Through the Seasons: Activities for Memory-Challenged Adults and Their Caregivers

Through the Seasons: Activities for Memory-Challenged Adults and Their Caregivers

Overview

Dementia and related disorders impact the lives of those affected in countless ways, making it difficult to remain independent at work, at home, and in the wider world. But recent studies have shown that structured activities can make a significant, positive difference by stimulating mental engagement while improving interactions between caregivers and memory-challenged adults.

Fun and easy to use, this large-format, full-color picture book is divided into themes representing the four seasons. Each section describes several multisensory experiences—such as walking on the beach, making ice cream, or planting flowers—along with related topics for discussion and activities to elicit memories and encourage new positive associations. The topics and activities incorporate all five senses to facilitate connections and conversations.

The book adopts a compassionate, person-centered approach and is designed so that two people can easily look together while sitting side by side. This latest edition, which has been thoroughly revised,

• takes a multicultural approach
• includes all-new images, as well as 14 completely new highlighted activities
• integrates modern wellness concepts
• features a new introduction and an updated resource section
• offers guidance about activity planning and optimizing interactions between care partners and the individual with dementia

Helping you and your loved one make cherished new memories, Through the Seasons is an indispensable solution to the question of what to do together to maintain well-being and connection.

Editorial Reviews

Doody's Review Service

Reviewer: Crystal L Plank, RN, BSN (MU Sinclair School of Nursing)
Description: This book presents different activities for memory-challenged adults and their caregivers. Activities are divided by season, which is a unique structural element that makes it easy for caregivers to find appropriate options. This is a second edition; the first edition was published in 2008.
Purpose: The purpose is to emphasize the importance of human contact for people with memory challenges across many cultures and backgrounds and provide activities for caregivers to perform with them. There is a great need for caregivers to learn how to perform meaningful activities, not just activities to keep their loved ones busy. This book fulfills that need and strives to form joyful, meaningful connections between people with memory challenges and those caring for them.
Audience: This book is written for, and much needed by, caregivers of memory-challenged individuals. However, I believe it would also be beneficial for healthcare workers, such as activity directors in long-term care. Both authors are well-known experts in the fields of gerontology and clinical psychology.
Features: This book divides activities by the four seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall. This setup offers an excellent way to select appropriate activities based on the weather and gives a variety of options to reduce repetition. Each activity includes conversation starters before the activity followed by several ideas for activities based on certain topics. Large pictures and simple, colorful artwork grab readers' attention and keep them exploring the book.
Assessment: This is a fresh look at person-centered activities for memory-challenged individuals, as the previous edition is over a decade old. The book is of high quality and very useful to caregivers or those providing activities to memory-challenged persons.

Educational Gerontology

"This fun, easy to use book may provide an opportunity for locus of control and enjoyment for memory-challenged individuals who have lost much of their communication skills. The pictures are wonderful and the activities are designed to be flexible and can be used in various ways. This book is certainly a useful resource for caregivers and will provide enjoyment for all."

Family Caregiver Alliance

"This book offers a variety of creative activities meant to stimulate communication with loved ones who have a memory disorder."

HomeCare Magazine - Kristin Easterling

"For a person in memory care, keeping the mind engaged is vital for physical and mental well-being. Moreover, activities that engage the whole person and acknowledge their dignity are important to ensuring that they participate and find joy in the activity set before them. A new second edition of the book Through the Seasons: Activities for Memory-Challenged Adults and their Caregivers lays out 32 experiences for caregivers and memory-challenged adults to try together throughout the year."

Adaptation and Aging Activities

"A beautifully composed book, with colorful and clear images, font, and design. A great deal of thought and expertise obviously went into its writing. The book would be equally useful for family caregivers and professionals."

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781421436470
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date: 03/10/2020
Series: A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book
Edition description: second edition
Pages: 128
Sales rank: 1,204,788
Product dimensions: 8.40(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range: 18 Years

Read an Excerpt

The thread that ties together the strands of guidance and understanding contained in Through the Seasons is the word 'joy'—joy in those who are experiencing dementia, joy in those who are providing care to them, and the joy and satisfaction that comes from knowing that there are tools available to help those who want to improve the care of people with dementia. By providing a practical guide to helping people achieve the satisfaction that comes from having enjoyable interactions and accomplishing pleasurable tasks, Through the Seasons has played and will continue to play an important role in maximizing quality of life of people with dementia.

Customer Reviews