Don’t forget the carers

There is plenty of advice about most problems likely to be encountered during the long ‘career’ of someone with dementia — from early diagnosis to death. There is a guide for staff to assess caregiver needs, covering topics such as changes in relationship roles, unsafe driving, problem behaviours and the need for services such as nursing home care. Other family members are included in the approach advocated by the authors, and there is an emphasis on empowering caregivers and their families to solve future problems, with support from the professional counsellor when necessary. The breadth of approach is illustrated by interesting topics such as “the caregiver’s role in hospital”. Here, caregivers are advised how to deal with hospital staff in a tactful manner while negotiating the hazards of a hospital stay.