Here's How to Treat Dementia

Covering assessment to plan of care and discharge, Here's How to Treat Dementia is the only comprehensive, all-inclusive field manual therapists need while working with the dementia population. With this timely resource, speech-language pathologists can easily access all the information they need to adequately diagnose, treat, and document care of the client who has dementia. Far from a cookbook approach to dementia care, this manual includes valuable information on staging of dementia, goal setting (including documentation), and treatment trends. The authors provide functional tips and intervention strategies that encourage the clinicians to utilize critical thinking skills in formulating creative, personalized care plans specific to each patient's individual strengths and weaknesses. This user-friendly manual also includes reproducible forms and handouts for patient/family education, resource education, documentation, and data collection.

Jennifer L. Loehr M.A. CCC-SLP has been practicing speech pathology since 1989. Her career focus has always been in geriatrics and she has spent the past ten years focused on working with the dementia population. Jennifer has served as a corporate consultant for several large healthcare agencies offering advisement and staff training in dementia care. She has presented regularly at the national American Speech-Language-Hearing conferences as well as various state and local conferences and workshops. Jennifer specializes in developing dementia programs that focus on functional goals that will enhance the quality of life for her patients, caregivers and family members. Jennifer currently works in home health care, providing dementia programs and speech therapy services to home bound patients in independent living, assisted living, and Alzheimer s assisted living facilities.

Megan L. Malone, M.A. CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist working in home health care and private practice. Her specialty areas include developing functional intervention strategies for patients living with cognitive impairments and their families, and training facility staff and caregivers in understanding and working effectively with the dementia population. She previously worked for 9 years as a senior research associate and lead trainer at Myers Research Institute, in Cleveland, Ohio, where she oversaw federally and privately funded grants focused on implementing non-pharmacologic interventions with older adults with dementia. She has spoken numerous times at the annual conventions of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Gerontological Society of America, American Society on Aging, and the Alzheimer s Association, along with several state speech and hearing conventions. She has published articles in the Journal of Communication Disorders, Alzheimer s Care Quarterly, The Gerontologist, and Dementia.