36 Hour Day - a good resource

I recommended the book, The 36-Hour Day by Nancy Mace, MA, and Peter Rabins, MD, in an earlier posting, and I would like to say why I recommend it. Any published book has the disadvantage of being out-of-date with research by the time it is published, since we are in such a rapidly-expanding world of new discoveries; but this book is a treasure for its help with the behavioral aspects of dementia. It also gives a brief description of the most common forms of dementia, so one can learn about the differences. The book devotes considerable print space in chapter 3 to how to avoid "catastrophic reactions", and it includes invaluable tips. It is from this chapter that I got my idea of creating lists of how to work the remote for the tv and how to use the telephone. It also has a chapter on behaviors common to dementia; such as apathy, anxiety, suspiciousness. The book helps us remember that things such as apathy may not be choice, but may be a symptom of the changes in the brain.

I think it is important to remember that much can be done to improve and make smoother the life of the person with dementia and any caregivers. What works for me is noticing any areas that cause distress or stress, and setting up the environment to prevent the difficulty. I am fortunate to have a large bag of tricks from which to select by dusting off my special education teaching strategies, but any one can do it. Is the person with dementia getting his/her medication mixed up? Look for and buy a medication dispenser that will eliminate any chance of the person getting confused. Write detailed lists: step 1, step 2, etc. for important things like making a phone call. Post that information by the phone, along with important phone numbers. In my opinion, it is easier to prevent problems than it is to deal with the emotional fallout that can occur in dealing with the problem. Keep in mind ways to make life more predictable and stress-free for the person with dementia, and your life will be smoother too.