Navigating the challenging journey that families and friends of
Alzheimer's patients must endure, this heartfelt guide reveals how their
struggle is as complex and drawn out as the illness itself. Confronting
their natural but difficult process of grieving and mourning, the study
covers the inevitable feelings of shock, sadness, anger, guilt, and
relief, illustrating the initial reactions people commonly feel from the
moment of the dementia's onset. Healthy and productive ways to
acknowledge and express these feelings are suggested along with 100 tips
and activities that fulfill the emotional, spiritual, cognitive,
physical, and social needs of those who care about someone afflicted
with this debilitating disease. Special consideration is also shown for
caregivers, whose grief is often complicated by the demanding physical
attention that patients require.