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The Comfort of Home for Alzheimer's Disease: A Guide for Caregivers

Maria M. Meyer, Mary S. Mittelman, Cynthia Epstein, and Paula Derr
CareTrust Publications (2007)
ISBN 9780978790301
Reviewed by Mary Durfor for RebeccasReads (6/08)

“The Comfort of Home for Alzheimer’s Disease, A Guide for Caregivers” is an excellent reference book for anyone who is involved in the care of an Alzheimer’s patient. The book is well organized, clearly written, with some very simple and effective forms that can be copied and used to ensure that all caregivers have the essential information they need to provide competent care. The authors emphasize the need for the caregivers to obtain support for themselves, and give practical advice about where to go and who to contact for assistance.

The book is divided into three sections. Part One: Getting Ready gives the background about the disease so the reader has a foundation of understanding. This section deals with the physical changes and mental challenges that the typical Alzheimer’s patient will go through. There is concrete, practical advice about how to set up a safe environment for providing care, as well as how to find, screen, and hire additional caregivers to manage the stress and workload for the main caregiver. Information is provided to assist with financial, legal and medical planning. The health care needs of the Alzheimer’s patient are detailed, with tips on how to handle these needs. Part Two: Day-by-Day Living with Alzheimer’s Disease is extremely helpful, with suggestions on following a simple, written plan of activities for a typical day, so all caregivers can keep a similar schedule to minimize disruption for the patient, which is often frightening and confusing to these patients. Caregiver burnout is explored, with a checklist to prompt the caregiver about what some of the signs and symptoms might be. Suggestions for improving communication are clear and practical, and the specifics of exactly how to provide hands-on care are provided. Part Three: Additional Resources gives contact information for the many organizations dedicated to helping Alzheimer’s patients’ caregivers with their daunting task of providing full-time care in this sometimes overwhelming and frustrating disease. A helpful glossary of terms the caregiver will encounter during their journey is provided, and the Index is quite helpful in navigating the book for specific issues.

As a 30-year veteran of the home care industry, I feel that I am qualified to provide meaningful commentary on this particular book. I am a Registered Nurse, with a Master’s degree in Nursing, and I would recommend this book be a part of every library where any healthcare worker or layperson who is involved in the care of Alzheimer’s patients can use it for planning, teaching, monitoring and evaluating the care that they are providing.

  

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