to practice the art of dementia care by recognizing the limits of people with dementia yet promoting their strengths and abilities. Instead of thinking about dementia as a hopeless condition, this book holds hope that people with dementia can indeed enjoy a good quality of life under the right conditions. This book offers fresh ideas and new skills that can be put into practice immediately.
Review
The Art of Dementia Care speaks not only to the mind, but to the heart and soul of its readers. It inspires and empowers caregivers by illuminating the limitless possibilities that truly exist when we choose the relationship model of care. Kuhn and Verity clearly illustrate how everyday challenges in caregiving can evolve into opportunities that celebrate residual abilities, and honor and uphold the dignity of persons with dementia. Through simple, practical and thoughtful examples, the Art of Dementia Care awakens its readers to the powerful realization "that you hold the key to the quality of someone else's life". Imagine a world where we all shared this conviction. Maribeth Gallagher, MS, RN Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Hospice of the Valley Dementia Program Director
Synopsis
The Art of Dementia Care is a practical guide intended for all who provide support, encouragement and care for people with dementia. Using a relationship model of care, you will learn how you can make a positive difference in the lives of those with dementia. Discussion and examples will challenge you to reflect on your attitude and behavior towards people with dementia and teach you to provide thoughtful care to each person in your care. The authors draw upon examples from common clinical situations to highlight how to practice the art of dementia care through the recognition of the limits of people with dementia and the promotion of their strengths and abilities. Ultimately, the quality of the care you provide can greatly affect the quality of life the person with dementia will experience. The Art of Dementia Care will set you on the path to thoughtful and meaningful care.
About the Author
Daniel Kuhn is the Director of the Professional Training Institute for the Alzheimer's Association - Greater Illinois Chapter in Chicago, IL. Jane Verity, OTR, FT, CSP, Master Practitioner in NLP is the Director of Dementia Care Australia in Mooroolbark, Victoria, Australia.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements and the Authors Foreword Introduction Chapter One: Dr. Alzheimer and Auguste Chapter Two: The Artist of Dementia Care Chapter Three: Shifting Thoughts, Words and Actions Chapter Four: How to Turn Around Challenging Behavior Chapter Five: The Artist in Action Further Reading