The Comfort of Home for Alzheimer's Disease: A Guide for Caregivers (Paperback)

by Maria M. Meyer (Author), Ph.D. Mary Mittelman Ph.D. (Author), Cynthia Epstein (Author), Paula Derr (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Alzheimer's disease does not play favorites; it affects people of every income and education level. This increasingly common condition robs patients' cognitive and functional abilities, forcing caregivers to be on duty 24 hours a day. Consequently, Alxheimer's often takes a serious, unexpected toll on those who nurse the patient, inflicting significant emotional distress, depression, and anxiety. This entry in the Comfort of Home series shows family and para-professional home caregivers how to be ready for all of Alzheimer’s stages, with special emphasis on how to provide physical, day-to-day care safely and without conflict. Some of the important topics covered here include responding to problem behaviors, arranging the home to make it safe and comfortable, purchasing equipment, traveling with Alzheimer's patients, handling emergencies, and communicating with healthcare professionals to get effective service. Each chapter contains a wealth of tips to reduce caregiver stress, while special sections offer strategies for preventing the kind of burnout all too common in this field.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: CareTrust Publications (August 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978790308
• ISBN-13: 978-0978790301
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #785,390 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have reading, August 6, 2008

By	Reader Views "www.readerviews.com" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Reviewed by Carol Hoyer for Reader Views (7/08)

This is an exceptional book that gives the reader tips on how to care for family members with Alzheimer's Disease. Each chapter discusses some behaviors caregivers might encounter along with tips on how to make the home safe.

The goal of the book is to help family members with Alzheimer's to stay at home for as long as they can before having to go into a nursing home. The chapter on reducing frustration for family members was very interesting and informative. Ideas on how to reduce this frustration included information on noise levels, changing of furniture and daily routines. The author also gave resources on how to look for nursing homes, what one needed to do to prepare the family member for the move and addressing end-of-life issues.

"The Comfort of Home for Alzheimer's Disease: A Guide for Caregivers" would be a wonderful resource to have; it was easy to read and the suggestions were very helpful.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide for Alzheimer's Caregivers, June 30, 2008

By	RebeccasReads.com (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Reviewed by Mary Durfor for RebeccasReads (6/08)


"The Comfort of Home for Alzheimer's Disease, A Guide for Caregivers" is an excellent reference book for anyone who is involved in the care of an Alzheimer's patient. The book is well organized, clearly written, with some very simple and effective forms that can be copied and used to ensure that all caregivers have the essential information they need to provide competent care. The authors emphasize the need for the caregivers to obtain support for themselves, and give practical advice about where to go and who to contact for assistance.

The book is divided into three sections. Part One: Getting Ready gives the background about the disease so the reader has a foundation of understanding. This section deals with the physical changes and mental challenges that the typical Alzheimer's patient will go through. There is concrete, practical advice about how to set up a safe environment for providing care, as well as how to find, screen, and hire additional caregivers to manage the stress and workload for the main caregiver. Information is provided to assist with financial, legal and medical planning. The health care needs of the Alzheimer's patient are detailed, with tips on how to handle these needs. Part Two: Day-by-Day Living with Alzheimer's Disease is extremely helpful, with suggestions on following a simple, written plan of activities for a typical day, so all caregivers can keep a similar schedule to minimize disruption for the patient, which is often frightening and confusing to these patients. Caregiver burnout is explored, with a checklist to prompt the caregiver about what some of the signs and symptoms might be. Suggestions for improving communication are clear and practical, and the specifics of exactly how to provide hands-on care are provided. Part Three: Additional Resources gives contact information for the many organizations dedicated to helping Alzheimer's patients' caregivers with their daunting task of providing full-time care in this sometimes overwhelming and frustrating disease. A helpful glossary of terms the caregiver will encounter during their journey is provided, and the Index is quite helpful in navigating the book for specific issues.

As a 30-year veteran of the home care industry, I feel that I am qualified to provide meaningful commentary on this particular book. I am a Registered Nurse, with a Master's degree in Nursing, and I would recommend this book be a part of every library where any healthcare worker or layperson who is involved in the care of Alzheimer's patients can use it for planning, teaching, monitoring and evaluating the care that they are providing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly 'user friendly', April 2, 2008

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

It is the desire and preference of most elderly men and women to live out the last years of their lives in the comfort and familiarity of their homes or the homes of their children. It is almost always the preferred option, delaying the necessity of placement into an assisted living facility or a nursing home. Specifically designed as a guide to caregivers of Alzheimer patients, "The Comfort Of Home For Alzheimer's Disease" is the collaborative work of Maria M. Meyer, Mary S. Mittleman, Cynthia Epstein, and Paula Derr intended to help aging men and women to remain safely at home for as long as possible. The focus of "The Comfort Of Home For Alzheimer's Disease" is to help caregivers understand the difficult behaviors that arise from the affliction of Alzheimers, to make the home safe and comfortable, to reduce the chance of frustration-born conflict and make everyday activities easier for their charges, for dedicated caregivers to take care of themselves with practical self-care tips, to work with the health care providers in behalf of their charges, and to decide when and if nursing home placement is appropriate. Of special note is the necessity for understanding end-of-life health care needs and the necessary documents to guide caregivers when the time comes. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "The Comfort Of Home For Alzheimer's Disease" should be considered an essential study for anyone charged with providing care for a loved one suffering from Alzheimers. Also very highly recommended from Care Trust Publications is the companion title "The Comfort Of Home For Chronic Lung Disease: A Guide For Caregivers" (9780978790318, $24.95) by Maria M. Meyer, Paula Derr, and Mary E. Gilmartin.