In the Caregiver's Guide to Dementia: Using Activities and Other Strategies to Prevent, Reduce and Manage Behavioral Symptoms, authors Laura Gitlin, Ph.D. and Catherine Verrier Piersol, Ph.D., OTR/L offer easy-to-use, practical ideas to help caregivers navigate daily challenges and behaviors common with Alzheimer's and dementia through the use of activities and other techniques. Separate sections cover daily activities, effective communication, caregiver's self-care, and more. A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia also has a section on difficult behaviors and gives practical ideas to manage:Agitation, repetitive questions, acting-out, and restlessness
- Wandering, hoarding, and resistance to care
- Incontinence and sexually and socially inappropriate acts
- Aggressiveness and destructiveness
- Depression, and sleep disturbances
Worksheets are provided to help caregivers customize the strategies that work best for them. Through their research studies, the authors have found these strategies to be most helpful for families dealing with dementia.
Laura N. Gitlin, Ph.D. is Professor of Community Public Health and Director of the Center for Innovative Care in Aging at Johns Hopkins University.
Catherine Verrier Piersol, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Clinical Director of Jefferson Elder Care at Thomas Jefferson University.
