End-Of-Life Namaste Care Program for People with Dementia by Joyce Simard

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Reviewer:Helen Martin, FNP (Lower Cape Fear Hospice and Life Care Center)
Description:This book is a wonderful resource that presents an alternative for practitioners and caregivers caring for dementia patients. I had heard of the Namaste method and was glad to see a book about it. The method is very common sense and easy to implement in almost any setting. I have shared the book with one of my long term care facilities which is looking at the model to implement in its Alzheimer's disease (AD) unit and to use in employee education.
Purpose:The purpose of implementing the Namaste care program is to provide better care to our AD patients. It is important to stress, as the author does, that we not isolate our AD patients, but instead enhance the environment around them to make their lives more meaningful. This affects not just the patients, but families and caregivers as well. The objective is to explain this method of care.
Audience:This book was written for and can be used by anyone in any setting.
Features:The explanation of Namaste (honoring the spirit within) captures what this program is all about. Cost is always a factor in any setting and this book emphasizes that care can be improved at little to no cost. Creative planning and people to implement it is all that it takes. The quality of life of this population has suffered for years and alternatives for care are long overdue.
Assessment:This book provides a hands-on approach to care and its simple suggestions are priceless. The vignettes are helpful, as are the added resources in the appendix.