Thomas Eugene Carter Msph

Mistaken Identity Thomas Eugene Carter Msph

Quality care and quality communications are inevitably linked. Communications with Alzheimer's clients is problematic because of the rapid advancing damage to the brain caused by the disease. Therefore, a novel approach is needed that aligns the caregivers with their Alzheimer's client in new ways, flexible ways, and positive ways. Mistaken Identity is the first book of its kind to address caregiver/client communications through stories. This book was designed to aid families with a loved one diagnosed with cognitive impairment in the second half of their life. Family members, who find it difficult to be with this loved one, may find Mistaken Identity a starting point to regular communications with the loved one by reading selections from Mistaken Identity when visiting with him/her. In working with cognitive impaired individuals, establishing a familiar routine, like reading a chapter of Mistaken Identity each visit will be useful - stopping to respond to the loved one's feelings, being careful not to correct him/her regarding his/her comments, and remaining flexible with him/her. Insomuch as dementia so often occur in the second half of life, this book is a didactic Elder-tale designed to both entertain and to prepare its reader for the changing role and life skills needed in the second half of life. For the loved one, this journey will likely be an accelerated one. Our true identity is often found in the second half of life, when repressed memories from our youth re-emerge marking the beginning of a spiritual journey into an enchanted forest of our very own. An enchanted forest of silence, solitude, stillness, and simplicity. We entreat the Elder-tale spiritual traveler to become actively involved in this experience, reflect on it, actively seek to use the skills expressed to conceptualize the experience; and use their problem solving skills in order to use the new ideas gained from this experience to overcome obstacles in their second half of life journey.