Main description:

To be diagnosed with dementia is 'like being blindfolded and let loose in a maze'. There is no clear treatment to follow, because each case is unique. But once thickets of misunderstanding and misinformation are brushed aside, there are pathways to hope. 'Secular models of support don't adequately reflect Christian values of compassion, love and service,' explains Louise Morse. 'Neither do they describe the power of spiritual support. This is key to the wellbeing of the caregiver, as well as the person with dementia.' This book is packed with examples of what works, as well as practical advice and accessible medical information. Louise Morse is a cognitive behavioural therapist and works with a national charity whose clients include people with dementia. Her MA dissertation, based on hundreds of interviews, examined the effects on families of caring for a loved one with dementia.

Contents:

Contents
Foreword 9
Acknowledgments 12
1 - At the Heart of the Matter
The effects of negative thinking 15
2 - The Brightest Hope on the Narrowest Path
The solid nature of real hope, and examples of how it works 20
3 - Understanding Dementia and Finding Pathways to Hope
What dementia is, what it isn't, and the importance of resilience 30
4 - The Diagnosis Dilemma and the Crossroads
The push for more diagnosis and the lack of care brings us to a crossroads 49
5 - Strength for the Journey
How preparing for old age strengthens us even through the dementia journey 69
6 - A Way to Conquer the Dementia Plague
Science searches for the answer but could it be simply living the way God intended? 89
7 - Communities that Work
Church and other communities helping, with powerful results 112
8 - Connecting at the Eternal Level
The Holy Spirit connects us even when other communications fail 135
9 - The Highway through the Heart
Caregivers caring for themselves 150
10 - When Hope Shines Through
God keeps His word 170
Appendices