Are the keys in the freezer? An advocate's guide for Alzheimer's and other dementias

Starred Review. In 2011, the mother of sisters Woodell (ret. project manager and instructor, Alaska Dept. of Commerce and Economic Development, Anchorage), Brenda Niblock (ret. health educator; volunteer public speaker and educator for Donate Life Northwest), and Jeri Warner (ret. physical therapist, Kaiser Permanente) died as a result of advanced dementia. The personal, medical, and legal experiences gained and lessons learned by the sisters over the preceding six years of care form the backbone of this work that will be priceless to families facing a similar road. The authors remark that in writing the book they interviewed psychology, law, and medical professionals; visited facilities with different care philosophies; sought various stakeholders' views about changes in the industry; and compiled lists of national resources for other families. Chapters such as "Coming to Terms with Dementia," "Care Facilities: Making the Right Move," "Advocacy in Medical Care," and "Hospice and Palliative Care" go into great detail on, for example, figuring out the costs of living in a care facility vs. at home, negotiating care-facility agreements and costs, health-care proxies and advanced directives, and how carers can stay in touch with others for support. The combination of the detailed information with the insights gained from caring for a loved one with the condition makes this essential for affected families. VERDICT As the authors note, 20 million people are caring for 5.4 million patients with dementia. This excellent work will, unfortunately, find a wide audience.-Henrietta Verma, Library Journal (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This highly readable guide for dementia caregivers blends a medical memoir with useful advice.After the emotionally draining experience lived through by this book's three authors, they're undoubtedly thinking the same thing: "If I knew then what I know now." The sisters share the story of their mother's five-year mental decline as she went through the various stages of dementia. The sisters had intended to craft a personal memoir; however, they write, "In the course of our research, that goal changed as we gained insight into the hopes and concerns of the people we met in memory care facilities." This led them to recast the book into a manual for caregivers that recounts their own experience and guides readers to a greater understanding of dementia as well as the care options. With considerable skill, the authors interweave their story with the issues they faced, drawing upon their own situation to illustrate what they didn't know at the time. "We learned about dementia by trial and error," they write, "and we stumbled many times, because we didn't know where to turn. Now we realize the importance of understanding the course of the disease and its outcomethis knowledge would have given us the tools to plan ahead and provide the best possible care for our mother." It is these tools the authors generously share in a tightly organized, well-written work. They offer a comprehensive discussion of dementia, its types (including Alzheimer's) and stages; detail the kinds of available care facilities and facility agreements; address paying for dementia care; talk about patient advocacy; cover hospice and palliative care; and include a chapter on advance care directives. Every chapter ends with "Lessons Learned"not so much a summary as insightful observations. In closing, the authors peek into the future in a fascinating section that demonstrates how social and technological changes might revolutionize dementia care. They also provide an excellent compilation of resources.Frank and poignant, with the optimum balance of personal storytelling and actionable guidance. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.