Dementia: Alzheimer's and Other Dementias--The 'at Your Fingertips' Guide

235 Pages·2002·2.48 MB·English

by  Harry Cayton

AT YOURFINGERTIPS
D
EMENTIA
Alzheimer’s and other dementias
‘This book cannot be recommended too highly’
Claire Rayner, Mail on Sunday
SECOND EDITION
Harry Cayton • Dr Nori Graham
Dr James Warner
Dementia R/P 2004 23/9/04 9:20 am Page i
Comments on Dementia – ‘at your fingertips
guide’ from readers
‘It is a wonderful compendium of questions that are so often asked
... I have read many 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
‘... contains important information that family members will find
to be most beneficial in the management of Alzheimer’s Disease.’
Edward Truschke, President of the Alzheimer’s Association (USA)
‘an excellent book that will be useful to many people who look after
those with dementia’
Dr John Wattis MD FRCPsyc, Chairman of the Old Age Section
of the Royal College of Psychiatry
‘Many congratulations on a really useful book ... One of its strong
points is the everpresent spirit of compassion for sufferer and
carer alike. Thank you most warmly ... for what you have done ...
to help carers’
Ewart Myer, 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
‘... absolutely superb for...carers because although it gives such
splendid advice as to how they should cope with the one they care
for it never steps on their toes or makes them feel guilty. It also
answers all the questions that we are asked continually...’
Audrey Lees, Alzheimer’s Disease Society (UK)
Dementia R/P 2004 23/9/04 9:20 am Page ii
Comments on Dementia – ‘at your fingertips
guide’ from readers
‘The style of standing in the shoes of a potential sufferer, the
families of sufferers and those in the community with an interest
in posing all the questions that bug and worry people will I’m sure
prove a most practical guide to Alzheimer’s’
Baroness Blatch CBE
‘... 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
‘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 and 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 Davison, Evening Standard
‘Answers to hundreds of questions are contained in an
indispensable new handbook.’
Jenny Hope, Daily Mail
‘an authoritative book giving information and advice to carers’
Daily Mirror
Dementia R/P 2004 23/9/04 9:20 am Page iii
DEMENTIA
Alzheimer’s
and other dementias
Harry Cayton OBE, BA, BPhil, Dip Anth, FRSA
Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society
Professor Nori Graham BM, BCH, FRCPsych, D Univ
Emeritus Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry, Royal Free Hospital,
London and Chairman of Alzheimer’s Disease International
Dr James Warner BSc, MB, BS, MRCP(UK), MRCPsych
Senior Lecturer in Old Age Psychiatry, Imperial College School
of Medicine; Honorary Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry,
St Charles Hospital, London
CLASS PUBLISHING • LONDON
Dementia R/P 2004 23/9/04 9:20 am Page iv
© Harry Cayton, Nori Graham, James Warner 2002, 2004
Typography © Class Publishing (London) Ltd
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 and means
(electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the
prior written permission of the publisher of this book
The authors assert their rights 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 publisher commercially and whenever any
adaptation of this work is published or produced including any sound
recordings or files made of or based upon this work.
Printing history
First published 1997
Reprinted 1998
Reprinted with revisions 1998
Second edition 2002
Reprinted 2004
The author and the publishers welcome feedback from the users of this book.
Please contact the publishers.
Class Publishing (London) Ltd,
Barb House, Barb Mews, London W6 7PA
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone] [International +4420]
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 1 85959 075 6
Edited and typeset by Ruth Midgley
Printed and bound in Finland by WS Bookwell, Juva
Contents
Foreword by Dr. Jonathan Miller, CBE ix
Acknowledgements x
INTRODUCTION xi
CHAPTER 1 What is dementia
Introduction 1
Defining dementia 2
Who will get dementia? 4
Causes of dementia 5
Types of dementia 7
CHAPTER 2 What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Introduction 17
Defining Alzheimer’s disease 18
Who will get Alzheimer’s disease? 20
Causes of Alzheimer’s disease 22
Symptoms and signs 25
Outlook 29
CHAPTER 3 Getting a diagnosis
Introduction 30
The need for diagnosis 31
Seeking a diagnosis 33
The process of diagnosis 36
v
vi Dementia: Alzheimer’s and other dementias
Memory tests 40
Blood tests 41
Genetic tests 43
Brain scans 44
Talking about the diagnosis 47
CHAPTER 4 Practical care day to day
Introduction 50
General questions 51
Dressing 53
Personal hygiene 54
Food and drink 60
Taking pills 65
Sleeping 67
CHAPTER 5 Communication and activities
Introduction 69
Improving communication 70
Memory aids 72
Activities 74
Holidays 77
CHAPTER 6 Personal safety
Introduction 79
Living alone 80
Dangers at home 80
Wandering 83
Driving 85
CHAPTER 7 Behaviour that may cause difficulties
Introduction 87
Annoying behaviour 88
Losing things 89
Non-recognition 90
Hallucinations 91
Restlessness and agitation 92
Anger and aggression 94
Sexual behaviour 97
Contents vii
Other people’s attitudes 98
CHAPTER 8 Carers’emotions
Introduction 99
Emotional support 100
Loss and despair 102
Anger and bitterness 103
Sexual feelings 105
Guilt 106
CHAPTER 9 Getting help
Introduction 108
Sources of help and information 109
Spiritual needs 110
Community care 111
Services for people at home 117
Day care 120
Respite care 121
CHAPTER 10 Residential and nursing homes
Introduction 123
Is a home necessary? 124
Information sources 126
Types of homes 127
Choosing a home 129
Making the move 132
Privacy or company 133
Possible ill treatment 134
Visiting 135
CHAPTER 11 Legal and financial advice
Introduction 136
Getting advice 137
Legal safeguards 138
Financial incompetence 141
Benefits 143
Paying for care home fees 150
viii Dementia: Alzheimer’s and other dementias
CHAPTER 12 Treatment
Introduction 156
Treatment possibilities 157
Dealing with doctors 160
Seeing a specialist 162
Drug treatments 162
Treating symptoms 168
Surgery 174
Psychological treatments 175
Complementary medicine 177
CHAPTER 13 Research
Introduction 179
Research overview 180
Experimental treatments 183
Helping with research 184
Drug trials 185
Other areas of research 187
GLOSSARY 190
APPENDIX 1
Useful addresses 198
APPENDIX 2
Some other reading 203
INDEX 205
Foreword
by Dr. JONATHAN MILLER, CBE
President of the Alzheimer’s Society
There can be few situations more distressing than watching
the gradual mental disintegration of a parent, partner or
friend as they drift away into the grip of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease and the other dementias may destroy the
sense of past and of present in the person who has the disease
but they can also shatter the lives of those who care for them.
The burden for carers is great: physical, mental and
emotional. But all burdens can be shared. The experience of
other carers, knowledge of dementias and knowing where to
get help all make the caring task easier.
That is where this book makes an invaluable contribution
to understanding all forms of dementia. It is down to earth,
sensible and realistic. It deals with very many of the questions
you may want to ask and gives straightforward, practical
answers. The format means that you can dip into it as and
when you want to and quickly find the answer to the problem
you have at that time.
Between them the authors of this book have great
experience of looking after people with dementia and helping
their carers. In compiling the questions to be answered they
have drawn on the ideas and interests of carers themselves.
As President of the Alzheimer’s Society I know how
important bringing together professionals and family
members to share knowledge and experience can be. This
book will be essential for all those involved in caring for
people with dementia and advising their families.