Failure-Free Activities for the Alzheimer Patient: A Guidebook for Caregivers

FROM THE PUBLISHER

For a victim of Alzheimer's disease, the day is often filled with failures and obstacles. The safe, reassuring activities in this book have many benefits-from letting the patient feel capable and involved to helping to keep the world from slipping away. The activities also become a goldmine of ideas for helping relatives and friends interact in a positive way with the Alzheimer's patient.

From scrapbooks and sing-alongs to outings, baking, and life collages, clear illustrated instructions make each activity easy to do, and thoughtful appendices give sources for supplies and further help. And each of the more than 40 activities is designed to: Raise the patient's self-esteem Relieve boredom Reduce feelings of isolation Develop and use remaining skills Promote involvement with reality Emphasize asets rather than deficits.

The activities are described clearly and are effectively illustrated by computer generated drawings showing the activity being used. The activities are arranged in topical chapters such as music, exercise, craft, food preparation, gardening, family games, solo activities etc. The caregiver can gain suggestions to use when family members and friends visit to help make the visit productive and meaningful for both visitor and patient.

FROM THE CRITICS

John Woods - Modern Maturity

To help you in caring for someone with dementia...read Failure-Free Activities for the Alzheimer's Patient.

Antelope Valley Press

A first-of-its-kind book...may pay off for the thousands of people who are trying to decide how best to help people with Alzheimer's.

Tom Deachman

A great little book! ...Caregivers love it, and I'll say without reservation that no caregiver and no long-term caregiver facility should be without it. Under broad headings such as music, family games and reminiscence, it is crammed full of practical and imaginative ways to -as the author puts it- "bring moment-to-moment satisfaction to the Alzheimer's patient," at the same time wisely cautioning that not all suggestions will be appropriate for all patients. The book is clearly written, with plenty of illustrations and has step-by-step instructions for all activities. Author Sheridan knows her topic.
—Canadian Alzheimer's Society Newsletter

Senior Life

Anyone associated with a victim of Alzheimer's disease should be most grateful for the suggestions and attitudes put forth in this book. It contains a treasure house of ideas. This is an easily understood and very readable book that should be most welcome to anyone dealing with Alzheimer's. (Nov., '88)

Family Caregiver Alliance

Failure-Free Activities for the Alzheimer's Patient provides easy-to-understand activities...non technical...excellent for the lay reader. (Family Caregiver Alliance, 1989)

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

This book is for all caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease. It is well-written, easy to use and really helpful. For those who suffer from dementia the day is often filled with failures, mistakes, and frustrations. Often caregivers don't know what to do to help relieve those feelings. This book offers simple activities which help self-esteem while at the same time releiving boredom and frustrations.

Suggestions are given on the use of music, exercise, food preparation, crafts, gardening, solo activities, family games, and reminiscence with the purpose of bringing moment-to-moment satisfaction to the person with dementia. It stresses that not all activities will be appropriate for all persons and that the reaermust exercise good judgment in using them. Emphasis is placed on assets rather than deficits and the use of the abilities that remain.

Caregivers who are already putting in a 36 hour day will find that the information offered can minimize stress for them and their relative. This book is a must for family and professional caregivers alike. (Mary Anderson, Insight, Bifolkal Productions, '89) — Mary Anderson

A splendid volume...my patients relatives find it very helpful. (Professor GK Wilcock BSc DM FRCP, Alzheimer's Disease Society, United Kingdom)  — G. K. Wilcock

What's been notably lacking in Alzheimer's management up to now, was a good handbook of systematized activities with the prime emphasis on minimizing the possibility of failure. Now I'm happy to announce there's at last such a book Failure-Free Activities for the Alzheimer's Patient. (Dr. Frank MacInnis, Canadian Syndicated Health Columnist, 1988) REVIE — Frank MacInnis