When Someone You Know Is Living in a Dementia Care Community

Rachael Wonderlin holds an MS in gerontology from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. She has served as memory care director in several long-term care communities around the country and is the author of the blog Dementia By Day.

Preface Part 1: Basics of Dementia Care and Care Community Life1 What Is Long-Term Care?2 What Is Dementia?3 What Type of Dementia Is It, and Why Does It Matter?4 When It's Time for a Dementia Care Community--and When It's Not5 Caring for People Is an Imperfect Science Part 2: Communicating with Someone Who Has Dementia6 Embrace Their Reality: When Loved Ones Are Confused7 Why Reorienting People Who Have Dementia Doesn't Work8 Why Quizzing Isn't Effective9 Become a Dementia Detective10 Car Keys, Cell Phones, and Wallets Part 3: Living in a Care Community11 The Importance of Meaningful Activities 12 Baby Dolls, Artificial Pets, and the Importance of Environment13 A Quick Note about Visitation 14 Personal Preferences15 The Cost of Good Hygiene 16 Dropping Your Loved One off on Move-In Day17 Saying Goodbye for the Day Part 4: Relationships and Dementia18 The Importance of Friendship for People Who Have Dementia19 Sex and Partnership in a Dementia Community20 Trouble with Other Residents21 Evening Agitation-How to Prevent and Cope with Sundowning 22 The Importance of Day Trips and Outings23 She Doesn't Recognize Me Part 5: Challenges and Changes in Advanced Dementia Care24 Why the Right Approach Makes All the Difference When It Comes to Aggression25 Hallucinations and Delusional Thinking26 Aphasia, Second Languages and Word Salads27 Dietary Changes28 Patience and Caregiver Stress29 Preserving Hope NotesReferencesIndexAbout the Author