Loss of Self
Author: Donna Cohen
A tremendous resource for all those grappling with Alzheimer's, including patients, families, caregivers, and professionals. This fully revised and updated edition provides the latest information on causes, preventative measures, treatments, drugs, and diagnosis. Everything related to the care of the affected person is addressed from cost to stress management. But The Loss of Self goes beyond the biological, medical, and social issues to explore the emotional challenges any person dealing with the disease will experience. The book helps families and patients deal with the terrible reality of this chronic, debilitating disease through the personal stories of others. These deeply moving case studies and anecdotes give hope, dignity, and ideas for solving even the most difficult problems such as sexuality, violence, abuse, family conflict, and death. The Loss of Self is the best book available not only for those suffering from the disease, but for family members wanting to understand how to help a relative and to meet their own needs over the long years of caring.
Oliver Sacks
Anyone at all involved with Alzheimer's...should read this indispensable book.
Michael Mullan
[A]n insightful resource for families and patients struggling with Alzheimer's ....an essential tool for patients, clinicians, and families.
Irving S. Wright
[T]he most useful source of practical guidelines for the general care of patients with Alzheimer's disease yet to be published.
Publishers Weekly
Despite greater public awareness and continued research, no cure for Alzeheimer's Disease has yet been found. However, Eisdorfer, president/chief executive officer of Montefiore Medical Center and professor of psychiatry and neurosciences at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Cohen, a gerontologist also affiliated with Montefiore and Einstein College, believe that these accounts of how families have coped with the debilitating disease may help other afflicted families to better manage the lives of the patient and themselves. The authors advise readers on developing and implementing a comprehensive, affordable life care plan to handle both practical and emotional matters. They discuss the sensitive relationships between doctor, family and patient, and the need to consider the interests of individual family members. The selection of a nursing home and chapters on dying and the cost of care complete this compassionate and sensible guidebook. (February 24)
Library Journal
The authors offer timely and necessary advice for the families of the more than two million Americans facing various dementias. The book reflects state of the art information as well as the authors' extensive experience in assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation for dementia patients and their families. Included is practical information on ``what to do after the diagnosis, where to go for help, . . . how to care for the patient at home, when to institutionalize the patient.'' Drug information provided in the text and an appendix is particularly useful. The authors' insights and their personalized narrative make the book very readable. Although some information is duplicated elsewhere, this is the most succinctly informative and inclusive book on the topic to date. For public libraries and subject collections. Nancy B. Burrell, M.L.S., IBID Inc., Sarasota, Fla.
Booknews
In this update of the 1986 edition, Cohen (aging and mental health, U. of South Florida) and Eisdorfer (psychiatry, U. of Miami) interweave often poignant patient stories with discussion of Alzheimer issues from suspected causes, diagnosis, and treatment of the memory-robbing disease to coping tips for caregivers. Lists Internet resources, national and international Alzheimer organizations, and US federal and state agencies on aging. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
What People Are Saying
Michael Mullan
[A]n insightful resource for families and patients struggling with Alzheimer's ....an essential tool for patients, clinicians, and families.
— (Michael Mullan, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Roskamp Institute)
Read also The Sex of Class or Vestiges of War
Understanding Genetics: A Primer for Couples and Families
Author: Angela Scheuerl
One in every 100 Americans is born with a serious genetic disorder, and more will face a disease with genetic components in their lifetime. In the past decade, fledgling genetic science has identified more than 4,000 diseases connected to genetic factors. Genetic doctors and testing have become relatively common. But what is genetics'? How do these doctors and their tests work, and what if anything can they change? Dr. Scheuerle walks us through this new field and explains the basics, detailing diseases and disordes that can present in each life stage: in infancy and childhood, in puberty and adolescence, and in adulthood as well as old age. The text addresses genetic issues that might be considered in pregnancy and pregnancy planning. Also discussed are prenatal testing procedures, and talking about genetic disease with children and teenagers.
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