Each year, more than 500,000 people are diagnosed with dementia in the United States. As stunning as that figure is, countless family members and caregivers are also affected by each diagnosis. Families are faced with the need to make vital end-of-life decisions about medical treatment, legal and financial matters, and living situations for those who no longer can; no one is prepared for this process. And many caregivers grapple with sadness, confusion, guilt, anger, and physical and mental exhaustion as dementia enters its final stage.
In Making Tough Decisions about End-of-Life Care in Dementia, Dr. Anne Kenny, a skilled palliative care physician, describes how to navigate the difficult journey of late-stage dementia with sensitivity, compassion, and common sense. Combining her personal experience caring for a mother with dementia with her medical expertise in both dementia and end-of-life care, Dr. Kenny helps the reader prepare for a family member's death while managing their own emotional health.
Drawing on stories of families that Dr. Kenny has worked with to illustrate common issues, concerns, and situations that occurs in late-stage dementia, this book includes practical advice about
making life-altering decisions while preparing for a loved one's inevitable death
medical care, pain, insomnia, medication, and eating
caring for the caregiver
having conversations about difficult topics with other family members and with health care, legal, and financial professionals
Concrete to-do lists and lists of important points provide information at a glance for busy caregivers. Each chapter concludes with a list of additional resources for more information and help. Making Tough Decisions about End-of-Life Care in Dementia is a lifeline, an invaluable guide to assist in the late stage of dementia.
Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Understanding the End and the Need for Letting Go Chapter 2: Preparing to Let Go: Emotions of Caring Chapter 3: Making Decisions for Others Chapter 4: Legal Aspects of Decisions Chapter 5: Complex Medical Decisions Chapter 6: Decisions about Places of Care Chapter 7: Changing Care Needs at the End of Life Chapter 8: Changing Needs for the Caregiver/Partner at the End of Life Chapter 9: Active Dying Chapter 10: Afterloss and Adjustment Index
""The text is enriched with stories of Kenny's own family (her mother died of dementia) and from numerous other patients and families, which brings what she has to say to life. She does not pull any punches about dying and death and all the problems they bring, but she does so in a kind and caring way... I think this book will be very helpful to many people... If your work in palliative care involves significant numbers of patients with dementia, this book will give you plenty to reflect on.""
