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Index
Title
Contents
Introduction
About This Book
Conventions Used in This Book
Foolish Assumptions
How This Book Is Organized
Icons Used in This Book
Where to Go from Here
Part I: Could It Be Alzheimer's Disease?
Chapter 1: The Facts on Alzheimer’s Disease
Defining Alzheimer’s Disease
Busting the Myths About AD
Looking at Symptoms and Causes
Discovering Treatment Options
Tackling Financial and Legal Issues
Making Medical Decisions and Providing Care
Finding Respite
What Should I Do Now?
Chapter 2: Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors
Getting an Idea of What to Look For
Red Flag or Red Herring?
Looking at Some Theories on the Causes of AD
Examining Risk Factors for Developing Alzheimer’s Disease
Chapter 3: Getting a Diagnosis
How Doctors Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease
Finding Someone to Do an Evaluation
Before You Seek a Diagnosis: Collecting Medical History
Understanding AD Diagnostic Tests
What to Do When the Diagnosis Is Made
Chapter 4: Distinguishing Alzheimer’s Disease from Other Medical Conditions
Making Sure that You Have a Reliable Diagnosis
It May Be Dementia, but Is It Alzheimer’s?
Ruling Out the Usual (and Unusual) Suspects
Chapter 5: Identifying Your Fears: For the Patient and the Caregiver
Concerns for the Alzheimer’s Patient
Concerns for the Caregiver
Part II : Helping a Loved One Manage the Illness
Chapter 6: Understanding the Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease
How to Use the Classifications
Three Stages
Four Stages
Five, Six, and Seven Stages
The Current Thinking: Assessing Alzheimer’s Stages Via Cognitive and Functional Impairment
Chapter 7: Evaluating Drug Therapies
A Little Background on Brain Chemistry
Reviewing Current FDA-Approved Drugs
Considering Other Types of Drugs
Chapter 8: Avoiding Snake Oil and Other Ineffective Treatments
Treatments and Tests That Aren’t Worth Your Time or Money
Sniffing Out Scams: Five Warning Signs to Look For
Chapter 9: Taking Part in Clinical Trials
What Is a Clinical Trial?
Weighing the Benefits and the Risks When Participating in a Clinical Trial
Finding Clinical Trials
Enrolling in a Clinical Trial
What Happens During a Trial
Current Alzheimer’s Trials
Chapter 10: Promising New Drugs and Diagnostic Tools
The Current State of Affairs
Promising (and Not-So-Promising) New Drugs
An Ounce of Prevention: The Hunt for an Alzheimer’s Vaccine
Drugs and Therapies Already Approved for Other Uses
Testing Positive: Looking for the Definitive Diagnosis
Chapter 11: Finding Alternative Therapies
Calming Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
Having Some Fun and Easing Isolation
Part III : Providing Care for the AD Patient
Chapter 12: Making Medical Decisions
Finding the Right Healthcare Provider
Building a Team
Keeping Good Records
Using Alternative Therapies
Evaluating Clinical Trials
Understanding the Importance of Cholinesterase Inhibitors
Deciding on End-of-Life Care Options
Considering Brain Donation
Chapter 13: Understanding Legal Issues for Alzheimer’s Patients
Getting Started
Evaluating Your Legal Options
Durable Power of Attorney
Guardianships or Conservatorships
Living Trusts
Making Choices for Medical Care
Drawing Up a Will
Chapter 14: Working through Financial Issues for Alzheimer’s Patients
Reviewing Financial Needs and Resources
Taking Over the Financial Reins
Understanding Changes in Tax Status
Deciding Whether You Need a Financial Advisor
Quitting Work
Evaluating Insurance Coverage
Running Out of Resources: What Next?
Chapter 15: Evaluating Care Options
Identifying Your Options
Respite Care Options
Making the Transition to Residential Care
Residential Care Options
Chapter 16: Caring for the Alzheimer’s Patient
Making a Care Plan
Defining Practice Parameters and Standards of Care
Standards of Care and Practice Parameters for AD Patients
Caring for AD Patients
Planning Activities and Exercise
Preparing for Bed
Making the House Safer
Dealing with the Patient’s Emotions
Part IV : Respite Care for the Caregiver
Chapter 17: Coping While Caregiving
Caregiving Is Hard Work
Caring for an AD Patient Affects You Emotionally
Caregiving and Your Physical Health
Using Humor to Cope
Knowing When to Ask for Help
Chapter 18: Finding Support
Finding Out What’s Available
Looking into Support Groups
Finding a Counselor
Chapter 19: Taking Care of the Caregiver
Giving Yourself a Break
Being Good to Yourself
Avoiding Isolation
Chapter 20: Handling Work and Family as Caregiver
Understanding the Importance of Routines
Juggling a Job and Caregiving Responsibilities
Balancing Family and Caregiving
Making Time for Your Family
Chapter 21: Helping When You’re Not the Primary Caregiver
Understanding How Family Dynamics Affect Caregiving Decisions
Learning How to Help
Dealing with Out-of-Towner’s Guilt
Part V : The Part of Tens
Chapter 22: Ten Tips for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver
Good: Ask for Help
Bad: “I’d Rather Do It Myself”
Good: Modesty Garments
Bad: Birthday Suit
Good: Ask for Volunteer Assistance
Bad: “I Don’t Need Help from Anyone”
Good: Cook Once, Eat Twice
Bad: Fast Food Bingo
Good: Remember to Laugh Daily
Bad: Wallow in Your Misery
Chapter 23: More Than Ten Internet Resources for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
ADEAR (Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral)
Administration on Aging
AgeNet Eldercare Network
Alzheimer’s Association
Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Online
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
benefitscheckup.org
Caregiver.com
CareSsentials
Family Caregiver Alliance
The Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation
Long-Distance Caregiving
National Family Caregivers Association
Needymeds.com
Medlineplus.gov
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