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'If you want to recommend one book
to a carer of someone with dementia, recommend this one. It is
a practical survival manual, written by a carer, aiming to offer guidance
and share experience of the day-to-day reality of caring for people
with dementia.
It is incredibly easy to understand and takes about an hour to complete,
an important selling point to its target audience. It covers
every aspect of care, from understanding memory to providing memory
prompts, from personal safety to personal care to the carer's own
well-being, with a compassionate eye to the dignity of the cared-for
person and the sanity of the carer.
The author uses her own experience of caring for her father to illustrate
her recommendations, and this personal experience anchors her advice
and proves its relevance. I was particularly impressed by the
chapter on carers and on how to look after yourself, which includes
relaxation and meditation techniques and tips on positive thinking.
Many books on dementia are very medicalised or written from a practitioner
viewpoint. This book is wonderfully simple: a guide for carers
by a carer, reassuringly honest and to the point.'
Rachel Wooller, Senior social
worker, Cambridgeshire Social Services Department. Community-Care
Magazine.
The immediate appeal of
this book is its clear and attractive format. The content is such
that it can be read straight through or the reader can dip in and
out of relevant sections. It is written from a dual perspective: the
author has theoretical knowledge from her professional nursing background,
but is also a family carer who has experienced the 'emotional consequence'
of finding herself in the position of looking after a father with
memory loss.
In the first chapter there
is a brief description of her father's journey, and the way she tried
to help him understand what he was experiencing - with examples of
the diagrams she used to explain the physical basis of memory loss.
How encouraging that right at the beginning the importance of a clear
explanation to the person with memory loss is demonstrated.
There are a number of
useful practical tips to help a person with memory loss to remember
things, using cues, association, diaries, note-books, visitors' books
and routine checklist, among others. Changes in behaviour as a result
of feeling frustrated, uncertain, lonely, impatient and suspicious
are discussed sensitively, as is the increasing need for assistance
with personal care.
The effect of these practical
tips, while assisting in helping the individual to cope with their
memory loss, is also to help the carer. The beauty of this book is
that while dealing with practical issues and providing assistance
in a sensitive and dignified manner, it manages to provide information
for the needs of the carer herself: "To be an effective carer
the first person you need to look after is yourself."
The latter half of the
book focuses on the needs of the carer and provides useful suggestions
for minimizing stress such as thinking positively, relaxation, meditation
and getting enough sleep. An appendix outlines some benefits and sources
of help available.
Some extracts from the
author's father's diaries show the progression of his failing memory
and the insight he had into this.
One brief criticism: the
book discusses memory loss and does not use the word dementia. As
we strive to remove the stigma associated with dementia it would have
been helpful, I feel, if the word had been included.
This person-centred
book would be a useful resource for family carers and professional
care staff alike. Useful tips are provided and the whole problem of
failing memory is discussed in a sensitive yet challenging manner.
Helen Leslie,
The Journal of Dementia Care, Vol. 2 No. 1 January/February 2004
This book is easy to read and
is presented in a logical, well structured format. Overall, it provides
the reader
with a well integrated synthesized account of both personal and 'technical'
information about caring. The book is formatted in a way that allows
the reader to select particular areas of interest to him or her and
this is enhanced through the use of notes in the margin. The text
is also further illustrated through the use of clear pictures and
diagrams.
The nine chapters of the book
reflect the evolving nature of becoming a carer, beginning with the
chapter 'Discovering you are a carer' and working towards practical
advice on how to help both the carer and the
cared for. From an occupational
therapy point of view, it is refreshing to see that the book has a
strong emphasis on the practical ways in which a person with a failing
memory can be helped to maintain his or her independence for as long
as possible. This is done with an honest approach that offers valuable
insights into the role of being a carer or being cared for. The authors
acknowledge the challenges of being a carer but also highlight the
rewards that can be gained from taking on this role.
This book would be useful to
a number of different readers. It would be a good text for carers,
health care professionals working with carers, basic grade occupational
therapists or therapists new to working with carers,
as well as for
students wanting to gain some valuable insights into the role of being
a carer. Overall, it is a book
that would be useful in a university
or departmental library
Kirsty
Pope, British journal of Occupational Therapy
February 2004 67(2)
This practical guide is intended to be read by carers of older people
with memory problems living at home or in care homes and by professionals
involved in caring for older people. Six of the chapters relate to
various aspects
of Josephine Woolf's research into prospective memory.
Aspects such as memory changes, insights into difficulties relating
to the individual and memory aids, are all
clearly explained and illustrated
with relevant diagrams. Of particular interest is the explanation
of the importance
of finding keys or cues to help trigger memory.
The book is grounded in Ms Woolf's experiences as a carer for her
father. Anecdotes illustrate her personal journey as a carer and these
are linked to the research study. The practical tips and advice about
how to aid memory will benefit family carers. They also give professionals
an insight into some of the difficulties caused by memory loss.
An interesting book, it meshes real life experiences of a carer with
the research.
Alan Chapman, Education and Training Manager,
Dementia Services Development Centre, University of Stirling.
Nursing Standard Journal 6 July 2005, No. 43
Co-author
Josephine Woolf, who has a background in nursing as well as psychology,
found herself in the role of main carer for her father, who developed
dementia. Together with her brother Michael, she provides us with
a deeply personal and often compelling account into the range of problems
presented by someone with dementia, in a concise, understandable,
informative and down to earth manner, which is evidently based on
personal experience underpinned by professional insight.
The book covers every aspect of caring for someone with dementia,
from understanding memory to helping a person with dementia to remember
things, using cues, association, diaries, note-books, visitors' books
and routine checklists; from personal safety to personal care to the
carer's own well-being, both physically and psychologically, whilst
retaining a compassionate eye to the dignity of the cared-for person.
I really only have one criticism, which is the fact that the author
consistently uses the terms 'memory loss' or 'failing memory' rather
than the word dementia. As we all strive to reduce the stigma associated
with mental illness, including dementia, the use of the word dementia
throughout the book would have been more helpful.
I recommend this book to a number of different readers. Firstly and
baldly, to patients in the early stages of their illness, who retain
a degree of insight and are interested and brave enough to want to
learn about a multitude of aspects of their likely future journey.
Secondly, to all carers, both informal and professional, for whom
this book offers invaluable insights into the various roles of being
a carer. Thirdly, to all other aspiring and practicing colleagues
in the field of dementia, if only to recommend it to patients and
carers alike.
In summary, this book should be found on the bookcase in every house,
care home, institute and department working with and/or caring for
older people with dementia.
Walter Pierre Bouman, Consultant Psychiatrist for
Older Adults. University Hospital, Nottingham, UK.
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2005
This
book has been carefully thought about … the layout, content and
presentation style all combine to help the reader find their way round
with ease. The size of the book makes it easy to handle, and the text
size makes it easy to read.
The authors are clear about
who this book is aimed at, namely anyone who finds themselves thrust
by circumstance into the role of caring for someone who's memory is
failing, and clearly reflects their own experiences of caring. It
concentrates on the practical aspects of coping with daily life, and
gives clear guidance for people with minimal understanding of the
complex workings of memory, all written in positive language.
There are useful margin notes
throughout the book that would help the reader to relocate a particular
place, and this layout style also helps the reader who likes to "dip
in" to a book rather than read it cover to cover. Each chapter
contains a "mind map" style presentation of the chapter's
content and ends with a summary of the main points.
I found it very readable and
positive in its approach - a recommended read.
This is the sort of book that
should be available at any older person's resource centre, that any
professional could leave with someone when first contacting services,
or for older people's carer support organizations to have available.
Steve Kings RMN BSc, Clinical
Nurse Leader, Mental Health Services for Older People, Cardiff and
Vale NHS Trust.
SIGNPOST JOURNAL, June 2005
'Thank you for writing this book. I am sure it will be a real
help for carers looking after people with dementia - who need to realise
that they are not alone and that there are ways to help. Your
experiences and techniques are valuable ways to help those particularly
in the earlier stages of the illness.
It is also a valuable book for student health professionals working
with people with dementias as it will give a useful insight into the
problems faced by the person and their carers. I don't think
student health professionals have much insight into the work of informal
carers so this should help.
The idea of finding a key to unlock the existing memory is excellent
which I will use in my own teaching. It should also be a useful
adjunct for practitioners working with people with these health problems.
I am suggesting that our library obtain several copies of this book.'
Adrian Newman, Senior lecturer,
Centre for Healthcare Education, University College, Northampton.
'There are many text books on the market currently relating to the
care of the older person, however, very few focus on the fundamental
day to day challenges which face carers both at home, in the community,
and in hospitals and nursing homes.
The book provides a much needed insight into the range of problems
presented by the older person with failing memory, in an understandable,
down to earth, no nonsense way, which is clearly based on personal
experience underpinned by professional insight. The book, therefore,
provides a very practical compendium of advice and guidance, which
has direct practical application. The book is clearly intended for
relatives and healthcare assistants as the primary readership, but
it will equally be of value to nursing and other healthcare students,
in addition to qualified practitioners caring for the elderly.
It is a book, which can be read with ease or 'dipped' into in order
to extract specific information of a very fundamental nature, which
can be utilised as a basis for nursing diagnosis, care planning, and
evaluation of care. I particularly like the layout of the book. It
is not cluttered with non essential photographs and diagram, and the
diagrams, which are included in the form of 'mind maps or spidergrams',
are extremely useful and easy to interpret.
It is a book, which should be found on the bookcases in every nursing
home and department caring for the elderly. It does not purport to
be what it is not, and it is a practical handbook 'peppered with'
advice and information, which can be readily interpreted and transferred
into meaningful care plans. It is a book, which also adds insightful
structure to an often confusing array of symptomotology, which can
be both confusing and distressing for the non professional carer.
The added value of the text is reflected in the fact that the authors
portray an empathy that can have only been generated from harrowing
first hand personal experience.'
Philip Pye OBE Faculty
Head, Dean of Faculty, Bangor University Faculty of Health
'The layout is very clear and easy to follow, enabling the reader
to dip in and out or read straight through. Lots of practical
tips on helping people to remember. Good all round advice; the message
that carers need to look after themselves is one that we are always
stressing.'
Sue Gladden, Wirral Carers'
Centre.
'This book is a moving and lucid description of the journey taken
by a family caring for their father who suffered from memory failure
over a period of years. Underlying the book is a sense of respect
and insight into the worries that both the person affected and the
carers will encounter and useful strategies for both in coping with
and understanding this slowly progressive condition.
Josephine Woolf describes how she managed to develop strategies for
helping both her father and herself in this situation. She pays respect
to the needs of the carer as well as the person with the memory problem
and gives clear and practical advice for both.
It is a chapter on "remembering to remember" where she describes approaches
to unlocking memory that is particularly useful. It gives carers a
chance to explore the "keys" which open the doors to memory retrieval
.The concepts are made easy to understand for the general reader and
are clearly set out. Most importantly they give a sense that there
are positive things that can be done to help the person with memory
loss.
This book is useful for all involved in the care of people with memory
impairment. It would sit well in the general practitioner's library
and would be helpful for GP registrars in training. It is a clear
and positive manual for care staff and all involved in the care of
those with dementia.'
Julia Lecky MB ChB
MRCGP DCH DRCOG General Practitioner and Trainer in General Practice
'This book offers sensible, practical advice on techniques for dealing
with failing memory in later life. It is based on good research
and is illustrated with a detailed case-history.'
Emeritus Professor D. B.
Bromley, University of Liverpool, UK.
'This book is essential reading for any carer of someone with failing
memory. Here we have the advantage of the shared experience of
a carer's professional knowledge of physiological, psychological and
practical expertise in a role that may take many of us by surprise
but can be a challenge that would enhance the lives of both the carer,
and the cared-for.'
Pauline Thorpe, Wirral. Amazon
review.
'A very informative work that details many important issues and problem
solving skills that are essential knowledge to the carer and/or professional.'
Terry Keen, Senior Lecturer
(Mental Health), Liverpool, UK.
'It is the personal experiences of the authors that come across particularly
strongly in the book - that this is written by those who have faced
up to the emotional and physical consequences of caring for someone
with failing memory adds great credence and truth to the advice offered.'
Catholic Pictorial.
'Learning that a parent is losing his or her memory and coming to
terms with the realisation that you are slowly losing the person you
love can be a very slow, tortuous and emotional journey. Dementia,
unlike other conditions, attacks the whole family, and very little
can be done to stop its destruction.
This book is an excellent description of how Josephine Woolf cared
for her father during the six years of his dementia and how she looked
at strategies to help him and cope herself.
The book then describes her research into the concept of 'remembering
to remember It is a very easy-to-read, practical description of approaches
and strategies to care that can be applied when caring for a person
at home, in hospital or in a care home.
A useful addition to a library, particularly useful for care staff
and informal carers who care for people in the early stages of dementia.'
Lynne Phair MA,
BSc Hons (Nursing), RGN, RMN, DPN
Full review in 'Nursing older people' magazine - September vol 15
no6 2003 Royal College of Nursing
'Few people who find themselves becoming a carer have any forewarning
or preparation for the job. Whether it happens overnight or gradually,
they are thrown into their new role with little chance to think about
it. I was lucky. My partner had his first stroke eight years
ago followed by a second 15 months later while undergoing surgery,
after which things went from bad to worse. We live in an area
where social services are very good, and near one of the best mental
health units in the country.
Thanks to our GP's insight, by the time things became really bad we
already had a network of support in place, from social worker to psychiatric
team (including a family therapist) as well as care facilities. Nevertheless,
the feeling of isolation, of not knowing what to do or if what you
were doing was right, sometimes of sheer desperation, was still there.
Co-author Josephine Woolf - who has a background in psychology, and
specifically in the study of the effects of old age and failing memory
- found herself the main carer for her ageing father. She writes
compassionately, explaining in simple language why and how the memory
fails, and describes the frustration and misery for the sufferer. She
gives practical ideas for helping the sufferer to live as independently
as possible while retaining their dignity (hence the title of the
book: simple notes left around the house can be of enormous benefit,
at least in the early stages).
She stresses the need for the carer to look after themselves too,
something which most find hard to do. But this book shows that,
with understanding of the problems and causes of failing memory, it
need not be as overwhelming as it might seem. I only wish I'd
had this book earlier.'
Kathy Stevenson, Daily Mail
'The book is very readable and the information very accessible. The
layout of the book is clear and concise and the information it contains
will provide a useful tool for anyone who is caring for a person with
failing memory. There are clear and helpful hints as to strategies
that could be employed and clear indications of some of the pitfalls
to be aware of. It is very sensitively written and gives good
guidelines for the carer about the person they are caring for and
about how to look after themselves.'
The Shrewsbury Voice.
'However much you love them, looking after a parent with failing memory
is physically and emotionally demanding. After working as a nurse
in the NHS and carrying out research into memory loss at Liverpool
University, Josephine Woolf thought she could cope with her elderly
father's needs.
She wasn't prepared for her emotional response to his memory loss,
but Josephine did eventually find simple, practical ways of helping
her fiercely independent father to cope. "Talking about Dad's
painful foot would remind him he had a chiropodist's appointment,"
she says, "and putting his pill container on the table where he ate
his meals meant he'd take his own medication. Helping him to manage,
rather than taking over, meant he could retain his self-worth."
After her father died, Josephine and her brother Michael turned their
experiences into a practical reference guide for carers in a similar
position.'
Good Housekeeping Magazine
'I have cared for my wife now for about five years with senile dementia
and with the advice from her doctors I thought I knew all the answers,
but the few pieces I've read, this book tells me I'll have things
to learn. I can well understand the thinking that's gone into
the title, brilliant.'
Letter from a reader, 81
years of age
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