Product Description

Doing Things shows how to provide a positive environment for persons with Alzheimer's disease by offering opportunities for social interaction and constructive, enjoyable activities. Zgola outlines the ways in which a patient's functional impairment can be assessed; the strengths, weaknesses, and needs most commonly encountered among persons with Alzheimer's disease; and ways activities can be tailored to accommodate them. She offers step-by-step instructions for selecting and presenting appropriate activities and includes cooking and crafts projects, a sample exercise routine, and a sample daily schedule. The techniques she describes are designed to promote a sense of security and self-esteem, by avoiding possible sources of confusion or confrontation.

Based on the highly successful program developed at one day-care facility for persons with dementia, Doing Things offers an invaluable guide for professionals and volunteers supervising activities at day-care centers and extended-care facilities -- as well as for individuals who are caring for patients at home. Throughout, Zgola's emphasis is on treating persons who have Alzheimer's disease with empathy, courtesy, and dignity.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #112577 in Books
• Published on: 1987-06-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 168 pages

Review

"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

Review

"It is vitally important that we understand the ways in which programs can benefit people with Alzheimer's disease -- not by altering the course of the disease but by improving the quality of life. This book tells in clear, step-by-step language how to provide this care." -- Nancy L. Mace, coauthor of The 36-Hour Day

About the Author

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

Customer Reviews

Programs for the Elderly
A wonderful resource for all TR Directors in the Geriatric Setting.

Practical Classic
One of the first books written on Alzheimer's and activities, it remains a valuable source of practical ideas for professionals and families. I appreciate the author's optimistic and can-do attitude. Even better, it's an easy book to read and easy to put the book's concepts and ideas. into pratice. SBDavidT@aol.com