The Best Friends Book of Alzheimer's Activities, Vol. 1 [Paperback]

Virginia Bell (Author), David Troxel (Author), Tonya M. Cox (Author), Robin Hamon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2004

Bring out the best in each person with dementia each day with more than 140 versatile, easy-to-implement Best Friends activities. Thousands of caregivers around the world know that providing Best Friends' care improves the quality of life of people with dementia by building on the essential elements of friendship; respect, empathy, support, trust, humor, and sharing time together. Using the Best Friends approach to activities, anyone on staff can turn any interaction with a resident or client into an activity that satisfies essential physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Each activity contains suggestions for personalizing the activity and matching it to the remaining strengths of the individual to ensure success and reduce challenging behaviors. The Best Friends Book of Alzheimer's Activities is chock full of inspiring and innovative ideas on how to: convert everyday activities into those with "knack"; create new activities out of tried-and-true activities; provide activities between structured programs/events; increase self-esteem; adapt activities for people with late dementia; provide opportunities for connecting to others; create intergenerational experiences; use the person's life story in any activity; make activities out of personal care; conduct activities specifically for men; fill evening hours to alleviate sundowning; provide "take-away" activities for family caregivers to use at home; incorporate exercise into activities; use the Internet to expand and enrich activities. Many activities can be conducted spontaneously, with simple props, engaging older people in meaningful activity for extended periods. Best Friends activities are adult-oriented and flexible enough for staff and residents to add their own ideas. Special features include a list of the latest and most effective resources for activity professionals and helpful tips on communicating with people with dementia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 199 pages
• Publisher: Health Professions Pr; 1 edition (September 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1878812882
• ISBN-13: 978-1878812889
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,636 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > Medical Books > Nursing > Home & Community Health
  • #43 in Books > Medical Books > Nursing > LPN & LVN
  • #59 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Disorders & Diseases > Nervous System

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Alzheimer's Resource, September 19, 2007

By 

D. C. Parrotta "Non-profit book reader" (Southern Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best Friends Book of Alzheimer's Activities, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

As an owner of 2 assisted living homes in Arizona, we are always looking for new and innovative ways to incorporate different activities into the residents' day. We ordered the first book in this series to try out the activities. Needless to say, we're ordering the remaining books because it has become such a hit!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Friends Book of Alzheimer's Activities, March 26, 2008

By 

Melanie Anderson (Columbia, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best Friends Book of Alzheimer's Activities, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

As the Executive Director of an assisted living community, I am ultimately responsible for resident care and activities in our dementia unit. The Best Friend approach is the best philosophy around for providing resident care in our setting. The Best Friends Book of Alzheimer's Activities is user friendly; it shows how simple, day to day activities can work to make residents feel a sense of connection and accomplishment.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Activities for the elderly, January 16, 2008

By 

Amy L. Krzeszewski (charlotte, Nc) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best Friends Book of Alzheimer's Activities, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

This book is a great resource for families, friends, and professionals working with elderly individuals in general and especially those with dementia and other memory disorders. It provides excellent activity ideas along with great ideas on modifying activities to increase the impact and benefit for both patients and caregivers. it is an excellent resource for activity departments, therapists working with elderly, organizers for groups of elderly individuals and family members trying to maintain or enhance the lives of their loved ones.