Purim1 Eductrtion und Counsrlin~. 18 (1991) 211-275 Elsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd.

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Off the Shelf

Taking Care of Caregivers: For Families and Others who Care for People with Alzheimer’s Disease and other Forms of Dementia D. Jeanne Roberts 181 pages, 1991, paper, index, W314.95

This is a workbook designed to help Alzheimer caregivers understand the situations in which they find themselves and to develop individually plan- ned strategies to aid in their effective coping with those situations. Specific areas addressed by the book include needs of caregivers, dealing with stress, communicating with persons who have pro- gressive dementia, dealing with feelings, grief work, sharing and support. There are several outstanding sections in the book. One is a section which guides the caregiver in developing an understanding of and empathy for the feelings ex- perienced by the person with dementia. Two other sections which are rarely addressed in existing literature are strategies for stress management for the Alzheimer’s patient and understanding the nonverbal communication of the person with de- mentia.

The book provides little in the way of specific factual information for the Alzheimer’s caregiver, however, tending towards lists and generalized statements. Indeed, the title of the book may be somewhat misleading. Alzheimer caregivers who find this book may not read through the introduc- tion to realize that the workbook is intended to be used in conjunction with support group activities. Nearly half of the book is devoted to exercise pages which are questions followed by blanks for the caregiver to write in responses. Many caregivers function in situations which are so filled

with activity and stress that it seems unlikely that they will have the time available for the degree of reflection required by the exercise pages.

For the highly motivated caregiver who follows through with tilling in the blanks in the workbook a number of sensitive issues are likely to arise. It will be important for caregivers who complete many of the exercises in this book to have the sup- port of a professional to facilitate working through the issues which are raised. For example, it may add to the frustration of a caregiver to self- identify a number of areas in which they have a need for assistance without having access to infor- mation on how to locate those resources within their community.

This book will be of most benefit to the support group leader or professional working with Alzheimer’s caregivers who is seeking a systematic way to guide those individuals toward optimum coping with their caregiving situations. The book is too limited in the area of factual information to function as a caregiver self-help tool in isolation, but combined with professional guidance the exer- cises in the workbook may be helpful.

Sharon King, RN, CS, PhD Assistant Professor College of Nursing Michigan State University