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Fast Facts for Dementia Care

In her book, Fast Facts for Dementia Care Carol A. Miller addresses an area in nursing care that has caused difficulties since Alzheimer’s Disease was first recognized in 1907. In just 200 pages, Miller has written a concise yet informative guide that will increase nurses’ knowledge about dementia and its care and allow for improved health outcomes in this population. Dementia comes in many forms, and these must all be understood to deliver appropriate care. Miller examines dementia’s complexities in intuitively categorized chapters that are supplemented with numerous “fast fact” boxes that offer easily digestible summations and clinical examples. As the book begins, Miller describes the recognition and diagnosis of the various types of dementia, paying special attention to differential diagnosis. Not only can dementia present in various degrees of progression, but it can also differ widely in pathology—and each form requires different approaches to treatment. Medical conditions and iatrogenic causes can mimic dementia, as well, but Miller relates the necessary steps for differentiation in succinctly worded tables and diagrams. Of special note is a lengthy chapter on separating depression in the elderly from dementia: the symptoms are similar, yet there are ways to reliably distinguish between the two. Miller’s review of psychopharmacological treatments for dementia is a brief but informative resource. She also reviews nonpharmacological interventions, focusing on communication strategies and the maintenance of safe environments. Promotion and retention of memory is highlighted numerous times. The clinical snapshots offered every few pages allow the reader to synthesize the information and begin applying it to real-life situations. Several chapters have specific topics that are of importance for the care of demented patients: one example is how to assess pain in a patient who may not have the cognitive capacity to accurately report source, frequency, or exacerbating factors. In this book, Miller expands far beyond a simple definition of dementia and its associated care plans. She explains behavioral expectations, the effect of care setting upon outcomes, and the multidimensional ethical and legal issues that impact persons with dementia. Her book uses easy-to-understand language and logical classification to provide information that will benefit all nurses who expect to encounter these individuals. And, since most nurses will encounter dementia in their careers regardless of setting, education and awareness of this disease process are vital in the modern health care landscape.