This special issue of Neuropsychological Rehabilitation provides an opportunity to characterise some of the key clinical issues concerned with assessing and managing pathologies of subjective or conscious awareness. Elucidating the cognitive processes underlying awareness, and their corresponding phenomenological experiences, provides the necessary theoretical platform to inform assessments and justify interventions aimed at compensating for, and/or reducing the functional consequences of, impaired awareness. This special issue represents an attempt to bring together previously disparate research findings and conceptual issues from relevant fields within medicine and the psychological sciences and, in so doing, provide for a more coherent, comprehensive account which clinicians and theoreticians can use to better understand the apparently obvious but unwieldy construct of awareness.

The relevance of cognitive rehabilitation for people with dementia is becoming increasingly accepted by researchers and practitioners in the field. This special issue draws together examples of state-of-the-art research and systematic review by experts in this exciting and growing area. The contributors show how cognitive rehabilitation approaches can be applied, in different ways, to help optimise functioning and address specific difficulties across the full spectrum of severity. While the main focus is on the more commonly diagnosed forms of dementia, treatment possibilities for people with fronto-temporal dementia are also explored. Cognitive rehabilitation interventions need to be grounded in a clear assessment of the profile of strengths and limitations in cognitive functioning, and to demonstrate where possible that treatment effects extend beyond improvement on target measures to have a meaningful impact on wellbeing and quality of life. For this reason, the special issue includes contributions that explore detailed aspects of cognitive functioning or describe new developments in evaluating quality of life in dementia. Cognitive rehabilitation, it is suggested, should be viewed as one important component of a holistic approach to helping people with dementia, their families, and those who care for them. This special issue seeks both to provide information about what has already been achieved and to encourage and stimulate further progress.

Rehabilitation provides a core concept around which to organise support, intervention and care for people with impairments in memory and other cognitive functions. This book introduces a conceptual framework and rationale for the application of a neuropsychological rehabilitation approach for people with dementia, helping them to manage, bypass or overcome these problems and experience optimum well-being. Methods and techniques of cognitive rehabilitation are described and the process of goal-setting is discussed in detail, showing how effective strategies may be linked to form an individualised, goal-oriented approach to intervention. The application of a rehabilitation approach in real-life contexts is explored, demonstrating the role and value of neuropsychological rehabilitation within a holistic, psychotherapeutic framework of care and support. This overview of the neuropsychological rehabilitation approach to dementia care will be of great interest to psychologists as well as to those studying or practising in the area.

This special issue of Neuropsychological Rehabilitation provides an opportunity to characterise some of the key clinical issues concerned with assessing and managing pathologies of subjective or conscious awareness. Elucidating the cognitive processes underlying awareness, and their corresponding phenomenological experiences, provides the necessary theoretical platform to inform assessments and justify interventions aimed at compensating for, and/or reducing the functional consequences of, impaired awareness. This special issue represents an attempt to bring together previously disparate research findings and conceptual issues from relevant fields within medicine and the psychological sciences and, in so doing, provide for a more coherent, comprehensive account which clinicians and theoreticians can use to better understand the apparently obvious but unwieldy construct of awareness.

The relevance of cognitive rehabilitation for people with dementia is becoming increasingly accepted by researchers and practitioners in the field. This special issue draws together examples of state-of-the-art research and systematic review by experts in this exciting and growing area.
The contributors show how cognitive rehabilitation approaches can be applied, in different ways, to help optimise functioning and address specific difficulties across the full spectrum of severity. While the main focus is on the more commonly diagnosed forms of dementia, treatment possibilities for people with fronto-temporal dementia are also explored. Cognitive rehabilitation interventions need to be grounded in a clear assessment of the profile of strengths and limitations in cognitive functioning, and to demonstrate where possible that treatment effects extend beyond improvement on target measures to have a meaningful impact on wellbeing and quality of life. For this reason, the special issue includes contributions that explore detailed aspects of cognitive functioning or describe new developments in evaluating quality of life in dementia. Cognitive rehabilitation, it is suggested, should be viewed as one important component of a holistic approach to helping people with dementia, their families, and those who care for them. This special issue seeks both to provide information about what has already been achieved and to encourage and stimulate further progress.

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Rehabilitation provides a core concept around which to organise support, intervention and care for people with impairments in memory and other cognitive functions. This book introduces a conceptual framework and rationale for the application of a neuropsychological rehabilitation approach for people with dementia, helping them to manage, bypass or overcome these problems and experience optimum well-being. Methods and techniques of cognitive rehabilitation are described and the process of goal-setting is discussed in detail, showing how effective strategies may be linked to form an individualised, goal-oriented approach to intervention. The application of a rehabilitation approach in real-life contexts is explored, demonstrating the role and value of neuropsychological rehabilitation within a holistic, psychotherapeutic framework of care and support. This overview of the neuropsychological rehabilitation approach to dementia care will be of great interest to psychologists as well as to those studying or practising in the area.

"Perfect for anyone navigating the often-tumultuous journey of prodigals. This will bring solace and much-needed hope."-Mary DeMuth, author of Healing Every Day Where to Turn When You Love a Wayward Child You know what your child needs most is love. And you've given it to him over and over again. You've done all you can to train up your child, and yet you're left brokenhearted as you watch her choose a different path. Parents who love their prodigal no matter what, know that watching their child walk away can cause overwhelming guilt, frustration, and sadness. Whether you're still waiting for your child's return or are navigating your relationship after he or she has come home, this collection of topical prayers offers God's comfort, wisdom, and compassion. Find encouragement in your journey with heartfelt prayers for faith hope forgiveness trust courage peace miracles grace As much as you love your prodigal, you can rest in the blessed assurance that your heavenly Father loves your child even more.

The volume has ambitious scope and covers almost all potential supports and services. Most of the chapters have been written by professionals who work with people with dementia and their families, and most are British social workers and professionals allied-to-medicine (occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy).' - Ageing and Society 'Marshall, in her introduction, states that the aim of the book is to strengthen the link between rehabilitation and dementia and to encourage the understanding that people with dementia do benefit from rehabilitation and treatment. The book clearly meets this aim with the contributors offering convincing arguments for the conceptualisation of dementia care as rehabilitation and the potential for improvements in symptoms and in quality of life for people with dementia... The book is accessible, easy to read, informative and provides practical information and new ideas useful for practitioners, services providers, commissioners and policy makers.' - Social Policy 'This book has much to offer a range of professionals and those teaching them at post-qualifying levels.' - Journal of Interprofessional Care 'The chapters give us a real and honest appraisal of the pains and possibilities of dementia. And David Jolley ends his chapter with what could be seen as a surprising statement that "Life with dementia is worth Living". His ideas sum up the tone of the book which asserts that people with dementia still have much to give but need help in order to maintain health, safety and dignity, and offers various practical therapeutic models that have been worked out in different settings... throughout the book we are encouraged to keep the person with dementia at the centre of care and to see them as a unique individual with a disability who needs help.' - Perspectives on Rehabilitation and Dementia 'Service planners could gain from dipping in to this collection and testing the extent to which their current plans reflect the thinking shared by the authors. The importance of team working is stated throughout, and in an era of partnership working this provides yet another useful policy book on which to hang revised plans' - Community Care 'Contributions from people with dementia and their families provide the central core of the text and anchor it firmly in reality. There is a unanimously positive approach to rehabilitation. Many of the authors focus on self esteem and confidence with many references to the need of teamwork. They also share the positive view of people with dementia, which concentrates on personhood focussing upon the whole person, drawing upon their strengths as well as taking into account declining abilities in some areas. This book is strongly recommended for health care professions, particularly nursing courses.' - London Centre for Dementia Care News 'The book explores the positive outcomes for people with dementia in terms of quality of life and self-esteem, especially if rehabilitation is seen as a positive philosophy of practice as well as a set of skills and approaches. It includes many different perspectives from a diverse group of professionals, carers and practitioners, and people with dementia themselves.' - Working with Older People Perspectives on Rehabilitation and Dementia offers new insights into the application of a well-established approach and set of skills to a group of people who have traditionally been thought not to benefit from them. Indeed people with dementia have missed out on physical and psychological rehabilitation very substantially. This book demonstrates that rehabilitation has positive outcomes for people with dementia in terms of quality of life and self-esteem, especially if rehabilitation is seen as a positive philosophy of practice as well as a set of skills and approaches. The perspectives in this book are those of a very diverse group of professionals, carers, and people with dementia themselves. Professional backgrounds and the settings in which they work are diverse and include both academics and practitioners. The voices of people with dementia underline the importance of seeing how they understand rehabilitation for themselves. Professionals in almost all caring professions - nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, acute, geriatric and psychiatric medicine, psychology, social work and rehabilitation - will increasingly find themselves working with people with dementia. They need to be alert to the latest thinking on approaches and interventions. This book provides a readable course text for understanding both their own professional contribution and that of others in the team.