Dementia and Aging

" Dementia and Aging will become a standard introduction to what Lewis Thomas called 'the disease of the century'... Gerontologists will benefit from reading [this] collection [dealing] with a multifaceted problem from diverse perspectives. Gerontologist The diversity of thought and opinions represented in this book is its major strength. the contributing authors are..acknowledged experts in their respective fields; the chapters are well written and edited. Each section provides insights into an important aspect of Alzheimer disease. Opposing views on euthanasia and alternative proposals for health care reform are fairly presented. the reader is left with a better understanding of the complex and evolving nature of decision-making required in the care of patients with Alzheimer disease. Annals of Internal Medicine

Stephen G. Post is professor at the Center for Biomedical Ethics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University.

Foreword Preface List of Contributors Chapter 1. The Challenges of Dementia Part I: Biomedical, Experiential, and Caregiving Perspectives Chapter 2. Dementia: The Medical Perspective Chapter 3. The Experience of Being Demented Chapter 4. Seeing and Knowing Dementia Chapter 5. Human Dignity, Dementia, and the Moral Basis of Caregiving Part II: Treatment Decisions, Advance Directives, and Euthanasia Chapter 6. Autonomy Revisited: The Limits of Anticipatory Choices Chapter 7. A Critical View of Ethical Dilemmas in Dementia Chapter 8. Mercy Killing of Elderly People with Dementia: A Counterproposal Chapter 9. Euthanasia in Alzheimer's Disease? Part III: Caring For People With Dementia: Justice and Public Policy Chapter 10. Dementia and Appropriate Care: Allocating Scarce Resources Chapter 11. The Politics of Developing Appropriate Care for Dementia Chapter 12. Alzheimer's Disease: Current Policy Initiatives Index