Diana Kerr

The experiences and needs of residents and patients in nursing and care homes are very different at night, and this is particularly true for those with dementia. Yet nursing and care homes are not always inspected with the same rigour at night as they are during the day, and night staff do not always receive the same levels of training, resources and supervision as day staff. This book provides night staff, their managers and anyone else with an interest in care homes during the night with the information, knowledge and practical skills they need to deliver positive and appropriate care at night. The authors look at all of the issues that are particularly pertinent in caring for older people at night, including nutrition and hydration, continence, challenging behaviour, medication, night time checking, pain management and end of life care. They also look at the impact that working at night has on care staff, and offer practical suggestions to help them to safeguard their own health. The final chapter provides a set of night time care guidelines for inspectors that can also be used by managers to evaluate night time practices in their homes. This book is essential reading for night staff and their managers and employers, as well as inspectors of services, policy makers, and anyone else with an interest in the provision of care for older people.

Music is important to us as a species, and it can be particularly important to people with dementia. Singing in a group can improve a person's mood, recall, self-esteem and overall quality of life. Whether you're a trained musician or someone who has no training but can hold a tune (and that is almost everyone), this book will give you guidance on every stage of setting up a singing group for people with dementia: choosing songs, structuring sessions, choosing and setting up a venue, training volunteers, finding funding, keeping participants safe and ensuring that everyone has a good time.

Understanding Learning Disability and Dementia covers all the essential issues in supporting a person with a learning disability when they develop dementia. Like the population at large, people with learning disabilities are living longer, and therefore an increasing number are developing dementia. Service providers, planners, doctors, social workers, carers and direct support staff need to be equipped with relevant knowledge prior to the onset of dementia, so that they can devise appropriate therapeutic interventions and coping strategies, including health and medication management and palliative care. This book will provide essential knowledge for anyone involved in the provision of services, assessment of need and direct care and support for dementia sufferers who also have a learning disability.