Changing the Culture for Dementia Care The Path to a Better Quality of Life for People with Alzheimer's Disease

An innovative new book prescribing the path to a better way of life for people with Alzheimer€s disease and other forms of dementia. Written by Randy L. Griffin, a recognized expert in the field of dementia care, the book examines why people with dementia are often misunderstood by their families, by their caregivers and by society as a whole. Whether you€re a healthcare Administrator, Nurse, Food Service Director, Recreation Therapist, Occupational or Physical Therapist, Social Worker - or a family member, caregiver or caring friend - this book walks you through the steps necessary for a dementia unit to provide specialized, compassionate care.

Randy draws upon more than 30 years of experience to lead readers down a path toward creating a new culture that is rich with compassion, understanding and emotional nourishment. €œLife has changed in countless ways for individuals,€ she says, €œand it€s our responsibility to ensure they continue to live a life that€s both meaningful and worthwhile.€

Illustrated through numerous personal examples, Changing the Culture for Dementia Care will show you how:

* The quality of life can be improved for people with dementia if we treat the €œwhole€ person and not just the individual€s symptoms
* Family members hold the key to a person€s legacy and can help us demystify their behaviors
* Modifications in how we provide care can vastly improve an individual€s sense of dignity and well-being
* Dining can be an occasion for emotional and sensory enrichment, as well as physical nourishment
* Long-term care facilities can find new ways to enlighten and educate their staff by conducting a simple training needs analysis (included)
* Culture change can be achieved through an integrative holistic approach to caregiving