Fast Facts for Dementia Care: What Nurses Need to Know in a Nutshell

Named a 2013 Doody's Core Title!

This is an excellent resource for nurses working in any care setting with persons with dementia. It provides a clear, common-sense approach to providing nursing care, regardless of whether it is in an emergency room, home, or nursing home."--Doody's Medical Reviews

"This is an excellent resource not only for nurses, but for allied health professionals, as well. The writing is engaging and concise, while also covering the essentials of physical and psychosocial care for persons with dementia. The book contents move beyond a purely medical model to embrace a more contemporary and comprehensive person-centered care approach. Helpful communication strategies are explored as well as care management across the continuum of a progressive dementia."

Lisa Snyder, L.C.S.W.
Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
University of California, San Diego
Author, Speaking Our Minds v± What it's Like to Have Alzheimer's and Living Your Best with Early-Stage Alzheimer's

Carol Miller's commitment to holistic care of the person with dementia is evident in this book. Anyone who is a caregiver for someone with dementia will find this to be a valuable resource.

Patricia Fuehr, MSN, RN, FNP-BC
Master Faculty Specialist
Western Michigan University
School of Nursing

"From her opening Preface to the closing pages of index topics, Ms. Miller fulfills her promise to give us the "Fast Facts for Dementia Care" and she does so in a simple and orderly progressionvñHer lists and Tables, Fast Facts in a Nutshell, and Resources in a Nutshell are just packed with useful care applications. Having been one of the care partners for my mother who had dementia of the Alzheimer's type, I can attest to how "right on" Ms. Miller's book is in addressing the important topics relating to dementia care. As a nurse, I found this book exceptional in its thorough and holistic coverage of this very challenging topic. From cover to cover, clinical facts are clear and clinical insights ring true! I highly recommend Fast Facts for Dementia Care to nurses, other health professionals and care partners of persons with dementia."

Joanne P. Stuimer, RN, BSN
Retired, Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging

Fast Facts for Dementia Care: What Nurses Need to Know in a Nutshell by Carol A. Miller, MSN isn't just a book for nurses. It should interest any professional who works with older adults with dementia and needs a condensed version of current and critical evidence-based practice to provide optimal care. That includes social workers and countless others. There are many impressive aspects of the book, from its Clinical Snapshots to its Resources in a Nutshell. However, given my particular background, I was most taken by the chapter on Ethical and Legal Issues, with its clarity on individual rights, description of essential legal documents, and particularly its inclusion of elder abuse and how to address this problem that disproportionately affects those with dementia.

Georgia J. Anetzberger, PhD, ACSW
President, National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
Adjunct Faculty, Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve University

Fast Facts for Dementia Care, written by Carol Miller, MSN presents the topic of dementia in a clear and concise format. Not only is it easy to read, but helps one understand all the issues that people with dementia face, as well as those caring for people with dementia. I especially like the 'clinical snapshot' portion of the book. These quick vignettes help the reader to associate real life situations and offers solutions for them. She addresses all the aspects of dementia care including what is dementia, managing behaviors associated with dementia, and end of life care; she does all this while focusing on the "person-centered" approach. This book is a 'must have' for anyone who is associated with people who are afflicted with any stage of dementia.

Karen Wajda, RN, MSN
Client Services Manager
Home Instead Senior Care
Nurse Educator, Ursuline College

The book presents specific care strategies for all stages of dementia and emphasizes relatively simple interventions that nurses can incorporate into their care plans to prevent problems or address them before they escalate. The guide distinguishes between dementia and conditions that mimic dementia, discusses issues related to specific care settings, presents person-centered strategies for families and care partners, and covers the assessment and management of pain, safety concerns, communication strategies, and ethical and legal issues. It additionally provides numerous resources that nurses can offer to caregivers. Fast Facts for Dementia Care will serve as a daily companion for all clinical nurses who work with older patients in any setting, including the emergency room, medical-surgical unit, medical office, and community mental health settings.

• Easy to use and carry in all patient settings
• Provides communication techniques for different stages of dementia
• Describes numerous interventions for addressing issues such as pain, safety, behaviours, and ADLs
• Includes the "Fast Facts in a Nutshell" feature for quick reference
• Illustrates content with case vignettes

Carol A. Miller, MSN, RN-BC is an independent care manager at Care & Counseling, where she focuses on promoting wellness for clients and their families.