Doing Things

Jitka M. Zgola is an international consultant and educator based in Canada.

A valuable resource for professionals, paraprofessionals, and family members working with Alzheimer's disease patients. Educational Gerontology This guide shows how to establish a positive environment for Alzheimer's patients by providing social interaction and productive activity, with an emphasis on treating patients with empathy, courtesy, and dignity. Health Progress This material provides useful suggestions for the Alzheimer's patient at home. Zgola's program would work best in the community setting where the patient with a disease of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) is transported to a center or health care facility. Doing Things provides step-by-step alternatives to a dull vegetative existence, and should be particularly helpful to the primary care provider who desperately needs a 'day off.'. Summer The book's greatest strength is that it serves as a source of dozens of ideas for meaningful activities for persons with dementing illness... This book should be required reading for the adult day-care staff with an interest in dementia. But this reviewer hopes the book will find a wider audience. Patient educators and counselors will find this a valuable reference and teaching guide; the book will be especially helpful to those counselors who work with families caring for persons with dementing illness. Families living with the day-to-day stress of caregiving will find hope in the book's optimism and viewed that we can strive to bring out the best in persons with dementia. Patient Education and Counseling

• ForewordPreface and AcknowledgmentsIntroduction: A Program Specifically for Persons with Alzheimer's DiseasePart I: The Neurobehavioral Aspects of Alzheimer's DiseaseChapter 1. MemoryChapter 2. LanguageChapter 3. PerceptionChapter 4. The Organization of MovementChapter 5. Abstract ThoughtChapter 6. AttentionChapter 7. JudgmentPart II: EvaluationChapter 8. Medical ExaminationChapter 9. Neuropsychological TestingChapter 10. Psychiatric ReviewChapter 11. Functional EvaluationChapter 12. Social HistoryChapter 13. EnvironmentChapter 14. Ongoing EvaluationPart III: Programing to the Clients' StrengthsChapter 15. Habitual SkillsChapter 16. Primary Motor FunctionChapter 17. Primary Sensory FunctionChapter 18. EmotionsChapter 19. Remote MemoryChapter 20. PerseverationPart IV: Programing for the Clients' NeedsChapter 21. A Hierarchy of NeedsChapter 22. The Need for SecurityChapter 23.Psychosocial NeedsPart V: Designing a ProgramChapter 24. The Physical EnvironmentChapter 25. Selecting Meaningful ActivitiesChapter 26. Grading ActivitiesChapter 27. Analyzing ActivitiesChapter 28. Schedule and RoutineChapter 29. StaffingChapter 30. A Schedule of Daily ActivitiesPart VI: ActivitiesChapter 31. ExerciseChapter 32. Other Gross Motor ActivitiesChapter 33. Grooming and HygieneChapter 34. Times for SocializingChapter 35. Housekeeping and Meal PreparationChapter 36. CraftsChapter 37. WoodworkChapter 38. Work-oriented ActivitiesChapter 39. Special Events and OutingsChapter 40. List of ActivitiesPart VII: The Presentation of ActivitiesChapter 41. Organizing the ActivityChapter 42. Initiating the Activity Chapter 43. Guiding Clients Through an ActivityChapter 44. Coping with Problems or FailureChapter 45. Providing Positive ReinforcementPart VIII: Clients' Reactions to the ProgramChapter 46. Introducing the ProgramChapter 47. Helping Clients Leave HomeChapter 48. Dealing with Client's Negative Reactions Chapter 49. Providing Support for CaregiversChapter 50. A Case HistoryPart IX: MobilityChapter 51. WalkingChapter 52. Rising From a ChairChapter 53. Seating a Client in a Chair or on the ToiletConclusionAppendixesNotes GlossaryAnnotated BibliographyIndex