I Care: A Handbook for Care Partners of People With Dementia

This book serves to bring peace and comfort and resources to those who are caring for someone with dementia. It describes in depth the different areas of the brain that cause different types of the disease, the dysfunction of the lobes that cause the illness, and what to anticipate as your loved one progresses into a downward spiral. There are helpful suggestions on medication usage in concert with your physician, assisted living, hosice care, and other resources one can avail themselves of.If also deals with certain emotions that caregivers feel, like guilt, and making time for yourself.However, it is my opinion, that the authors could have touched more on the subject of patience. While they do enumerate many resources available, some of them cost money that families do not have, leaving the partner to be the ONLY caregiver, a very stressful job indeed! Many go on a sliding scale, wherein one can obtain these services if one has no money, but if you are middle class, you are really out of luck. And family and friends, can they really be relied upon? What if you have a family that does not speak to you and are a new resident in a community? What if the people around you find dementia "unpleasant"? While the resources in the back are comprehensive not all are free.It is difficult to assume a stance of patience when you are the one and only caregiver in the home; it is the most isolating job in the world. Sure, we should all get out, but what if you have been told do not leave the patient alone? More, in my opinion, could have been touched upon relative to the "patience" factor, especially if you are in a situation where no one is around and/or in a new community. Other than that, this book does contain a lot of useful information.

I learned about this book at an Alzheimer's Early Stage Support Group. They let me borrow it and after reading it, I knew I needed to own it. to always refer back to it! It would be helpful for just about any disease. As the caretaker of my husband, I needed to accept the journey he is on and to be gentle and understanding with him. This book helped me to understand this and accept that I am on the journey with him and must take control where he is unable to do so at this time in his life. I also had to learn to take care of my own needs and listen to my own inner guidance along with the lessons learned in this book. It may be small, but it's very powerful and a "must read" to give the caregiver a good understanding of what their loved one is going thru and how to best handle it.This is the kind of book that belongs in the Waiting Room of so many doctors offices to expose to family members in how to handle illnesses instead of all the literature from all the drug companies. This would be far more beneficial to people since it can truly open their eyes and provide examples and ways of handling challenges with a family member who is ill.

Useful resource if you have dementia in your caseload.

Being a caregiver I can agree with the statement that with knowledge comes power. Reading has been beneficial to me, so, when I was advised of "I Care" by Jennifer Brush and Kerry Mills it was high on my list to add to my library, hopefully empowering my knowledge and skills. The book is excellent for a short read, definitely a handbook, but one still not lacking an abundance of information on Alzheimer's and dementia. "I Care's" chapter 2, Describing the Brain with Dementia, is an excellent synopsis of dementia and Alzheimer's that's easy to comprehend and understand. This chapter alone is worthy of repetitious reading to aid in the understanding of the changes you witness while on this journey with a loved one. Chapter 7, Taking Care of Yourself, must be mentioned as well, we need to be reminded to take care of ourselves and this chapter strives the importance of it. This is a reasonably priced handbook and an easy read.

If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, and are limited on time, this short book will be a very helpful resource for you. It covers all the major areas you need to consider when helping. It is an easy read, and gets right to the point. As I cared for my husband for nine years, our experiences confirmed the great advice given here.The authors approach care giving as "partnering" so that both the care giver and the loved one are fulfilled. Giving and receiving, learning and helping together. They use testimonials throughout to enhance the principles, from "care partners" they know. One of their key principles is to accept the way things are so that you can have a meaningful experience together. I heartily agreeThe super helpful appendix section contains safety checklists, interview questions for potential care givers, behavioral log chart, and much more. If you can only read one book on this topic, this is the one you need to read.Laurie Pricewww.colorsbylaurie.com

This little book is a powerful source for family members' dealing with a love one with Alzheimer's. It helps one to understand the deficits related to Alzheimer's disease and the effects on the person with memory loss as well as the family. The information given in" The Brain 101" gives a clear explanation of how the brain functions in laymen's terms. The word "partnering" expresses what is needed for the love one and the family. Actual experiences in the book has given a practical applications of how some people have related with the person living with Alzheimer's. I personally have seen the benefits of what is written in this book as well as the changes that are taking place with our elders and staff in our nursing home. Kudos goes to Kerry Mills and Jennifer Bush for sharing their knowledge and experience with all who have this need.