A Loving Approach to Dementia Care: Making Meaningful Connections with the Person Who Has Alzheimer's Disease or Other Dementia or Memory Loss (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)

A special guide helping caregivers stay warmly connected with their loved ones who have memory loss.

Caring for someone with dementia means devotedly and patiently doing a hundred little things each day. Few care providers are trained to meet the challenges of dementia, however―and that is where A Loving Approach to Dementia Care can help. The book offers practical, compassionate advice on overcoming caregiving obstacles and maintaining meaningful relationships with loved ones who have dementia and memory loss.

Laura Wayman’s program of care emphasizes communication, affirmative response, and empowerment―transforming the caregiving process from a burden into a fulfilling journey. Her true stories of caregiving illustrate the principles of this loving approach, giving readers essential tools for connecting with people who have dementia. A practitioner whose strategies have seen great success in thousands of individual homes and facilities across the country, Wayman explains that denying dementia symptoms can make a hard situation worse and shows how understanding the limits and possibilities of the person who has dementia can make all the difference in the world.

In this thoroughly revised edition, Wayman adds fresh caregiving insights, two completely new chapters that explore the dangers of denial by both caregivers and people with memory loss, and the "Dementia-Aware Guide to Caregiving"―a quick reference tool for advice on how to respond to specific difficult behaviors. In addition to offering valuable lessons on providing the best possible care, Wayman urges caregivers not to neglect themselves: take care of yourself so you will have physical and mental energy to share with your loved one. Her practical tips will help you balance your own needs with those of your loved one, creating a more positive experience for everyone. A Loving Approach to Dementia Care is an empathetic guide, filled with respect, calm, creativity―and love.