More than 5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease or a related form of dementia. By the year 2030, experts estimate that as many as 66 million people around the world will be faced with this life-altering disease. Unfortunately, these staggering statistics impact millions of caregivers, too. Compared with all types of caregivers, those who assist someone with dementia experience the highest levels of burnout, depression, poor health, and premature death. "A Dignified Life, Revised and Expanded" offers hope and help with a proven approach.
Ten years ago, the first edition of "A Dignified Life" changed the way the caregiving community approached Alzheimer's disease by showing caregivers how to act as a Best Friend to the person, finding positive ways to interact even as mental abilities declined. Firmly grounded in the latest knowledge about the progression and treatment of dementia, this expanded edition offers a wealth of immediately usable tips and new problem-solving advice. It incorporates practical ideas for therapeutic activities including the latest brain-fitness exercises stimulate the brain while adding structure, meaning, and context to daily routines. With new stories and examples as well as an updated resources section, "A Dignified Life, Revised and Expanded" gives caregivers the support and advice they need to be successful and inspired in their demanding roles.
While medical treatment of the disease hasn't changed in the past ten years, our understanding and awareness of treating people in a more caring way has changed substantially. With no cure on the immediate horizon, respectful care by effective and compassionate care partners is the only real "treatment" available to people with dementia. The Best Friends Approach is successful because it sustains people's connection to their world, their loved ones, and themselves. It's a universal program which has been embraced by professional and family caregivers throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. In its revised form, "A Dignified Life" offers caregivers an antidote to the burnout and frustration that often accompanies the role of caring for a person with Alzheimer's and dementia. Rather than struggling through a series of frustrations and failures, "A Dignified Life" shows the new generation care partners how to bring dignity, meaning, and peace of mind to the lives of both those who have Alzheimer's and dementia and those who care for them.

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Bring out the best in each person with dementia each day with more than 140 versatile, easy-to-implement Best Friends activities. Thousands of caregivers around the world know that providing Best Friends' care improves the quality of life of people with dementia by building on the essential elements of friendship; respect, empathy, support, trust, humor, and sharing time together. Using the Best Friends approach to activities, anyone on staff can turn any interaction with a resident or client into an activity that satisfies essential physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Each activity contains suggestions for personalizing the activity and matching it to the remaining strengths of the individual to ensure success and reduce challenging behaviors. The Best Friends Book of Alzheimer's Activities is chock full of inspiring and innovative ideas on how to: convert everyday activities into those with ""knack""; create new activities out of tried-and-true activities; provide activities between structured programs/events; increase self-esteem; adapt activities for people with late dementia; provide opportunities for connecting to others; create intergenerational experiences; use the person's life story in any activity; make activities out of personal care; conduct activities specifically for men; fill evening hours to alleviate sundowning; provide ""take-away"" activities for family caregivers to use at home; incorporate exercise into activities; use the Internet to expand and enrich activities. Many activities can be conducted spontaneously, with simple props, engaging older people in meaningful activity for extended periods. Best Friends activities are adult-oriented and flexible enough for staff and residents to add their own ideas. Special features include a list of the latest and most effective resources for activity professionals and helpful tips on communicating with people with dementia.

This collection of 149 all-new activities will add both meaning and enjoyment to the activities at adult day centers, home care settings, or residential care facilities. Feedback and insights from individuals with early-stage dementia helped shape this new collection, as well as activity suggestions from national and international dementia programs. New themes to explore in Volume 2 include activities related to the kitchen and food, life story sharing and reminiscence, religious and spiritual traditions, and wellness. Adaptations for people in the early and late stages of Alzheimer's disease, preventive measures to avoid unwanted surprises, and conversation tips make these activities particularly versatile.