Works by Daniel Kuhn
Alzheimer's Early Stages: First Steps for Family, Friends and Caregivers, 2nd edition (1999) 87 copies, 17 reviews
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 20th century
- Gender
- male
- Short biography
- Daniel Kuhn, MSW is Vice President of Education at All Trust Home Care, a home services company that specializes in the care of people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, with offices in Hinsdale and Deerfield, Illinois. Since 1973, he has been active in the fields of health care and aging as a social worker and an educator. He completed a master's degree in social work at the University of Illinois in Chicago and is a licensed clinical social worker. He has authored or co-authored more than 50 publications on dementia care, end-of-life care, and family caregiving issues.
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Reviews
Alzheimer's Early Stages: First Steps for Family, Friends and Caregivers, 3rd Edition by Daniel Kuhn
- "Where did I leave my keys?"
"It's on the tip of my tongue."
"How could I forget to pay that bill or make that appointment? "
We all have "senior moments" that we brush off; perhaps we were too busy or stressed about other things. Forgetting is a normal part of life but sometimes we pause and shiver with dread: does that forgetfulness signal the beginning of the descent into the abyss of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
If you or a family member has recently show more received such a diagnosis, Alzheimer's Early Stages can help prepare you and your family for the changes that this disease brings. Kuhn deals with what AD is, how to deal with and care for an AD patient and how to take good care of yourself. Kuhn's suggestions range from the basic "think positive, try not to feel overwhelmed, maintain a good diet, exercise and socialize" to the equally important "keep guns and power tools away from someone with AD". He covers when it might be necessary to stop driving, finances, changing roles and responsibilities and avoiding caretaker burnout. Insights are included from people who have AD and from their caretakers. Kuhn refers the reader to many helpful websites and organizations as well as listing other resources and state by state research centers.
While this book is helpful and necessary it is also very depressing. Kuhn reminds us that there is no effective treatment for AD, no recovery or cure. Currently there are only four medications available and they do not work at all for fifty percent of patients. The other half derive limited benefit which lasts a year or less. There are no new treatments on the horizon so the immediate outlook is bleak. Add to that the fact that Medicare and most private insurance don't cover long-term care for chronic conditions like AD. This becomes a crushing burden for the family who is already coping with grief as they watch someone they love slip away. Kuhn ends with a plea for increased funding for research. We are already spending more than $200 billion annually for health care and the number of baby-boomers who will succumb to this disease requiring even more time and expenditures is bound to soar. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
An excellent first source for persons facing an Alzheimer's diagnosis themselves, or for family and friends of those with the disease. While Kuhn candidly admits that not much progress has been made on the medical front within the past dozen years, he does not come across as a harbinger of doom. Rather he stresses the positive choices that can be made and the quality of life issues that depend not upon medications, but rather upon attitude of those around the person facing the disease. show more Alzheimer's is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis and many persons maintain a relatively high quality of life for years before facing the issues that come with late-stage Alzheimer's. All in all a hopeful and positive book that nonetheless doesn't sugar coat the very real issues that families face. I took away the all-important realization that a person with Alzheimer's is first and foremost a person - not a diagnosis nor a disease. A valuable section on additional resources is included at the back of the book. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.This is a book I wish I had when my father died of Alzheimer's 15 years ago. My mother, brothers and I were "driving blind," as even his doctor did not have many resources for us. Kuhn's well-written book describes in detail the many clues a family, or the patient himself, may detect in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. Many first-hand accounts from patients and families may give "aha" moments as others recognize the symptoms. The book includes lots of advice for managing the disease, show more including information on current drug treatments, community resources, help for the caregivers and print, video and web resources. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.Alzheimer's Early Stages: First Steps for Family, Friends and Caregivers, 2nd edition by Daniel Kuhn
This book is a deep dive into the stages and levels of dementia, offering sound advice for caregivers and others who have someone in their life experiencing this diagnoses.
Sadly, my own father was in late stage Parkinson’s related dementia when I read it and I realized some of the things I could have been doing better to help him. But it did help when my mother’s own diagnoses came some years later.
I would recommend this book to anyone with elderly people in their lives. I’m not show more saying it will impact all elderly, but enough to warrant knowing more about it if the time comes. show less
Sadly, my own father was in late stage Parkinson’s related dementia when I read it and I realized some of the things I could have been doing better to help him. But it did help when my mother’s own diagnoses came some years later.
I would recommend this book to anyone with elderly people in their lives. I’m not show more saying it will impact all elderly, but enough to warrant knowing more about it if the time comes. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.Statistics
- Works
- 7
- Members
- 118
- Popularity
- #167,489
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 19
- ISBNs
- 20
- Languages
- 1
