When Love Meets Dementia

Long time educator Ada Anbar is the author of several parenting books that discuss early childhood development issues and the difficulties that mothers encounter in balancing their needs with those of their young children. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgments deletexiiiForeword by Marwan N. Sabbagh MD, FAANPrefaceIntroductionPart I: The Personal Story—Sixty Years of Marriage, Then Kicked1 • The Day That Changed My LifeA Cruise to the Baltic2 • A Fractured SpineThe Long Flight HomeA Stay in the Hospital3 • The CNAs Are Coming HomeFountain HillsA Bad IdeaThe Suicide Threats4 • Romantic BeginningsA Personal Security GuardThe Lawyers Are Stepping In5 • Kicked Out of My GraveThe Need for a Medical Evaluation6 • The ApartmentThe Missing Gold CoinsLife After the CrashSunday Visits to Fountain HillsPart II: The Elusive Diagnosis7 • An Emerging PatternThe Chronology of a DiseaseA New Homecare AgencyThe Race for a New Psychiatric EvaluationA Tragicomic Scene8 • At Last a DiagnosisDifficult DecisionThe Silver Lining9 • Crossing OverPart III: Lingering Questions10 • What Exactly Is FTD?Is FTD Common?Is FTD a New Disease?How FTD Got Its NameThe Importance of Scientific ConferencesDiagnostic Criteria11 • Sub-Types of FTDPrognosisWarning Signs12 • The Clinical Symptoms of FTDFTD vs. Alzheimer’sWhat Causes FTD?13 • Triggers for FTD DevelopmentThe Role of GeneticsThe Pros and Cons of Genetic TestingOther Possible FactorsPart IV: Treatment/Prevention/Management14 • Basic ­Pre-Treatment InformationBefore Treatment Begins15 • Common Pharmacological Treatments16 • Non-Pharmacological and Nutritional SupportSupplementsThe Healthy Brain Diet17 • The Healthy LifestyleKeeping ActiveThe Importance of SleepA Good Bedtime RoutineManage Your StressStop Smoking and Drinking18 • RehabilitationThe Rehabilitation TeamThe Danger of DeconditioningPressure SoresAssistive Devices19 • The Supportive EnvironmentA Sense of Calm and ReassuranceMinimizing Fall RisksGeneral Environmental Safety IssuesFTD and DrivingPart V: When FTD Is Suspected20 • What to Do When FTD Is SuspectedConfirm the DiagnosisConvene a Family MeetingCreate a Care TeamLegal IssuesMoney MattersConclusion21 • The Altered RelationshipLoss of Insight and Self-AwarenessLoss of EmpathyApathy and Social WithdrawalSocially Inappropriate BehaviorGone but Not Gone22 • The Care of the CaregiverThe Job of the Primary CaregiverHelpful Recommendations for the Primary Caregiver23 • Caregiver ResourcesCommunity ServicesThe Silverado Story (Model I)Dementia Village (Model II)24 • Is Dementia a Normal Part of Aging or a Disease?The Story of the ­Super-CentenariansThe Blue Zone AreasThe Effect of Our Changing DemographicsConclusion25 • The Future of FTD ResearchSlow Progress but Much HopeMore Genetic ResearchA Search for the ProcessAre Rates of Dementia Falling?The Bredesen ProtocolAutopsy ResearchFamous People Who Suffered from Dementia26 • Personal ReflectionsChapter NotesResourcesRecommended ReadingBibliographyIndex