Few families are untouched by Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. Moving accounts of what it is like to care for someone with this disease have already been published, as well as how-to books that offer caregivers advice and information on coping. But this book is the first to provide a comprehensive report of what it is like to have dementia oneself--the subjective experience of living with progressive memory loss.Each chapter discusses a different aspect of having dementia, from the initial assessment and diagnosis through placement in a nursing home. The discussions are grounded in qualitative research and case studies, which convey the variable and personal nature of the experience. They seek to help clinicians, researchers, students, and caregivers (both professionals and family members) understand the experience of dementia, and thereby to promote better caregiving through a person-centered approach.Contributors: Kathleen Kahn-Denis, Judson Retirement Community; Casey Durkin, a psychotherapist in Cleveland, Ohio; Jane Gilliard, Dementia Voice, UK; Phyllis Braudy Harris, John Carroll University; John Keady, University of Wales, UK; John Killick, University of Stirling, UK; Rebecca G. Logsdon, University of Washington; Charlie Murphy, University of Stirling, UK; Alison Phinney, University of British Columbia, Canada; Steven R. Sabat, Georgetown University; Dorothy Seman, Alzheimer's Family Care Center, Chicago; Lisa Snyder, University of California, San Diego; Jane Stansell, Alzheimer's Family Care Center, Chicago; Gloria Sterin, Shaker Heights, Ohio; Jon C. Stuckey, Messiah College; Robyn Yale, Consultant to the Alzheimer's Association, San Francisco; Rosalie Young, Wayne State University School of Medicine.

Drawing on contributions from researchers and clinicians who have gathered information from a wide variety of sources, this book presents the day-to-day experience of living with dementia in the words of the people themselves. The book's originality lies in the evidence it brings to bear on the active and able manner in which people with dementia live with the condition. There are no comparable books published in this area. This will be a key text in dementia studies. -- Murna Downs, University of Bradford This book is essential reading for everyone providing care. It moves beyond negative stereotypes to explore the richness and complexity of personhood with dementia. -- Nancy L. Maceco-, author of The 36-Hour Day

Contents: List of Contributors Acknowledgments Introduction - Phyllis Braudy Harris Prologue: Notes from The Crying Room - Gloria J. Stern Part 1: The Medical Experience 1 Testing Times: The Experience of Neuropsychological Assessment for People with Suspected Alzheimer's Disease - John Keady and Jane Gilliard 2 Medical Experiences and Concerns of People with Alzheimer's Disease - Rosalie F. Young Part 2: The Impact of the Diagnosis on Everyday Life 3 Living with the Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease - Alison Phinney 4 Making the Most of Everyday: Quality of Life - Rebecca G. Logsdon 5 Selfhood and Alzheimer's Disease - Steven R. Sabat 6 Social and Family Relationships: Establishing and Maintaining Connections - Lisa Snyder 7 Meaningful Communication throughout the Journey: Clinical Observations - Dorothy Seman 8 Connecting to the Spirit - Jon C. Stuckey 9 Building Resilience through Coping and Adapting - Phyllis Braudy Harris and Casey Part 3: Experiences with Fornal Services 10 The Experience of People with Dementia in Community Services - Charlie Murphy 11 Volunteerism: Contributions by Persons with Alzheimer's Disease - Jane Stansell 12 The Experience of Support Groups for Persons with Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease and Their Families - Robyn Yale and Lisa Snyder 13 The Person with Dementia and Artwork: Art Therapy - Kathleen Kahn-Denis 14 "I Can't Place This Place at All": The Nursing Home Experience - John Killick Index