Dr Ruth's Guide for the Alzheimer's Caregiver: How to Care for Your Loved One without Getting Overwhelmed...and without Doing It All Yourself

by Ruth K. Westheimer, Pierre A. Lehu

Overview

Dr. Ruth, a trusted name in relationship therapy, presents effective coping strategies for both the practical problems and emotional stresses of Alzheimer's care. More than 15 million Americans are responsible for the care of a loved one with Alzheimer's disease, a situation that can quickly lead to feeling overwhelmed while trying to balance between the full-time needs of a dependent adult and the caregiver's own physical and mental health. The tactics and resources presented in this book build confidence in the caregiver and provide health-guided advice on how to avoid burnout, seek support from family and friends, resolve family disputes, maintain a loving relationship with a spouse or parent with Alzheimer's, manage behavior, and make the home a safe environment. Keeping the best interests of everyone involved in mind, the guide also details how to coordinate effectively with doctors, facilities, and other care providers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781610351362
Publisher:	Linden Publishing
Publication date:	10/05/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	188
File size:	365 KB

About the Author

Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer is a psychosexual therapist who pioneered frank and open discourse about sexual matters on the radio with her program Sexually Speaking, which expanded into a communications network that has included television, books, newspapers, games, home video, computer software, and the web. She is the author of more than 30 books. Pierre A. Lehu has been Dr. Ruth's minister of communications for 30 years, serving as her publicist and a coauthor. They have collaborated on more than a dozen books. They both live in New York City.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction ix

Part 1 Advice from Dr. Ruth

Chapter 1 How to Help Yourself 3

Chapter 2 Feelings 14

Chapter 3 You Get to Have a Life, Too 41

Chapter 4 When You're Taking Care of Your Spouse 51

Chapter 5 When You're Taking Care of a Parent or Other Relative 72

Chapter 6 Dealing with Professional Caregivers 83

Chapter 7 Helping Children and Grandchildren Cope 96

Part 2 Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Chapter 8 Treating Alzheimer's 107

Chapter 9 Tips for Caregivers 128

Chapter 10 Where You Can Get Help 157

Chapter 11 Facilities 168

Chapter 12 Legal and Financial Issues 173

Appendix Internet Resources 180

Index 182

About the Authors 187

Editorial Reviews

One of the best books I've ever read on Alzheimer's caregiving. Jam-packed with practical, hands-on, down-to-earth information ... a must-read for anyone caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's. —Marie Marley, Huff/Post50

Caregivers will find the answers to even the most awkward questions in this down-to-earth guide. All [caregivers] can benefit from Dr. Ruth's advice ... Dr. Ruth is an empathetic guide. An excellent, commonsense guide to a heartbreaking disease —Karen Springen, Booklist

Westheimer focuses unflinchingly on the well being of the caregiver. She steadfastly reminds readers that to effectively take care of their loved ones, they must take care of themselves ... equips [caregivers] with a steady foundation. —Melissa Anne Wuske, ForeWord Reviews

Sex therapist Westheimer details coping strategies for caregivers. Westheimer draws on ... her training and experience in behavioral therapy to describe how to deal with stress and feelings like guilt and anger; accept help from others; and have a life. —Reference and Research Book News

Practical advice ... not to be overlooked. "Dr. Ruth's Guide for the Alzheimer's Care Giver" is a strong addition to any caregiver's reference collection, highly recommended. —Midwest Book Review

From handling family disputes and maintaining a relationship with an Alzheimer's sufferer to handling doctors and care facilities, this is a top recommendation for any health collection. —California Bookwatch

"Many books for caregivers skirt around important aspects of day-to-day caregiving, such as sexuality. "Dr. Ruth's Guide for the Alzheimer's Caregiver" provides realistic and practical assistance to help caregivers cope with daily challenges." —Linsey Norton, Program Director of the Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Kansas

A fine book .... With extreme sensitivity, Westheimer and Lehu offer comfort and direction for caregivers who want to avoid being ovewhelmed. For Boomers, elders, and caregivers, "Dr. Ruth's Guide for the Alzheimer's Caregiver" sheds a lot of light. —Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm Sez

From the Publisher

Iconic sex therapist Westheimer (coauthor, Sex For Dummies) has done it again! Thanks to this celebrity author's knack for making readers feel at ease with some of their most personal questions, families dealing with Alzheimer's disease now have a down-to-earth guide to help them. Caregivers (and their attendant questions and needs) are the focus of this work, but anyone who wants to know more about Alzheimer's will find it useful and informative. Caregiving for spouses and parents are detailed in separate chapters, as is the topic of dealing with professional caregivers. Most valuable is the chapter discussing how to help children and grandchildren cope with the parent or grandparent who is changing in ways youngsters may not understand. Part 1 provides information but focuses on the emotional needs of families dealing with this tragic disease. Part 2 is more factual and discusses practical issues, such as sundowner's syndrome, how to "elder-proof" your home, how to communicate effectively with a person with Alzheimer's, the inheritability of the disease, and current treatments. VERDICT This useful book is great for individual carers and is the perfect adjunct to support groups for families dealing with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia.—Frances Mentch, Cleveland State Univ. Lib.

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