The Dementia Caregiver: A Guide to Caring for Someone with Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurocognitive Disorders

by Marc Agronin

Becoming a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another neurocognitive disorder can be an unexpected, undesirable, underappreciated—and yet noble role. It is heartbreaking to watch someone lose the very cognitive capacities that once helped to define them as a person. But because of the nature of these disorders, the only way to become an effective caregiver and cope with the role’s many daily challenges is to become well-informed about the disease. With the right information, resources and tips on caregiving and working with professionals, you can become your own expert at both caring for your charge and taking care of yourself. In these pages, Marc Agronin guides readers through a better understanding of the changes their loved one may be going through, and helps them tap into the various resources available to them as they embark on an uncertain caregiving journey. Insisting that a caregiver also maintain his or her own health and well being, Agronin guides caregivers in their efforts to provide care, but to also look to themselves as recipients of care from themselves and others. Shedding light on the debilitating disorders themselves as well as their everyday realities, this book is a much-needed resource for anyone caring for another person suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other neurocognitive disorders.

Genres: Nonfiction, Medical

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 16, 2015

Reviews

[Diana Bogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have recommended this book to several other friends faced with caregiving. I think it is a great starting place when you kind of don't even know what you need to ask or have a plan to handle. At the very least it is worth checking out and copying the resource pages in the back of the book. I've sent people links to several of those as different needs have come up.

[Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book by Agronin that I've read. He has a great ability to explain technical detail in an accessible way.

In this book he explains various neurocognitive disorders (NCD), which is an umbrella term that includes Alzheimer's Disease, vascular dementia, Lewy Bodies Disease, FrontoTemperal Dementia, the dementia that can accompany Parkinson's Disease, and NCD due to traumatic brain injury (TBI). There are dozens of other causes for NCD, but these are the dominant kinds.

His book is organized by chronology in how the person with dementia and care partner experience the disease: symptoms, diagnosis, stages of the NCD, treatment, caregiving challenges, and legal matters.

One of the most helpful elements of the books are the vignettes that appear in most chapters--stories about people living with a neurocognitive disorder and how their physicians, family members, and their family caregivers and/or professional caregivers offered support. These help show how to apply the more detailed, technical information in practical ways.

The back matter demonstrates the amount of research Agronin underwent to write the book. It contains a substantial index of books and peer-reviewed scholarly articles. He also provides lists of resources for people with dementia and their care partners.

A sound resource.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who has a loved one or a friend and who has been diagnosed with Dementia, this is an excellent book to read and learn more about the disease. I borrowed it from the library. I usually stir away from self help books as they are usually unrealistic and a dry read, but The Dementia Caregiver was easy to read and very informative.

The author has covered each type of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, caring during mild stages, caring during advanced stages, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, dealing with common medical issues, the legal aspects that may/should be implemented, long-care care, and caring for the caregiver. It was an abundance of useful information that was, again, easy to read plus very educational.

I am the caregiver in this case. My husband was recently diagnosed with early on-set moderate dementia. He is only 57! I learned so many things his neurologist hasn't informed us about. This book has helped me in explaining the type of dementia he has and that this specific one isn't the death sentence. With his medications, he should stay at where he is presently. What a relief!

My oldest, who is also a reader, asked me if he could read it next. He is presently reading it.

I plan on purchasing The Dementia Caregiver. It should be a book in every household who has a loved one with the disease. It is a book that can be reread many times to refresh your memory or to refer to something at a different stage in the disease.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Argonin’s book is recommend for anyone who is looking for a reference guide in helping them to understand what a person with Dementia or other Neurocognitive Disorders is going through. It is filled with resources that will help the caregiver to be better prepared for present and future care of not only the person suffering from brain disorders but also the caregiver themselves. I picked up this book in hopes that it would equip me with tools that would help me to find productive ways to care for my loved one with their best interest in mind and it did just that. It is filled with reassurance, understanding and compassion that can make anyone see that they are not alone on this difficult journey.

[Cheryl Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books out there that takes you through the mechanics of care as a loved one proceeds from mild through severe decline. Most caregiver books focus excessively on caregiver emotional issues (which, yes, is very important, as the caregiver must stay well first and foremost) but fail to get into the nitty gritty of toileting, bed-wetting, skin management, patient behavioral problems, and other care concerns that arise as a dementia patient progresses. I wanted a book that would give me "tricks of the trade" known to CNAs (nursing aides) that come into the home. This book - unlike so many others - covered that. It also gave due time to other non-Alzheimer's dementias, for which I am thankful. Recommended.

[Rev. Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A resource for Psycho-Educational project at Brite Divinity on Caring for Caregivers of person's with Alzheimer's Disease - Becoming a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer s disease or another neurocognitive disorder can be an unexpected, undesirable, underappreciated and yet noble role. It is heartbreaking to watch someone lose the very cognitive capacities that once helped to define them as a person. But because of the nature of these disorders, the only way to become an effective caregiver and cope with the role s many daily challenges is to become well-informed about the disease. With the right information, resources and tips on caregiving and working with professionals, you can become your own expert at both caring for your charge and taking care of yourself. In these pages, Marc Agronin guides readers through a better understanding of the changes their loved one may be going through, and helps them tap into the various resources available to them as they embark on an uncertain caregiving journey. Insisting that a caregiver also maintain his or her own health and well being, Agronin guides caregivers in their efforts to provide care, but to also look to themselves as recipients of care from themselves and others. Shedding light on the debilitating disorders themselves as well as their everyday realities, this book is a much-needed resource for anyone caring for another person suffering from Alzheimer s disease and other neurocognitive disorders.

[Laurah Francoeur · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the end of the full treatment course, the disease is totally under control. No case of dementia, hallucination, weakness, muscle pain or tremors. family doctor started me on Health Herbs Clinic Parkinson's Disease Herbal mixture, 2 months into treatment I improved dramatically. At the end of the full treatment course, the disease is totally under control. No case of dementia, hallucination, weakness, muscle pain or tremors. visit healthherbsclinic . c o m

[Beverly K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book would've been more helpful if it had had more specific information regarding Parkinson's dementia (which was why I had originally selected it), I still found it fascinating. There were a few sections that were applicable to me. Maybe I'll be able to find another book that focuses specifically on PD dementia, even if it's combined with dementia with Lewy bodies.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An all-encompassing guide for those who are caring for someone with a neurocognitive disorder. Agronin uses easy-to-understand language and walks readers through the entire process of care from evaluation/diagnosis to legal concerns and care facilities.
Lost 1 star for some typos.

[Socraticist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars only because this book is ten years old and I wonder what new developments have occurred in that time that the book does not include. Otherwise it seems to cover the topic without getting bogged down in too much detail. . For caregivers it’s a really good resource to start with.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute BEST book I've read so far on caregiving & dementia. Practical, educational, helpful!

[James Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read for anyone who needs a very high lever explanation of almost all ncd’s

[Pamela Sandlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very detail oriented book on the subject. Obviously the result of much research. Just not what I was look for at this particular time. Great reference material if the need arises.

[Judy Benvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Checked this book out from my local library. Wanted to learn more about what a friend was going through. Sure wish I had read this when my folks were alive. Very helpful.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, basic introduction to neurocognitive disorders with an excellent resources section.

[Peggy McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for caregivers, and we need all the help we can get!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned many things before reading the book, but interesting to see them in print. A lot to wrap your brain around....kind of scary too...better keep my brain healthy!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

First let me apologize to library patrons everywhere. I checked this book out ages ago before finally sitting down to study it. I was worried it would be dry and technical and difficult to get through. But what I found was a well-organized easy to read informative book that was helpful despite having many years of caregiving under my belt and being well read on this topic. Marc E. Agronin explains Alzheimer's disease and various other neurocognitive disorders (NCD) and where to seek help for an evaluation. I especially liked the tips for recognizing what stage a person with NCD is in and what steps to take for appropriate care at each stage. He also covers the associated symptoms that come with NCD, like depression, sleep problems, and common medical issues. This was especially helpful in understanding the behavior of my affected person. Agronin also stresses the importance of the good health of the caregiver by offering key suggestions. Topics on legal issues, long-term care, and where to find resources completed this comprehensive look at NCD. Caring for my mother is both difficult and rewarding for my sister and me. This book will help us provide better care in her moderate stage and beyond. I will buy "The Dementia Caregiver" so I can refer to it as needed and highly recommend it to those embarking on a caregiving journey.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marc Agronin has created a great resource for caregivers of alzheimers and dementia patients. This is an easy to read and follow guide which lays out the questions to ask of your doctors, which doctors/specialists to consult, the common meds used and what they are for, and the benefits of participation in research studies (to name a few of the topics discussed). Recently, several of my friends' parents have been diagnosed with alzheimer's disease and it was satisfying to have this book to recommend. It felt useful to have something more to offer than simply my comfort and prayers and for that I am grateful to Dr. Agronin.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dr. Agronin spends the first third of the book describing symptoms and behaviors of various types of dementia patients. I wish he had used this space to provide more practical information on caring for a loved one with dementia. He gets to that, but his book is supposed to be for the caregiver , someone who is already in the trenches doing the work.

[M.E. Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heavy read -- more for reference than a good read unless you need the information. Complete. detailed.

[Carla H.]

I was disappointed with this book. I felt it really didn't offer much insight nor any practical information, which is what I was desperately seeking.

[Jennifer FitzPatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Agronin's book is a great read for those taking care of someone who has dementia. It details all the different kinds of dementia and best practices for keeping someone healthy and safe.