The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care, Revised

Join thousands of caregivers who are adopting this groundbreaking and uplifting method for the care of people with Alzheimer’s disease. This comprehensive program builds on the essential elements of friendship: respect, empathy, support, trust, humor. They’re the building blocks of a care model that’s both effective and flexible enough to adapt to each person’s remaining strengths and abilities. It’s easy. It’s natural. It works. Learn how to ensure the highest quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s disease, not just by preventing catastrophic episodes but by making every day consistently reassuring, enjoyable, and secure. This revised edition includes new material such as an updated and expanded resource list, updated biographies of Best Friends featured in the book, and a new Preface from Virginia Bell and David Troxel. Best FriendsTM―for the best care.

Virginia Bell has lectured widely on Alzheimer's disease at national and international conferences, speaking at 12 National Education Conferences of the Alzheimer's Association and lecturing at 18 conferences of Alzheimer's Disease International. Sheâ??s published journal articles and books, notably in Dementia Care: Patient, Family and Community (John Hopkins, 1989). Many of her articles have been reprinted numerous times: "The Alzheimer's Disease Bill of Rights" (1994), "The other Face of Alzheimer's Disease" (1999) and "Spirituality and the Person with Dementia" (2001), co-authored with David Troxel and published in the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and in the Alzheimer's Care Quarterly. She has also co-authored five books with David Troxel. Virginia is currently the Program Consultant for the Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

David Troxel is an internationally known expert in Alzheimerâ??s and memory care. Heâ??s best known for his work with residents and families, and is an informative and engaging speaker. David holds a Masters Degree in Public Health from Rutgers Medical School. During the 25 years that heâ??s worked in the field, heâ??s also served as an Executive Board member of the American Public Health Association and the Ethics Advisory Panel for the US National Alzheimerâ??s Association. David has co-authored four influential books (most notably, The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimerâ??s Care) on Alzheimerâ??s relating to the disease care as well as staff development and training. Davidâ??s â??Best Friends Approachâ? is built on a seemingly simple premise: that what people living with memory loss need most is a friend â?? a best friend. David teaches caregivers how to understand and fulfill this â??Best Friendsâ? role, including special caregiving techniques and tools. He lives in Sacramento as a writer, speaker and consultant.