Understanding Dementia develops an integrated model of dementia which is based on social, political and psychological factors and, above all, which is person centered, focusing on the importance of the experience and emotions of the person with dementia. It brings together ideas on dementia from social and clinical psychology, psychotherapy and linguistics, and outlines the key theoretical issues and practical concerns in this expanding and significant field.
Part 1 compares existing models of dementia, stressing the limitations of the organic model. The social model of dementia is also considered, in particular how it helps in understanding and changing therapists' often negative attitudes to older people with dementia. Part 2 describes Cheston and Bender's integrated socio-psychological model which combines the person-centered model and the social model and emphasizes the emotions, social context and sense of identity of the person with dementia. It focuses on the potential of carers to support sufferers' own understanding of the process they are engaging in. The penultimate part of the book shows how this model can be applied to improve the quality of assessments of dementia, and suggests ways of adapting therapeutic intervention (in individual and group counseling, psychotherapy, staff training, and work with carers) to meet the specific needs of this group. In conclusion, the authors draw out implications for' service delivery and future policy and practice developments.
Understanding Dementia provides a powerful integrated and holistic model of dementia which will enable professionals, policy makers and academics to improve the quality of care for dementia sufferers.

Richard Cheston and Michael Bender

Part 1: Contemporary Attitudes. 1. The creation and re-creation of Alzheimers disease. 2. The present formulation of dementia. 3. The implications of the organic model. 4. The limitations of the organic model. 5. Therapeutic disdain - therapy, therapists and people with dementia. Part 2: Constructing a Psychological Model of Dementia. 6. Introducing the person-focused approach: what is it like to be a person diagnosed as having dementia? 7. The person in context: the role of psychological and social factors in dementia. 8. A model of the mind in dementia and of levels of severity. 9. The emotional world of dementia sufferers. 10. Managing the process of loss. Part 3: Applying the Person-Focused Approach to Psychological Interventions and Services for People with Dementia. 11. Psychological interventions: An introduction and basic principles. 12. The assessment of people who may have dementia. 13. Therapeutic interventions: Increasing emotional security. 14. Identity work: holding on to who we are. 15. Changing systems of service delivery. Part 4: Looking to Our Future. 16. Obstacles to change. 17. Producing change: A restless farewell. References. Index.