Book for carers of people with dementia

The launch of a new book aimed at helping caregivers deal with Alzheimers and other dementias was hosted recently by Home Instead Senior Care, writes Brian Byrne.

'Confidence to Care' is written by Molly Carpenter, who has over 20 years experience as a personal and professional caregiver.

The owner of Home Instead Senior Care in Kildare and Laois, Amanda Bohan, says that approximately half of the people her organisation looks after are living with Alzheimer's disease or a dementia.

"We spend a lot of our time not only helping the client remain at home but also supporting the family caregiver in helping them feel confident in their role as caregiver and supporting them with expert advice and professional care services," she says.

The book combines personal stories with practical techniques drawn from caregiving experiences from family caregivers, professional caregivers and internationally recognised experts.

"In the beginning, taking care of that person will be maddening and frustrating and terrible," the author said at the recent launch. "And frankly, you won't be very good at it. I wasn't at the start. So how do you stay in control but still allow your loved one to maintain dignity? My answer has turned more pragmatic over the years. You do it by listening.

"Successful caregiving starts when you put yourself in someone else's shoes, when you learn to try and see what they see, and when you create a relationship based on respect and dignity.

'Confidence to Care 'also highlights the importance of the caring for the caregiver as well as caring for the person living with Alzheimer's or dementia.

The Irish edition of the book is available in paperback and in Kindle edition from Amazon.co.uk. The proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to dementia-related charities and causes in Ireland.