Counseling the Alzheimer's Caregiver: A Resource for Health Care Professionals

An invaluable resource for family health care providers who provide guidance counseling and support to families caring for an Alzhelmer's Disease (AD) patient. An introductory chapter covers essential background information pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of Mild Cognitive impairment and AD. It reviews the stages of AD in detail, including effects on the patient, the caregiver, and the role of the counselor. Subsequent chapters discuss assessing the caregiver and creating an intervention plan tailored to that individual's needs, including family and ad hoc counseling, when appropriate. Final chapters offer practical advice for the counselor to offer when addressing the many issues surrounding caring for the AD patient. They also address aberrant behaviours, relationship-related issues, ways to seek support for the patient living at home, nursing home and other residential care information and finally end-of-life topics.