Alzheimer's and other Dementias: Answers at your fingertips, Third Edition (At Your Fingertips)

253 Pages·2008·3.66 MB·English

by  Harry Cayton

Comments on Alzheimer’s and other Dementias: Answers at your
fingertipsfrom readers
‘For carers and families, this book provides a fount of knowledge and
experience that will be invaluable on the journey through dementia. Its
comprehensiveness and clarity ensure it is accessible and excellent value.’
NEIL HUNT,
Chief Executive, Alzheimer’s Society
‘When I was myself diagnosed with vascular dementia, I read this book
and realised that I was not alone. It is a life-saver, literally. Thank you.’
RACHEL CANNING,
Cornwall
‘The advice to carers who are reaching the point of deciding it is time to
think about a nursing home is excellent – spot on.’
FREDERIKA STRADLING,
carer whose mother has dementia, Wiltshire
‘A very easy and informative read for the lay person.’
MRS C S WATSON,
Hampshire
Reviews of previous editions of Alzheimer’s and other Dementias:
Answers at your fingertips
‘This book is for the superb loving carers of those suffering from
Alzheimer’s, and for anyone who wants to help them. Written in a
question-and-answer format, it is the most practical guide you can
imagine. It deals with every aspect of the condition, from its symptoms to
its effects on daily life, ranging from legal and financial implications to
coping with sexual needs to loneliness. It cannot be recommended too
highly to those who need it – and to those who don’t but could benefit from
knowledge of the disease.’
CLAIRE RAYNER,
Mail on Sunday
‘. . . will certainly help anyone whose life has been touched by Alzheimer’s. In
question-and-answer format, it covers every aspect of the disease’s effects . . .’
BERNICE DAVIDSON,
Evening Standard
‘. . . equally valuable reading for home carers and professionals. It is
written in simple language that is easily digested and understood.’
Alzheimer’s News, New Zealand
Comments on previous editions of Alzheimer’s and other Dementias: Answers at
your fingertipsfrom readers
‘Absolutely invaluable – many thanks.’
MRS C NORTON
Devon
‘. . . sympathetic and practical, but never patronising. The book uses
accessible language and achieves a good balance between using lay terms
and scientific terms ... [it is] easy to read, informative and well structured.
I would recommend it to family carers or care workers in a community
or care home setting, as a ready reference source that gives a sound
understanding of dementia, the care needs of a person with dementia
and the caring role.’
CERI RAISBECK,
Information Officer, Dementia Voice
‘It is a wonderful compendium of questions that are so often asked . . . I
have read many books on Alzheimer’s and I must say I believe this is the
most practical one that I have seen.’
JEROME H. STONE, Founder and Honorary Vice President
of Alzheimer’s Disease International, Founder of the Alzheimer’s Association (USA)
and a former carer
‘. . . a book which I am certain will become a bible for the ever-increasing
number of people who have Alzheimer problems in the family.’
KATIE BOYLE
‘... needed to be written, and could scarcely have been better done . . .
nothing is too technical to have daunted the authors, all is simplified
without distortion, and where there is uncertainty it is not hidden, but
an honest judgement is offered.’
PROFESSOR TOM ARIE, CBE, MA, BM, FRCPsych, FFPHM, RASA,
Age Care
Alzheimer’s
and other Dementias
Answers at your fingertips
Harry Cayton
OBE, BA, BPhil, DipAnth, FRSA, FFPH
Chief Executive, Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence
former Chief Executive, Alzheimer’s Society UK
Dr Nori Graham
BM BCh, FRCPsych, DUniv
Emeritus Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry,
Royal Free Hospital, London
former Chairman of Alzheimer’s Disease International
Dr James Warner
BSc, MB BS, MD,
MRCP(UK), MRCPsych, FHEA
Consultant in Older Adults Psychiatry, St Charles Hospital,London
Honorary Senior Lecturer in Old Age Psychiatry,
Imperial College London
CLASS PUBLISHING • LONDON
Text © Harry Cayton, Nori Graham and James Warner, 1997, 1998, 2002,
2004, 2008
Typography © Class Publishing Ltd 2008
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved
above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or
introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise),
without the prior written permission of the publisher of this book.
Harry Cayton, Nori Graham and James Warner assert their right as set out
in Sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,Designs and Patents Act 1988
to be identified as the authors of this work wherever it is published
commercially and whenever any adaptation of this work is published
or produced, including any sound recordings or films made of
or based upon this work.
Printing history
First published 1997, reprinted 1998
Reprinted with revisions 1998
Second edition 2002, reprinted 2004
Third edition 2008
The authors and publisher welcome feedback from the users of this book.
Please contact the publisher:
Class Publishing, Barb House, Barb Mews, London W6 7PA, UK
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone] [International +4420]
email: [email protected]
Website: www.class.co.uk
A CIP catalogue for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 978 1 85959 148 2
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Edited by Gillian Clarke
Cartoons by Linda Moore
Index by Vicki Robinson
Designed and typeset by Martin Bristow
Printed and bound by WS Bookwell, Juva
|
Contents
Foreword
byTony Robinson x
Acknowledgements
xi
Introduction
xii
1 What is dementia?
1
Defining dementia 1
Who will get dementia? 5
Causes of dementia 5
Types of dementia 7
2 What is Alzheimer’s disease?
18
Defining Alzheimer’s disease 18
Who will get Alzheimer’s disease? 21
Causes of Alzheimer’s disease 23
Symptoms and signs 27
Outlook 32
3 Getting a diagnosis
33
The need for diagnosis 34
Seeking a diagnosis 37
The process of diagnosis 40
| v
vi | ALZHEIMER’S AND OTHER DEMENTIAS
Memory tests 44
Blood tests 46
Genetic tests 48
Brain scans 49
Talking about the diagnosis 52
4 Practical care day to day
55
General questions 56
Dressing 58
Personal hygiene 60
Food and drink 65
Keeping healthy 71
Taking pills 72
Sleeping 74
5 Communication and activities
76
Improving communication 77
Memory aids 79
Activities 81
Holidays 84
6 Personal safety
86
Living alone 87
Dangers at home 88
Wandering 91
Driving 93
CONTENTS | vii
7 Behaviour that may cause difficulties
96
Annoying behaviour 96
Losing things 98
Non-recognition 99
Hallucinations 100
Restlessness and agitation 101
Anger and aggression 103
Sexual behaviour 106
Other people’s attitudes 107
8 Carers’ emotions
109
Emotional support 110
Loss and despair 112
Anger and bitterness 113
Sexual feelings 116
Guilt 117
9 Getting help
119
Sources of help and information 120
Spiritual needs 121
Community care 122
Services for people at home 127
Day care 130
Respite care 132
viii | ALZHEIMER’S AND OTHER DEMENTIAS
10 Residential and nursing homes
134
Is a home necessary? 135
Information sources 137
Types of homes 138
Choosing a home 140
Making the move 143
Privacy or company? 145
Possible ill-treatment 146
Visiting 147
11 Legal and financial advice
148
Getting advice 149
Legal safeguards 150
Financial capacity 154
State benefits 157
Other financial help 162
Paying for care home fees 163
12 Treatment
169
Treatment possibilities 169
Dealing with doctors 173
Seeing a specialist 175
Drug treatments 176
Treating symptoms 183
Surgery 190
CONTENTS | ix
Psychological treatments 191
Complementary medicine 193
13 Research
195
Research overview 196
Helping with research 199
Drug trials 201
Other areas of research 203
Glossary
205
Appendix 1: Useful addresses
214
Appendix 2: Some other reading
222
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia 222
Living with dementia 222
Caring 222
Research 223
Biography, autobiography and novels 223
Younger people with dementia 224
For children 224
Index
225