Better Living With Dementia

Laura N. Gitlin, PhD, an applied research sociologist, is the dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Drexel University. Gitlin is nationally and internationally recognized for her research on developing, evaluating and implementing novel home and community-based interventions. She is involved in translating, disseminating and implementing proven programs for delivery in diverse practice settings globally. Gitlin is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2011 John Mackey Award for Excellence in Dementia Care, from Johns Hopkins University, the 2014 M. Powell Lawton Award from the Gerontological Society of America, and in 2015 she was named as an Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. She is the author of close to 300 scientific publications including seven books. She recently co-chaired the first National Research Summit on Care and Services for Persons Living with Dementia and their Caregivers. She is also a recent appointee to the medical advisory board, Alzheimer’s Association and member of the international Lancet Commission on dementia care Nancy Hodgson is the Anthony Buividas Endowed Term Chair in Gerontology and Associate Professor in the Biobehavioral Health Sciences Department at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Her 30 plus year nursing career has been dedicated to improving the end of life experiences for cognitively and physically frail older adults. Dr. Hodgson’s program of research emphasizes the examination of factors associated with quality of life in chronically ill older adults and the enhancement of science-based nursing practice with older adults at end of life. This work has helped to inform care practices for persons living with dementia and their care partners through the development of palliative care protocols that address the leading symptoms in dementia that cause distress or impair quality of life.

Part 1: About the Person 1. How the Brain is Affected2. Lived Experiences of Individuals with Dementia3. Breaking the Cycle of Despair4. Making Life Better for Individuals Living with Dementia

Part II: About Caregivers5. Family Member as Care Partner6. How We Can Support Families7. Formal caregivers: Role of the Inter-professional Team

Part III: About Home and Community Environments8. The Physical Home Environment – A Neglected Therapeutic Context9. Living in the community

Part IV: About Social Systems and Policy 10. Settings and Services of Care11. Global Efforts and National Plans12. Transforming Dementia care

Part V: Taking Action13. Developing and Implementing an Action Plan14. Putting It All Together