There's Still a Person in There: The Complete Guide to Treating and Coping with Alzheimer's - Hardcover

Castleman, Michael; Gallagher-Thompson, Dolores; Naythons, Matthew

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0399145710 ISBN 13: 9780399145711

Publisher: Putnam Adult, 1999

Synopsis

The first major care-giver's guide to Alzheimer's Disease since The 36-Hour Day uses family profiles to show how people cope with, treat, and possibly even prevent this common ailment.

About this title

About the Author

The author of fifteen health books, including Nature's Cures and The Healing Herbs, Michael Castleman is a widely read health journalist.

Reviews

Alzheimer's disease strikes some 250,000 Americans annually, the editors maintain, and an estimated 2.4 million people care for the several million people who have the disease. What makes caring for someone with Alzheimer's particularly difficult is the transformation the victims undergo. As this book evidences through its case histories, people with Alzheimer's become almost unrecognizable: a quiet, shy person will suddenly shout in the middle of the street for hours at a time; a well-groomed woman will forget about showering and insist on wearing the same article of clothing for days at a time. Still, there is some cause for optimism, claim the authors (Castleman wrote Nature's Cures, Naythons is a physician and Gallagher-Thompson cared for her ailing mother). Diagnosis and treatment has changed over the past decade, so that with proper medication and a different approach by caregivers and health-care professionals, Alzheimer's sufferers can be made comfortable, which in turn helps their families. The case studies provide insights into the stages from diagnosis through progression of the disease. Practical information on new drug therapies, alternative treatments, tips on evaluating residential facilities as well as an appendix of other resources make this an indispensable guide for patients, caregivers and anyone who must deal with Alzheimer's disease.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

There is, of course, still no cure for Alzheimer's. And journalist Castleman (Nature's Cures, not reviewed, etc.), psychologist Gallagher-Thompson (an expert on caregiving for those with Alzheimer's), and physician Naythons are realistic in their assessment of the current state of affairs: Although there are now medications that can slow progression of the disease, Alzheimer's sufferers still follow an irreversible downward course. But ``the grim mythology surrounding the disease has kept most Americans from noticing that in the years since Ronald Reagan's diagnosis, real progress has been made in diagnosing, treating, managing, and preventing the disease.'' To wit, the biology of Alzheimer's is far better understood, risk factors are being identified, and some conditions thought to be Alzheimer's have been recognized as reversible. New drug programs for arresting the disease are promising and have indicated new research directions. There is generally more support available for caregivers, and there are more innovative residential facilities for those with the disease. Interspersed with details on these developments are thorough case studiesthe strength and perseverance of family caregivers are often awe-inspiringand clearly devised plans for action, at whatever stage a family may find itself. Extensive resource lists are included. One of the best sources of help for Alzheimer's since Mace and Rabinss The 36-Hour Day. An absolute standout. -- Copyright ©2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Alzheimer's is the third most costly disease, but that statistic measures only dollars, not the disease's devastating effects on caregivers. With Alzheimer's and the fear of it looming ever larger in a society marked by increasing longevity, good books on it are needed. Concerned throughout with providing practical suggestions for loving caregiving, this is one of the best. It combines scientific information with several detailed case histories, usually narrated by a family-member caregiver. Those narrators include African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians, so the full spectrum of possible readers will find the book accommodatingly pertinent. Diagnosis of Alzheimer's is difficult and often complicated by the presence of other conditions, but the authors point out behaviors that justify becoming concerned and consulting a knowledgeable physician. They also explain the costs of different levels of Alzheimer's care, describe current drugs and procedures, and emphasize the necessity of caregivers taking care of themselves, too. William Beatty

More than 70 percent of the two to four million people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease are cared for at home by family members, often until the disease's final stages. Numerous books for caregivers have appeared over the last decade, but the need for high-quality publications continues. This book's authorsACastleman, a health journalist, Dolores Gallagher-Thompson, a psychologist specializing in caregiving, and Matthew Naythons, a physician turned Internet entrepreneurAhave gathered the latest research on the causes, diagnosis, current and potential treatments for Alzheimer's and communicated these findings clearly and intelligibly. Essential information on getting a diagnosis, coping with behavioral changes, medications, and sources of support and assistance is provided. Such material is available elsewhere in greater detail (Nancy Mace and Peter Rabin's The 36-Hour Day, 3d ed., LJ 7/99); however, the authors emphasize the importance of families caring for themselves as well in order to avoid the physical and emotional tolls unrelieved caregiving can take. Stories of culturally and ethnically diverse families coping successfully with Alzheimer's plus an extensive bibliography and resource list increase the volume's reader-friendliness. A valuable addition to Alzheimer's and caregiving collections.AKaren McNally Bensing, Benjamin Rose Inst. Lib., Cleveland
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Putnam Adult
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0399145710
• ISBN 13: 9780399145711
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 370