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Rating: 
Summary: A well-informed, practical, positive resource
Review: A readable, well-informed, and wide-ranging exploration of Alzheimer's--really an excellent resource. I'm an ombudsman volunteer and needed to learn more about this disease, and especially wanted something that wasn't all gloom and doom. Caregivers in particular should find this book useful. It provides up-to-date information on how the disease "behaves," and then devotes several chapters to considering how the best possible care can be provided for persons with early stages of Alzheimer's. If their needs for intimacy, community, and meaningful activity are met, the author says, the person with Alzheimer's can be relatively happy. There are chapters on what it's like for the person who has the disease, ways to improve communication, appropriate activities, planning for future care, and caring for the caregiver, among other topics. Throughout there's enough detail to be useful, but not so much that you feel overwhelmed. There are many practical suggestions, informed by compassion and professional expertise. There's also a helpful list of resources at the back, along with citations to resources in the professional literature. Overall, an excellent contribution for those of us looking for better ways to think about and respond to the Alzheimer's challenge.
Rating:
Summary: A gem!
Review: Alzheimer's Early Stages is a gem. It is useful for all Alzheimer's caregivers, whatever the stage of the disease. This book belongs in the hands of every Alzheimer's caregiver in the country and should be given to every support group member in the Alzheimer's Association's chapters.
Rating:
Summary: A gem!
Review: Alzheimer's Early Stages is a gem. This book belongs in the hands of every Alzheimer's caregiver in the country. It should be given to every support group member in the Alzheimer's Asociation's chapters.
Rating:
Summary: Just what I needed
Review: I found this to be the best book on Alzheimer's disease that I have ever read. I recommend it to people who are walking through this disease at all stages, not just early stages. The author's sensitivity and respect for the people with AD as well as vast knowledge in this field shines through and creates a book that is not only good reading but also brings hope and enlightenment.
Rating:
Summary: The best!
Review: I found this to be the best book on Alzheimer's disease that I have ever read. I recommend it to people who are walking through this disease at all stages, not just early stages. The author's sensitivity and respect for the people with AD as well as vast knowledge in this field shines through and creates a book that is not only good reading but also brings hope and enlightenment.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect!
Review: This book covers absolutely everything you would want to know about caring for a person with Alzheimer's Disease. I really appreciated its combination of honesty tempered with kindness. It includes not only the author's considerable knowldege of the topic, but also the perspectives of victins of Alzheimer's as well as a host of different caregivers -- real people, all of them. When I read this book, I felt that it had covered every single one of the myriad conflicting emotions I feel every day in joining with my family to care for my father.
Rating:
Summary: A well-informed, practical, positive resource
Review: This book should be read by anyone helping to take care of a person with Alzheimer's Disease - in any stage. The information is easy to understand, useful, and practical. The book also contains a long list of where to find more information as well as equipment, etc. A Great Resource.
Rating: 
Summary: Kuhn Strikes out for those with Alzheimer's
Review: When I was diagnosed with ALZ -- not AD -- some fifteen months ago, I looked for many sources of understanding. I found many good ones: Cohen, "Loss of Self;" Powell, "Alzheimer's Disease: A Guide for Families;" Hodgson, "Alzheimer's: Finding the Words;" Jones, "Gentle Care;" and especially Small, "The Memory Bible;" and Shenk, "The Forgetting." All of these treat the person diagnosed with ALZ with respect, since "There's Still a Person in There" [Castelman]. Now we come to Kuhn's opus minor. Here I am reminded of the climatic scene in the book "Hannibal." Lector has seized the FBI Supervisor Paul Krendler {Ray Liotta in the movie}, has sliced off the top of Krendler's cranium, and is serving up slices of fried brain, with fava beans. Kuhn somewhat resembles Anthony Hopkins in his condescending regard for those of us with ALZ. It is interesting to note that a "Daniel Kuhn" has posted two reviews on , one of this book {} and one on DeBaggio, "Losing My Mind." The latter posting rivals Lector's exploits in "Red Dragon" with its cruelty towards DeBaggio. Nevertheless, one cannot accuse Kuhn of false advertising: his subtitle indicates that his book is "A Guide for Family Members and Friends." By the principle of inclusis unis, exclusis alterius, one can conclude that he did not intend his book to be read by facilitators, therapists, and other professionals in the ALZ field, as well as those of us who have "windows of clarity" as this insidious affliction takes us in its downward spiral. Since I am neither a family member nor a friend, I cannot speak, except as one who regards his label as a challenge, rather than as the Kuhn suggested stigmata or disgrace. Thus, it is an affront to a person with diagnosed ALZ to state that "the decision about disclosing the diagnosis must be weighed in light of the needs of the person with [ALZ] and the needs of others." [p.113]. On the previous page, he mentions with obvious distaste those "people with the disease [who] sometimes have an uncanny ability in the early stages to "rise to the occasion" and [have the efrontery to] hide the symptoms."
We don't hide the symptoms, or hide from the symptoms, we face the symptoms, and adapt to them. But to do this would require Kuhn and others of his ilk to communicate with us, so that we can "Speak Our Minds," Snyder. Although Kuhn claims more than 25 years as a clinical social worker in the fields of aging and health care, he has been a MSW since 1987, and is currently director of education for the Mather chain of assisted living. His book claims director of eductation at the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center in August 1999, but Mather states that he joined their auspices in 1999. As an Emeritus Professor, I am well aware of the student jibe that "Those who do, Do. Those who can't, Teach. Those who can't teach, Teach Teachers. And, Those who can't teach teachers, become Deans or Education Directors." Kuhn demonstrates the truth of that folk observation in every chapter. Since I am looking at this book from the standpoint of one who is diagnosed with ALZ, his Chapter 9 on "What is it like to have Alzheimer's Disease" deserves most crucial scrutiny. Here he points out "that only five books have been authored by people with [ALZ], written with the help of their loved ones." He has not spoken with any of us who keep journals, diaries, et al, at considerable emotional energy expenditures, since he regards these five as "[PROBABLY] exceptional individuals with a high degree of awareness about their disease who [RETAINED] a remarkable ability to communicate." [p. 81, emphasis added.]Au contraire, if Kuhn were to attend some ALZ-only sharing groups, unhindered by his displayed ignorance, he would learn that most of us are keenly aware of our disease, and can communicate that awareness to those that have "ears to listen, and eyes to see." Oh yes, some of us are dually diagnosed with major unipolar depression as well as ALZ, and we add Prozac and Wellbutrin to our daily Donepezil. If we were holistic physicians we would prescribe human kindness and empathy to Kuhn's daily regimen, but he would likely not to stick to his medication because of the side effects. As for Kuhn's revision, one would hope that he will include some qualitative research as well as his quantatative surveys, which are useless for individuals and those around them. Otherwise, Uvis aridior puer passis quae suco caret ut putrisque pumex.
Rating:
Summary: Kuhn Strikes out for those with Alzheimer's
Review: When I was diagnosed with ALZ -- not AD -- some fifteen months ago, I looked for many sources of understanding. I found many good ones: Cohen, "Loss of Self;" Powell, "Alzheimer's Disease: A Guide for Families;" Hodgson, "Alzheimer's: Finding the Words;" Jones, "Gentle Care;" and especially Small, "The Memory Bible;" and Shenk, "The Forgetting." All of these treat the person diagnosed with ALZ with respect, since "There's Still a Person in There" [Castelman]. Now we come to Kuhn's opus minor. Here I am reminded of the climatic scene in the book "Hannibal." Lector has seized the FBI Supervisor Paul Krendler {Ray Liotta in the movie}, has sliced off the top of Krendler's cranium, and is serving up slices of fried brain, with fava beans. Kuhn somewhat resembles Anthony Hopkins in his condescending regard for those of us with ALZ. It is interesting to note that a "Daniel Kuhn" has posted two reviews on , one of this book {} and one on DeBaggio, "Losing My Mind." The latter posting rivals Lector's exploits in "Red Dragon" with its cruelty towards DeBaggio. Nevertheless, one cannot accuse Kuhn of false advertising: his subtitle indicates that his book is "A Guide for Family Members and Friends." By the principle of inclusis unis, exclusis alterius, one can conclude that he did not intend his book to be read by facilitators, therapists, and other professionals in the ALZ field, as well as those of us who have "windows of clarity" as this insidious affliction takes us in its downward spiral. Since I am neither a family member nor a friend, I cannot speak, except as one who regards his label as a challenge, rather than as the Kuhn suggested stigmata or disgrace. Thus, it is an affront to a person with diagnosed ALZ to state that "the decision about disclosing the diagnosis must be weighed in light of the needs of the person with [ALZ] and the needs of others." [p.113]. On the previous page, he mentions with obvious distaste those "people with the disease [who] sometimes have an uncanny ability in the early stages to "rise to the occasion" and [have the efrontery to] hide the symptoms."
We don't hide the symptoms, or hide from the symptoms, we face the symptoms, and adapt to them. But to do this would require Kuhn and others of his ilk to communicate with us, so that we can "Speak Our Minds," Snyder. Although Kuhn claims more than 25 years as a clinical social worker in the fields of aging and health care, he has been a MSW since 1987, and is currently director of education for the Mather chain of assisted living. His book claims director of eductation at the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center in August 1999, but Mather states that he joined their auspices in 1999. As an Emeritus Professor, I am well aware of the student jibe that "Those who do, Do. Those who can't, Teach. Those who can't teach, Teach Teachers. And, Those who can't teach teachers, become Deans or Education Directors." Kuhn demonstrates the truth of that folk observation in every chapter. Since I am looking at this book from the standpoint of one who is diagnosed with ALZ, his Chapter 9 on "What is it like to have Alzheimer's Disease" deserves most crucial scrutiny. Here he points out "that only five books have been authored by people with [ALZ], written with the help of their loved ones." He has not spoken with any of us who keep journals, diaries, et al, at considerable emotional energy expenditures, since he regards these five as "[PROBABLY] exceptional individuals with a high degree of awareness about their disease who [RETAINED] a remarkable ability to communicate." [p. 81, emphasis added.]Au contraire, if Kuhn were to attend some ALZ-only sharing groups, unhindered by his displayed ignorance, he would learn that most of us are keenly aware of our disease, and can communicate that awareness to those that have "ears to listen, and eyes to see." Oh yes, some of us are dually diagnosed with major unipolar depression as well as ALZ, and we add Prozac and Wellbutrin to our daily Donepezil. If we were holistic physicians we would prescribe human kindness and empathy to Kuhn's daily regimen, but he would likely not to stick to his medication because of the side effects. As for Kuhn's revision, one would hope that he will include some qualitative research as well as his quantatative surveys, which are useless for individuals and those around them. Otherwise, Uvis aridior puer passis quae suco caret ut putrisque pumex.
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