Finding the Light in Dementia:: A Guide for Families, Friends and Caregivers

Product Information

Finding the Light in Dementia is created by myself, Jane M Mullins, people living with dementia, their families, caregivers and leading professionals and researchers in the field It concludes by discussing the possibility of the person needing admission to a care home and advises how to face this and choose the best home.’ If your partner is still working, you will need to consider discussing the diagnosis with their Human Resources/Personnel department and occupational health. Depending on their job and how their dementia is affecting them, employers should be able to offer some flexible working support or plans. They may also help with discussing pensions and possible future options. A diagnosis of dementia does not necessarily mean that they have to give up their job immediately but the roles that they undertake may change. This will include resources to help them cope with the grief and bereavement, and other challenges that they will have experienced due to Covid. Finding the Light In Dementia has been invaluable and has helped us know what to do and how. We are currently caring for my 90-year-old Mum together in her home and with all the challenges that Stage 6 Alzheimer’s bring, this book has been a great source of wisdom on how to tailor our approach. We have used the book to provide a consistent approach to her care. All professional home caregivers would also benefit from reading this to enable them to provide the best care possible in their role. It’s also a book that reminds us to look after ourselves!”--Angharad and Anthony Brown, Daughter and Son-in-Law, Family Carers

A great way to stay connected together with your loved one living with dementia is by creating a memory box. This will help you enjoy the present by exploring meaningful objects that reflect parts of your lives. It is also a good starting point to creating yours and your care partner’s life stories (Read Finding the Light in Dementia: A Guide for Families, Friends and Caregivers for more information). She has uncovered certain common features that help caregivers & the people they care for find better ways of coping. Things you can do to help include many of the suggestions I give in my book, Finding the Light in Dementia, a Guide for Families, Friends and Caregivers. This includes: When managing a Care Home, she has supported their transition from home to residential care using life stories as a guide to planning their life & care throughout their remaining years. Lesley Butcher, Lecturer in Adult Nursing, Cardiff University, previous Dementia Care Home Manager - Jane's enthusiasm for 'Finding the Light in Dementia Care' comes from a place of humanity and a genuine desire to help and support people affected by dementia. Jane Mullins is a professional, who is passionate about caring for people who are living with dementia & supporting those who care for them. This extends to not only the loved one's of people with dementia, but also staff who work in the industry. Jane's kindness & compassion for people is evident. Although she has valuable experience, knowledge, & qualifications in the field of Dementia Care, she approaches her work from a 'human' perspective. Her empathetic nature & non-judgmental attitude make her approachable. This is an asset in relation to teaching; learners can feel relaxed & at ease.Created with people who have dementia, families and caregivers and delivered through films, animations, presentations and podcasts – Accessible, enjoyable, sustainable real-life learning for all learning styles and levels. There are quotes from people with dementia and others, which provide relevancy and break up the chapters. I found it easy to read and absorb.’ ‘It is very easy to read, with lots of advice about everyday practicalities,’ says Janet. Include significant information in your lives such a dates, people and places and key moments which can include first job, university, marriage, birth of children etc. Then you can add in themes such as holidays, hobbies, life in your local community etc. Through these resources , you will learn how to identify a person’s needs and work with their strengths. You will learn to care with confidence throughout all stages of the condition, as well as care for yourself. There may be more books than ever about dementia. But few prove as helpful and practical for those who find themselves at a loss when the diagnosis is first made than Jane Mullins' Finding the Light in Dementia: A guide for Families and caregivers (DUETcare, 2017).

Please consider writing a review for Finding the Light in Dementia, a Guide for Families, Friends and Caregivers to help other people affected by the condition Maybe start off with writing down their wants and not wants. For example, they may have specific religious and/or cultural beliefs that may influence what they eat or how they worship or they may wish to avoid certain medical treatment. It is important that their choices are documented and whilst, of course decisions can change, you have both taken some control in future planning.It is quite likely that you will both be feeling anxious, I would certainly recommend trying to get outdoors together and go on some walks to help your moods and to help you both get into the habit of making healthy decisions. It may also be worth finding out about psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help with low mood and anxiety that may occur due to the dementia. Your doctor may be able to recommend a psychotherapist or a counsellor to help you both. Finding the light will also prove invaluable by introducing ways to keep your partner mentally and physically stimulated that may help towards slowing down the progression of their dementia. Caroline Branney, who manages our Dementia Knowledge Centre, warns against making the proverbial mistake about judging books. Meghani, N.A.A.,Hudson, J., Stratton, G, and Mullins, J., 2023. Optimising older adults’ home spaces to enhance their physical activity level; an explorative qualitative study protocol. BMJ (Open), 13(2), p.e066940. Andrea Nicholas Jones, Director Strategic Partnerships, Action for Elders, Wales Trustee & Chair of National Council, Hourglass (Action on Elder Abuse), Welsh Government Strategy for Older People Lead, British Irish Council Chair working group on Preventative Spend. "A Dementia diagnosis can be devastating for the individual and their family, however, with the right support, people can still live a productive and meaningful life. Critical for this is training for staff on how to enable the individual to maximise their wellbeing. This programme offers this and more and has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for anyone living with dementia. The care staff wellbeing hub will offer invaluable support to staff working in this challenging area." Mullins, Jane M. Book Review: “Wandering the Wards: An Ethnography of Hospital Care and its Consequences for People Living with Dementia.” (2021): 14713012211054370.