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"Only a life lived for others is worth living" – Albert Einstein (1879 –1955).  About The Book
The purpose of this 432 page book, which is a revised and greatly expanded 2nd edition of the 2002 publication “Midlife’s Challenge: Understanding and Coping with Decline in Thinking and Behavior”, is to provide caregivers with up-to-date information. It explains what happens to them as a consequence of their unrelenting responsibilities and duties as caregivers, including the emotional and physiological effects. It contains detailed descriptions of what happens neuro-biologically to people with deficits in functional cognition and relates true to life stories which demonstrate and provide understanding of the cognitive patterns of functional performance. These patterns are linked to the whole of brain activity and how the whole brain ‘lights-up’ when learning new information
In this book the readers are given to understand the different and uncharacteristic behavior of their relatives are not knowingly mean, selfish or planned, but are symptoms of deficits in functional cognition. The deficits that are described are akin to baby development milestones in reverse (Echoes theoretical tenet of reversed ontogenesis - Levy, 2005). The different levels and behavior are predictable patterns of motor and verbal skills, social behavior, self awareness and awareness of context (circumstances in which an event occurs) - Earhart (2006).
With the development of the functional cognition terminology has come a greater understanding of how people with deficits in functional cognition struggle to live in a complex ever-changing environment.
This book answers the many ‘why’ questions about what is happening to the health of informal caregivers caused by physiological stress and how the people they are caring for are trying to cope on a daily basis when they are not able to use higher cognitive processes of the brain. The wealth of knowledge in this book has been provided to relieve much of the incredible stress which will be generated and prepare family members for the transfer and increase in future caring responsibilities.
Although much has been written in the past explaining the psychological support available for caregivers, very little has been written explaining the effects of physiological stress and what can be done to reduce the inflammatory responses which occur within the body. Caregivers: Drowning in a Sea of Cognitive Challenges is the one book designed for wider publication which describes what is really happening to the brains of people with cognitive deficit, including: - why their ‘sense of self’ is so fragile and why they must protect themselves preventing them from having empathy for others and constantly say “I want this” or “You made me do that”;
- why inherited personality traits influence their physical and emotional behavior and the way they ‘act out’ even if they mishear what has been said to them;
- why it is impossible to change the way they do daily tasks including such things as not understanding how much pressure they need to apply to a tube of toothpaste to place a small amount on a brush. This can be highly frustrating and distressing to caregivers particularly if they are on a pension as they see money being wasted;
- why denial is their constant companion – constant denial there is anything wrong with them. Even if they say my memory is going, if the caregiver suggests they give up driving a car, they will flatly deny anything is wrong with their driving;
- why being hurtful, and at times verbally and physically abusive occurs when their fragile ‘sense of self’ is threatened.
- why the people with cognitive deficits begin a process of reversed ontogenesis which presents as a reversal of development. How cognitive deficits produce observable ‘backward slide’ patterns which affect the way people go about their everyday tasks.
- why they are so much slower in everything they do.
If your answer to one or more of these questions is ‘yes’, then Caregivers: Drowning in a Sea of Cognitive Challenges has been written for you, the middle aged caregiver who has become unwittingly sandwiched between two generations, as you struggle to cope with the needs of young family members, while assisting and trying to understand ‘how and why’ a member of the family is being so uncharacteristically different in the way they live their lives and communicate with others. This book explains their behavior.
The content of the book has equal relevance for the younger generation who are or may well face similar challenges in the future. The eleven chapters in this book provide information for all readers:
Chapter 1
outlining in detail how caregivers can become overwhelmed as they search for answers to the perplexing situations which are generated as they go about performing their caregiving roles. This chapter provides detailed information which empowers individual caregivers with the knowledge they are not alone in caring for an adult member in their family.
Chapter 2
attends to what biologically occurs to brain function when there is damage to the brain and explains how associated patterns of performance are observed as deficits in functional cognition. The intention of this chapter is to provide caregivers with evidence and understanding that the person they are caring for is not being intentionally mean or uncooperative. This chapter begins the journey to assist caregivers to develop a sense of self-efficacy to continue with their caregiving roles.
Chapter 3
takes an in-depth look at the brain’s ability to functionally process information, and how inherited behavioral traits have such a huge impact on why people behave in the way they do. What’s more, this chapter discusses the uniqueness of each individual person and the way their brains constantly and continually update and process information about them and their relationships with the immediate environment. It discusses how the fragility of ‘self’ becomes apparent when brain processes begin to breakdown, fall apart, and in some cases fail. This fragility of ‘self’ leaves people who are affected with no other option than to protect what they have as they try to make sense of their perception of reality.
Chapter 4
discusses what occur when the brain’s ability to work as a global unit is compromised and the fragile inner ‘self’ is threatened causing the person to ‘act out’ against their informal caregiver. It explains how emotions and feelings are linked to brain structures and how a person with deficits in functional cognition must preserve ‘self’. Once caregivers begin to understand the many behaviors they observe are biological and cannot be changed, it is a huge relief for them, particularly for caregivers who are assisting people with minimal cognitive deficits who continually defend their self-image and sense of worth.
Chapter 5
focus on how people with deficits in functional cognition make sense of their world when they do not have the higher cognitive functions of the brain to solve problems, understand intangible elements or hold visual images. Both chapters 4 and 5 contain real life stories which illustrate how different caregivers manage the many diverse problems and situations they encounter while caring for people. These individual stories are of people who have been assessed as functioning at different level.modes on the scale of 26 modes on the Cognitive Level Scale.
Chapter 6
addresses the personality traits which influence why people become informal caregivers and accept the enormous challenges of assisting two or more family members simultaneously. The reasons why some people have empathy and others do not are discussed as well as why some people develop a hyper-empathetic personality which can take over their life disrupting the balance in their lives. Many of the stories concern how caregivers have managed to deal with highly complex situations and what strengths they were able to pull on to see them through their caregiving roles.
Chapter 7
deals with strategies which can be used for people with deficits in functional cognition who display different patterns of performance on the Cognitive Level Scale. Knowing how to communicate effectively, choosing and using words appropriately, is a very special skill, essential if caregivers are to be successful in their care for others. Effective communication can make a huge difference to the building up of a positive and trusting relationship between informal caregivers and those in their care.
Chapter 8
describes stress and the serious effects it can have on the health and wellbeing of adults who become informal caregivers. It is well documented caregivers suffer from high levels of emotional distress including anxiety, resentment, anger, fear, helplessness, guilt and despair. Sleep deprivation and physically debilitating conditions, such as back pain and muscle tension also contribute to the burden of caregivers. Emotional and psychological stresses are well known but the sinister affects of physiological stress which can cause inflammation within the body, particularly in people who are diagnosed with caregiver syndrome.
Chapter 9
draws attention to stress reduction techniques including maintaining a positive approach to life and being aware of the intensity of emotional reactions to difficult situations. Many techniques described can be achieved in and around the home environment; they are low cost and suitable to be used by informal caregivers who live in isolated areas.
Chapter 10
emphasizes the need for people to function to the best of their ability in the least restrictive environment. Human and non-human compensatory measures are suggested which would provide cues appropriate to people’s individual environments. Home modifications are suggested which would make daily activities less stressful and easier to manage and give greater peace of mind to caregivers knowing the person they are caring for is in a safer environment.
Finally, Chapter 11
highlights the need for informal caregivers to prepare and plan for the future while at the same time ensuring their lives are kept in balance. The stories in this chapter are included to bring some light relief; a sense of humor can provide a wonderful respite from the seriousness encountered in many real life situations. The appendices include six appendixes which provide additional information, and some heighten the need for important documentation and environmental changes to be put in place.
This book includes sixty illustrations and many quotes notated by the author in the margins of the pages. The illustrations and quotes have been included to provide variety and encouragement, and to prompt and encourage people who are visual learners to continue with their research and reading. It is not always easy to read a scientific reference book of this type unless there is some form of novelty and encouragement to do so.
This book will appeal to:- Middle-aged people, who are caught in the unexpected role of caring for relatives with deficits in functional cognition;
- Readers of Healthcare and Lifestyle Books, who are concerned for their future health needs and have a desire to remain self-reliant;
- Healthcare Clinicians, Community Care Organizations and Caregiver Associations, who assist caregivers or work with people with deficits in functional cognition which can manifest from any diagnosis, where normal brain function is compromised;
- International readers, as the subject matter is a human neuro-biological condition evident worldwide in all races and cultures. The greatest need for people to read this book exists in highly populated societies e.g. USA, United Kingdom, Europe, India, China and Japan, where assistance and care for a growing number of people with cognitive failures has become a placement and funding nightmare;
- Owners, Employees and Volunteers of Aged Care Facilities, who struggle to understand the thinking and behavior of many of the people who live in these facilities;
- Community non-for-profit organizations, who assist as best they can those people with deficits in functional cognition;
- For all those people who desire to know ‘Why?’
Book Launch
Joan Riches, President of the Allen Cognitive Advisors Limited, USA will launch this book by Delaune Pollard. Read More...
Purchase:This publication costs Aus $50.00 plus handling and postage costs. Click here for the order form Or you can purchase it through PayPal by clicking here
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