Younger People with Dementia

Part 1 Setting the scene: Assessment and service responses for younger people with dementia, Jane McLennan; Epidemiological issues and younger people with dementia, Kirstie Woodburn; Needs assessment -individual and strategic care planning, Gregor McWalter, Jim Chalmers; Opportunities and threats - multi-agency perspectives and person-centred planning, Sylvia Cox. Part 2 Specific considerations: HIV and related brain impairment, Steve Jamieson; Huntington's disease, Roseanne Cetnarskyj, Mary Porteous; Learning disability and dementia, Sally-Ann Cooper; Alcohol-related brain impairment - an approach to the problem in Victoria, Australia, Simon Crowe. Part 3 Developing an individual understanding: Dark head amongst the grey - experiencing the worlds of young people with dementia, John Killick; Negotiating care-giving and employment, Dianne Seddon; Young cares - individual circumstances and practice consideration in dementia caregiving, Jane Gilliard; Family caregiving and younger people with dementia, experiences and service expectations, John Keady, Nick Nolan; Designing for younger people with dementia - the needs of younger people with dementia, Gretta Peachment. Part 4 Practice developments: Younger people with dementia - psychosocial interventions for individual and their families, Bob Woods; Support groups for people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, Robyn Yale; Training and younger people with dementia - a shared learning perspective, Alan Chapman; Changing the mindset - developing an agenda for change, Sylvia Cox, John Keady.

This book is not one to be just read. Because of its academic nature it is to be studied, discussed with colleagues and used as a reference tool. It embraces medical, sociological and psychological approaches in addressing and understanding the particular needs of persons with younger onset dementia. ""Younger"" is defined as being anyone under the age of 65, and particularly those in their third, fourth, fifth and sixth decade. In addition to scholarly essays, there are also many accounts from people with dementia as well as their caregivers…What we especially like about this book is the collaborative effort of various disciplines from several countries. As it is not limited to national boundaries, it gives a window into writings and practices from around the world…The result is an impressive and informative book from which all of us working in the Alzeimer's community can benefit. Sylvia Cox and John Keady are to be commended for taking on the task of editing this excellent book…This is a timely book that argues that ""information from the wide range of existing practice and clinical knowledge can be shared and built upon; the contributors call for a collaborative, interprofessional and multidisciplinary approach to all stages of the provision of services."" This they have accomplished with their contributions to this book.