The Alzheimer's Disease Bookstore

Alzheimer's Disease: FAQ

(Frequently Asked Questions)

by Frena Gray-Davidson

If you suspect or have recently discovered that someone you care about has Alzheimer's disease, you are about to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery. Alzheimer's Disease: FAQ provides you with compassionate, practical answers to your most difficult questions and explains how to cope with the painful personal issues and dilemmas of this disease.

Written in the popular question-and-answer format, this book supplies sympathetic, pragmatic answers about all aspects of Alzheimer's, including the latest medical facts, the many myths associated with the disease, the medical community's current position on treatment, and research developments. It also provides you with how-tos for making legal and medical decisions and finding good care options.

As a caregiver, moving on after the devastation of Alzheimer's requires the ability to bring closure to the journey. This book explores ways in which education and acceptance can lead to successful management of the disease, for both patient and caregiver. Through this difficult rite of passage, Alzheimer's Disease: FAQ distills the experiences of hundreds of caregivers facing a wide range of Alzheimer's issues into a meaningful and fulfilling experience.

FRENA GRAY-DAVIDSON, author of Alzheimers Sourcebook for Caregivers, is a self-described "Alzheimer's foor soldier," having learned almost everything she knows about Alzheimer's care from people with the disease. She is the director of SHACTI (Self-Help Alzheimer's Caregivers' Training and Information) and conducts workshops and training sessions nationally and internationally for both family members and health professionals.

THE AUTHOR SAYS: "I learned Alzheimer's from people with Alzheimer's. I listened, watched, interacted and responded for twelve years. From this, I have discovered the unique mysteries of Alzheimer's communication, what so-called problem behaviors are really about and how people with Alzheimer's can be nurtured to grow in heart and spirit, even within the losses of this illness. I'm happy to share this knowledge with others."

OTHERS SAY:

"Frena Gray-Davidson is a talented, knowledgeable and warm person..." American Society of Aging.

"Frena has applied her own creative insight to the problems of daily living associated with Alzheimer's disease to develop an innovative and insightful approach to planned caregiving for affected individuals." Jan Lord, MD, Specialist in Rehabilitation Medicine

"I believe Frena's work is unique and valuable in terms of the understanding she has of...those who have Alzheimer's disease. It is rare to find someone who can constantly search for hands-on solutions to caregiving which support both the person with Alzheimer's and the caregiver." Connee Pence, Director, Mount Diablo Alzheimer Day Care Program

"Frena has a unique and charismatic style...I highly recommend her." Sheila Baltimore, Co-ordinator, Berkeley Recovery Center, California

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1. Light for the Journey

Chapter 2. The Caring Bystander

Chapter 3. Alzheimer's Up to Date

Chapter 4. Family Crisis, Alzheimer Style

Chapter 5. Education and Acceptance: The Secret of Alzheimer Success

Chapter 6. Talking Alzheimer Talk

Chapter 7. Dealing with Difficult Problems

Chapter 8. Help from Alternative Medicine

Chapter 9. Is Anybody Home? The Inner Journey of Alzheimer's
Chapter 10. Unconditional Love

Chapter 11. Letting Go

Chapter 12. Approaching the End

Chapter 13. Achieving a Sense of Closure

Appendix A Bibliography

Appendix B Resources

Appendix C Agency on Aging

Index

 

About Frena Gray-Davidson:

Author

The Alzheimer's Sourcebook, Lowell House, first published 1996, 3rd edition 1999.

Alzheimer's Disease FAQ: Making Sense of the Journey, Lowell House, 1998, 2nd ed. 1999.

Forthcoming: When Your Parent Has Alzheimer's, Sage Books, 1999

14 Published fiction and non-fiction books, many in the field of health and healing.

Born and educated in Britain, worked as a journalist, travel writer and broadcaster in Asia for 15 years before coming to live in the US in 1 1986.

Alzheimer's

Hands-on caregiver for twelve years at home, in respite programs, in longterm care institutions and in small care homes

Support Group Facilitator for the Alzheimer's Association for five years.

Founding Director of Alzheimer's Education nonprofit SHACTI

Founder and editor of MEMO, a newsletter for the Adult Children of Parents With Alzheimer's

Certified Activity Director

Ombudsman for Longterm Care, State of Oregon

Manager Small Care Home, Oregon

Educator

Alzheimer's Disease Society of Great Britain

Department of Aging, American Samoa

Department of Aging, State of Hawaii

State Association of Nursing Homes, Florida

Alzheimer's Association of North Dakota

Alzheimer's Association of Montana

Ombudsman for Longterm Care, State of Montana

Morton Plante Hospital, Florida

Bethany Homes, Minnesota

Lane Community College, Oregon

Training

Alzheimer's Care Facilities

Small Care Homes

Hospitals

Respite Programs Alzheimer Conferences

Community Awareness

Public Lectures

Television Appearances, PBS

Radio Talk Shows, National Public Radio