by Joan Blumenfeld, MS, LPC

Americans of all political stripes seem able to agree on one thing:  we are fed up with the stumbling economy and the mean-spirited gridlock in Washington.  But sometimes our government actually gets things right!  Case in point:  the Government Printing Office, in conjunction with both the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Aging, has published an outstanding guide for people who are giving care to persons with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).  It’s a gem and it’s free!

The title, Caring for a Person with Alzheimer’s Disease — Your Easy-to-Use Guide from the National Institute on Aging, is deceptively simple but the information inside has depth, breadth and a clarity I have seldom found in similar publications.  This booklet is full of workable ideas for handling the multiple problems presented by caring for someone with AD and solid explanations of problematic behaviors and their causes.  The whole thing is written in simple English without being patronizing or using medical jargon or psychobabble.

It really is an easy-to-use guide that takes into consideration the decline and changes in the person with AD as well as the concerns and needs of the caregiver.  It addresses all issues associated with AD: medical, social, legal, financial, practical and emotional.