The Common Sense Guide to Dementia For Clinicians and Caregivers

The Common Sense Guide to Dementia for Clinicians and Caregivers provides an easy-to-read, practical, and thoughtful approach to dementia care. Written by two specialists who have cared for thousands of patients with dementia and their families, this ground-breaking title unifies the perspectives of neurology and psychiatry to meet a variety of caregiver needs. It spotlights many real-world concerns not typically covered in standard textbooks, while simultaneously presenting a more detailed medical perspective than typical caregiver manuals.

This handy title offers expert guidance for the clinical management of dementia and compassionate support of patients and families.Designed to enhance the physician-caregiver interaction and liberally illustrated with case examples, The Common Sense Guide espouses general principles of dementia care that apply across the stages and spectrum of this illness, including non-Alzheimer's types of dementia, in addition to Alzheimer's disease.

Clinicians, family members, and other caregivers will find this volume useful from the moment that symptoms of dementia emerge. The authors place an emphasis on caring for the caregiver as well as the patient. Essential topics include how to find the right clinician, make the most of a doctor's visit, and avert a crisis - or manage one that can't be avoided. Sometimes difficult considerations, such as driving, financial management, legal matters, long-term placement, and end-of-life care, are faced head-on. Tried, true, and time-saving tips are explained in terms of what works - and what doesn't - with regard to clinical evaluation, medications, behavioral measures, and alternate therapies. Medical, nursing, and allied health care professionals will undoubtedly turn to this unique overview as a vital resource and mainstay of clinical dementia care, as well as a valuable recommendation for family caregivers.

From the reviews:

“Intended for both lay persons and clinicians, this handy guide to the dementias is a helpful overview of what caregivers and health professionals need to know about the various forms of neurodegenerative diseases. It is designed to provide need-to-know information about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementing illnesses in a clear and accessible language even for uninitiated. … This is a must-have book for lay persons who are struggling to understand dementia, and a welcome resource for health professionals.” (Joseph I. Sirven, Doody’s Review Service, February, 2013)

“Lipton (neurologist) and Marshall (geriatric psychiatrist, Baylor Univ.), both experienced dementia care professionals, have collaborated to develop this readable, practical, and thought-provoking work. … The book can be read sequentially or by topic of interest. Summing Up: Recommended. All health sciences students, health care professionals/practitioners, and health care consumers.” (L. R. Barely, Choice, Vol. 50 (8), April, 2013)