Part I: What Is Alzheimer's Disease? -- The Need
... for an Accurate Diagnosis: What Is Normal and Abnormal in the Brain? -- What About Genetic Testing? -- How Alzheimer's Disease Changes the Brain -- Getting an Accurate Diagnosis -- The Value of a Diagnosis -- Disclosing the Diagnosis -- Symptoms of the Early Stages of Alzheimer's Disease: What Is Recent Memory? -- Beginning Signs -- An Emerging Pattern -- Other Troubling Symptoms -- One or More Symptoms Sometimes Present -- Noncognitive or Behavioral Changes -- Take Action -- Treatment and Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease: Current Treatments -- Progress in Treatment -- Participating in Clinical Drug Trials and Other Studies -- Toward Prevention -- The Limits of Medicine -- A Good Quality Life: What is a Good Life? -- Relative Well-Being -- Wholeness -- Part II: Giving Care -- What Is It Like to Have Alzheimer's Disease?: Some Common Experiences and Feelings -- Varying Degrees of Awareness of Symptoms -- The Importance of Social Environment -- What Do People with AD Really Need? -- What Some Family Members Have to Say -- How Relationships, Roles, and Responsibilities Change: Accepting the Diagnosis -- Stepping into the Leadership Role -- When Your Partner Has AD -- When Your Parent Has AD -- What About Kids? -- Telling Others About the Diagnosis -- The Reactions of Others -- Making Practical Decisions: Ensuring Safety on the Road -- Maintaining Good Health -- Other Safety Considerations -- Ensuring Financial Well-Being -- Alternative Living Situations for the Person with AD -- Doing the Right Thing -- Improving Communication: Communication Difficulties -- Redefining Your Relationship -- Ways of Listening to and Talking with a Person with AD -- Whose Problem Is It? -- Helping a Person with Alzheimer's Disease Plan for the Future: Finding the Time -- Legal Considerations -- Financing the Cost of Care -- Rethinking the Living Situation -- Finding the Right Professionals -- Keeping a Person with Alzheimer's Disease Active: Involving Others -- Dealing With Depression -- Selecting Appropriate Activities -- The Importance of Everyday Activities -- Intellectual Activities -- Traveling -- Participating in Social Events -- Reminiscing -- Spiritual and Religious Practices -- Helping the Person with AD Maintain Physical Health -- Support Groups -- Activity Programs -- Pets and Plants -- Part III: Caring for Yourself: Self-Renewal for Family and Friends -- Attitude Matters -- Listening to Your Body and Mind -- The Importance of Grief -- Individual and Family Counseling -- Exploring Spiritual Resources -- Keeping a Journal -- Maintaining a Sense of Humor -- Obtaining the Help You May Need: Enlisting Help -- Participating in a Support Group -- Using Help at Home -- Choosing an Adult Day Center -- The National Family Caregiver Support Program -- Learning More About AD -- Voices of Experience: Questions and Answers -- Lessons Learned -- Epilogue: Advocating for Change: The Politics of Health Care -- The Role of Government -- The Role of the Private Sector -- AD Research Centers in the United States Funded by the National Institute on Aging -- Print and Video Resources -- Resources on the Web. Read More