Dementia Care at a Glance

Dementia Care at a Glance is the perfect companion for health and social care professionals, nurses, students as well as family members and voluntary workers needing information and guidance about dementia care.  Taking a person-centred and interpersonal approach, each chapter outlines an aspect of the experience of living with dementia and the steps that the nurse or healthcare professional can take to support them.

This comprehensive book will assist readers to respond effectively, sensitively and with compassion to people living with dementia in acute settings, as well as in care environments and at home. It acknowledges the challenges that arise for people with dementia, family members and professionals and offers practical solutions based on current thinking and best practice.

• Presented in the bestselling at a Glance format, with superb illustrations and a concise approach
• Covers the common forms and manifestations of dementia, their causes, and how to address them
• Addresses a wide range of topics including, interventions, communication, care planning, medication, therapy, leadership as well as ethical and legal issues
• Takes a positive holistic approach, including not only physical and mental health issues but social and spiritual implications and a person-centred focus throughout
• Suitable for students on a range of healthcare courses
• Supported by a companion website with multiple-choice questions and reflective questions

Laura Ginesi is a Lecturer in Health Sciences at the University of East Anglia.

Bernie Keenan is a Senior Lecturer at Birmingham City University.

Preface viii

Acknowledgements ix

About the companion website x

Part 1 Setting the scene 1

1 Introduction 2

2 The experiences of people with dementia 4

Part 2 Dementia causes and types 7

3 Brain basics 8

4 Progression of dementia 10

5 Alzheimer’s disease 12

6 Vascular dementia 14

7 Less common forms of dementia 16

8 Younger people with dementia 18

9 People with learning disabilities and dementia 20

Part 3 Well-being and response in early stages 23

10 Promoting health to reduce risk of dementia 24

11 Recognition and assessment 26

12 Post-diagnostic advice 28

13 Signposting 30

Part 4 Underpinning principles and skills 33

14 Values: Compassion and dignity 34

15 The work of Tom Kitwood 36

16 Cultural issues 38

17 Spirituality 40

18 Communication 42

19 Common dementia-related problems 44

Part 5 Mental health problems 47

20 Depression in people with dementia 48

21 Delirium in dementia 50

22 Psychosis in people with dementia 52

Part 6 Physical health problems 55

23 Sensory impairment 56

24 Falls 58

25 Nutrition 60

26 Protecting and caring for skin 62

27 Continence 64

28 Constipation 66

Part 7 Interventions 69

29 Exercise and dementia 70

30 Dementia-friendly communities 72

31 Medication for dementia-related problems 74

32 Anti dementia medication 76

33 Medication management 78

34 Cognitive interventions 80

35 Activities for people with dementia 82

36 Creativity and people with dementia 84

37 Music therapy 86

38 Reminiscence 88

39 Life stories and memory boxes 90

40 Reality orientation 92

41 Validation 94

Part 8 The physical environment 97

42 Sensory environments 98

43 Pets: animals as therapy 100

44 Assistive technology 102

45 Design for dementia 104

Part 9 Carers and relationships 107

46 Relationships and dementia 108

47 Sex and sexuality 110

48 Carers’ issues and carer support 112

49 Reducing stress levels for family carers 114

50 Having difficult conversations 116

Part 10 Responding to dementia-related difficulties 119

51 The multi-disciplinary team 120

52 Care planning 122

53 Personal care 124

54 Resistance to care 126

55 Sundowning syndrome and sleep 128

56 Transitions 130

57 Walking 132

58 End-of-life care 134

Part 11 Ethical and legal issues 137

59 Abuse, neglect and safeguarding 138

60 Ethical issues 140

61 Advocacy 142

62 Mental capacity 144

Part 12 The future 147

63 Leadership issues 148

64 Research 150

65 Conclusion 152

References 155

Further reading 156

Index 158

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.