Abstract

Based on the findings of in-depth research and on the author's long-standing experience of working with people with dementia, this ground-breaking book provides fresh perspectives and ideas for policy and practice. In the first part of this extensively referenced and up-to-date book, Michael Bender examines the scientific status of the terms 'dementia', 'Alzheimer's' and 'multi-infarct dementias' and concludes that there is little convincing scientific evidence to justify their continued use. He suggests that in order to develop adequate psychological and social models of dementia, a number of perspectives, such as the intrapsychic, the interpersonal and the contextual, need to be developed.

Drawing on contemporary theoretical concepts including multiple selves, personal construct theory, intrapsychic survival and the effect of historical and political factors on older people's well being, the author calls for a more positive and constructive approach to improving the lives of people with dementia. He emphasises the importance of the individual's social context; the problems they are facing and their reactions to those problems; their life history and interpersonal relationships and discusses the process of assessment, finally developing techniques that allow the person with dementia to describe their experience, helping to ameliorate cognitive losses.

Taking an honest look at what we really know about dementia and how we can learn more, this innovative book will make essential reading for medical and mental health practitioners, researchers and students working in the field.

Michael Bender is a consultant clinical psychologist and Head of Psychological Services to Older Adults in Plymouth Primary Care Trust. He lectures and publishes extensively on the psychology of old age and dementia, and is co-author of Understanding Dementia: The Man with the Worried Eyes, also available from Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Explorations of Dementia is an in-depth and challenging work that will reward the professional reader.
Age Action Ireland
An approachable and stimulating read for practitioners, researchers, students, indeed anyone working in the field of dementia.
The Journal of Dementia Care
This academic book looks at the psychology of dementia and questions the validity of the terms such as "Alzheimer's", "dementia" and "multi-infarct dementias". The author proposes techniques that allow the person with dementia to describe the experience, helping to ameliorate cognitive losses.
Ageing Matters
I can strongly recommend this thoughtful text as essential reading for health care professionals who are keen to understand the experiences of people with "remediable or enduring cognitive losses" and how they can be helped.
London Centre for Dementia Care News
This book [is] a valuable resource for specialist dementia care nurses, therapists and social care workers, for university lecturers and could be usefully included in reading lists for formal education programmes most probably at masters' level.
Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice