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There's Still a Person in There: The Complete Guide to Treating and Coping with Alzheimer's, Michael Castleman, Dolores Gallagher-Thompson, Ph.D., and Matthew Naythons, M.D. (1999). Penguin Putnam, Inc., 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014, www.penguinputnam.com, $23.95. Families and profession-als alike will find this comprehensive guide on Alzheimer's disease valuable. A thorough review of the latest advances in research and treatment are included, as well as coping tips for caregivers. Personal profiles of caregivers and individuals with Alzheimer's complement this practical handbook, advocating a positive approach to dealing with the challenges the disease can bring about.
Parkinson's Disease: A Self-Help Guide, Marjan Jahanshahi, M.D. and C. David Marsden, M.D. (2000). Demos Medical Publishing, 386 Park Ave. S., Ste. 201, New York, NY 10016, (212) 683-0072, $24.95. A comprehensive guide for people with Parkinson's Disease and their caregivers. Topics include medical treatment, living with Parkinson's, self-help strategies, and financial and legal issues. It is one of the few books that also includes a chapter on Parkinson's and dementia. Personal stories are interjected throughout, making the book more real and less clinical. Most of the chapters include summaries at the end for quick review and reference.
Always On Call: When Illness Turns Families into Caregivers, Carol Levine (Editor) (2000). United Hospital Fund, 350 Fifth Ave., 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10118, www.uhfnyc.org (212) 494-0700, $20.00. Always on Call poignantly portrays the need for a national long-term care policy. Unlike most books written for just one audience, this book is appropriate for family caregivers, medical professionals and policy makers. The book includes chapters written by family caregivers who have struggled with the current fragmented and incomplete system of care and support, overviews of the research on the costs of the current system to employers and family caregivers, and the role of health care professionals in addressing both patient and caregiver needs. Policy makers and advocates will find a wealth of information to help in the development of both legislation and services for family caregivers.
My Mother's Voice, Sally Callahan, Elder Books, P.O. Box 490, Forest Knolls, CA 94933, www.ElderBooks.com, (800) 909-2673, $14.95. Sally Callahan tells the story of caring for her mother with Alzheimer's Disease, sharing the thoughts, emotions and struggles she and her siblings experienced in making decisions based upon what their mother would have wanted had she been able to speak for herself. Within this context, Callahan offers advice and practical information on medical decision-making, legal planning, communication and working with professional caregivers, and end-of-life care. Callahan also candidly deals with the issues that all caregivers must face when trying to maintain the independence, dignity and quality of life of the person with Alzheimer's.
The Home Care Companion's Quick Tips for Caregivers, by Marion Karpinksi, R.N., Healing Arts Communications, 33 N. Central Ave., Ste. 211, Medford, OR 97501, www.homecarecompanion.com, (888) 846-7008, $24.95. Written by a registered nurse, this practical guide provides useful information for caregivers of the elderly or chronically ill. Topics, ranging from hiring in-home help to positioning someone in bed, are covered in detail and complemented by clear illustrations. The user-friendly format of this reference guide allows caregivers to find information quickly and easily.
How to Find Medical Information, The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), www.nih.gov/niams/healthinfo/howto.htm, (877) 22-NIAMS, Free. This guide is designed to help consumers locate medical information from a variety of sources including libraries, government and Internet sources. Although targeted towards individuals interested in arthritis and other musculoskeletal and skin diseases, the majority of the information is applicable to any search for medical information. The guide also emphasizes the caution with which readers should approach the information they collect and offers guidelines for differentiating among reliable versus unreliable sources.
Because We Care, Administration on Aging, www.aoa.gov/wecare/default.htm, (202) 619-7501, Free. The guide reviews services available to the elderly and their caregivers with a focus on programs provided through the Area Agencies on Aging. Special chapters focus on caring for family members with Alzheimer's and securing the future of special needs children. This on-line guide contains links to other websites, providing an easy starting point for those who seek additional information.
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