Understanding the Early Stages of Dementia
Billions of dollars have been spent looking for a cure for dementia, especially the Alzheimer's type of dementia. The professional organizations have done great things to raise awareness and money to help fund that research. Very little of that money, however, has been spent researching how to take care of someone with dementia, and there is presently no cure for dementia on the horizon. Research studies show that there are two types of family caregivers/care partners. The first type is accepting of their situation.
The second type has difficulty adapting. The studies also show that a family caregiver/care partner that has problems adapting also experiences more challenging behaviors from their family member with dementia. It is so important for a person providing care for someone with dementia to be aware of just how much their feelings and emotions play into how the family member with dementia will respond. When things run smoothly and you feel confident and prepared, you will have a calmer demeanor and can remain positive.
The person with dementia feeds off your emotions. With the worldwide aging population increasing annually, we have a serious crisis on our hands - how to provide quality dementia care to our family members. The "baby boomer" generation has been, and will continue to be, trend setters. We are the generation that will develop the standards for dementia care. This book is meant to support and empower you as you begin your caregiving/care partnering journey. Realize - you are not alone. There are others who have walked your path and are willing to share what they know to help your journey be less stressful, so you can maintain a sense of calm, less stress, and a positive attitude.
