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Making Tough Decisions about End-of-Life Care in Dementia
Each year, more than 500,000 people are diagnosed with dementia in the United States. As stunning as that figure is, countless family members and caregivers are also affected by each diagnosis. Families are faced with the need to make vital end-of-life decisions about medical treatment, legal and financial matters, and living situations for those who no longer can; no one is prepared for this process. And many caregivers grapple with sadness, confusion, guilt, anger, and physical and mental exhaustion as dementia enters its final stage.
In Making Tough Decisions about End-of-Life Care in Dementia, Dr. Anne Kenny, a skilled palliative care physician, describes how to navigate the difficult journey of late-stage dementia with sensitivity, compassion, and common sense. Combining her personal experience caring for a mother with dementia with her medical expertise in both dementia and end-of-life care, Dr. Kenny helps the reader prepare for a family member's death while managing their own emotional health.
Drawing on stories of families that Dr. Kenny has worked with to illustrate common issues, concerns, and situations that occurs in late-stage dementia, this book includes practical advice about
- making life-altering decisions while preparing for a loved one's inevitable death
- medical care, pain, insomnia, medication, and eating
- caring for the caregiver
- having conversations about difficult topics with other family members and with health care, legal, and financial professionals
Concrete to-do lists and lists of important points provide information at a glance for busy caregivers. Each chapter concludes with a list of additional resources for more information and help. Making Tough Decisions about End-of-Life Care in Dementia is a lifeline, an invaluable guide to assist in the late stage of dementia.
In Making Tough Decisions about End-of-Life Care in Dementia, Dr. Anne Kenny, a skilled palliative care physician, describes how to navigate the difficult journey of late-stage dementia with sensitivity, compassion, and common sense. Combining her personal experience caring for a mother with dementia with her medical expertise in both dementia and end-of-life care, Dr. Kenny helps the reader prepare for a family member's death while managing their own emotional health.
Drawing on stories of families that Dr. Kenny has worked with to illustrate common issues, concerns, and situations that occurs in late-stage dementia, this book includes practical advice about
- making life-altering decisions while preparing for a loved one's inevitable death
- medical care, pain, insomnia, medication, and eating
- caring for the caregiver
- having conversations about difficult topics with other family members and with health care, legal, and financial professionals
Concrete to-do lists and lists of important points provide information at a glance for busy caregivers. Each chapter concludes with a list of additional resources for more information and help. Making Tough Decisions about End-of-Life Care in Dementia is a lifeline, an invaluable guide to assist in the late stage of dementia.
232 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2018
7 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 4, 2019
This is a practical, no-nonsense guide to all aspects of dementia for the caregiver/family member, from the early stages to death. The author is a gerontologist whose mother died of Alzheimer’s, and she brings her personal experience in addition to her professional expertise to the reader. Many other references are given for further research. Difficult to face, but so timely and applicable to so many. I found this as an audiobook on Hoopla.
August 26, 2019
Excellent Read
I've been reading so many books on dementia and Alzheimer's the five years, I thought i had a pretty good layman's understanding of the disease. This book contains so much information that seemed new to me though, in hindsight, perhaps it was breaking down the symptoms into the various stages that was most helpful in my understanding. Yes, we had seen evidence as described in other books, but reading about them in stages helped me to understand more clearly where we had been, and what lies ahead.
The compassionate care suggestions, how to talk to, and touch, our loved ones; when and how to handle unpleasant and uncomfortable situations; experiences of other families; were most valuable.
I recommend this book for anyone facing this diagnosis - the earlier the better. You need not wait until the final stages. It is just lovely. Thank you, Anne Kenny.
I've been reading so many books on dementia and Alzheimer's the five years, I thought i had a pretty good layman's understanding of the disease. This book contains so much information that seemed new to me though, in hindsight, perhaps it was breaking down the symptoms into the various stages that was most helpful in my understanding. Yes, we had seen evidence as described in other books, but reading about them in stages helped me to understand more clearly where we had been, and what lies ahead.
The compassionate care suggestions, how to talk to, and touch, our loved ones; when and how to handle unpleasant and uncomfortable situations; experiences of other families; were most valuable.
I recommend this book for anyone facing this diagnosis - the earlier the better. You need not wait until the final stages. It is just lovely. Thank you, Anne Kenny.
March 9, 2020
Lots of up to date information on dementia. The case studies help to personalize what is happening. Everyone’s experience is different but there are good and bad days. It’s good to know others have these feelings and emotions.
August 27, 2023
Excellent for the information about what to expect when someone close to you advances in dementia as well as thoughtful discussions of options in handling the tough situations. I will be referring to it often as my two family members continue to go down this weird rabbit hole.
January 14, 2023
This author is a passionate physician that gives a story approach to heavy topics. I met her at a conference where she gave me a copy of her book. I read and invited her to talk to women caregivers who will be faced with these decisions. Our conversation is found here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=FljVifQZS...
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews