There are widespread misconceptions about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and it is precisely because of traditional cognitive misconceptions that both family members and professionals have problems with the way people with dementia are treated. Some consumers, especially the elderly, have lost a lot of money after watching these health programs, and some have even refused formal treatment after watching them, leading to worsening and even life-threatening conditions. Dementia is not a disease? A new way of thinking about dementia There are widespread misconceptions about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and it’s because of traditional misconceptions that both family members and professionals have problems with the way people with dementia are treated. This is a shocking statement from Dr. G. Allen Power. He wants us to stop seeing people with dementia as victims of a terrible disease that destroys memory and cognitive abilities. Instead, Power sees dementia “as a shift in the way a person experiences the world.” In his new book, Dementia Beyond Disease, Bauer argues that people with dementia are not mentally ill or delusional, but simply see the world differently than others. Bauer’s goal is not to cure the disease, but to enhance the well-being of people with dementia. Unlike costly, ineffective drug treatments, Bauer has identified dozens of ways to improve the quality of life for people with dementia. It’s not an exaggeration to say that this view is radical; it completely upends the perception that Alzheimer’s disease is primarily a mental illness and attempts to reconfigure the way patient caregivers (which Bauer calls partners) care for patients in their homes. I became aware of Dr. Bauer as a person through his work with the Eden Alternative organization. Dr. Bauer is often a passionate voice for people with dementia. He has twenty years of experience working in long-term care and rehabilitation, is an AMA-certified geriatrician, and an associate professor of medicine at the University of Rochester. He currently works at St. John’s Home in Rochester, NY. Dementia Is No Ordinary Disease is his second book on his radical views on amnesia. His 2010 book Dementia Beyond Drugs raised the issue of the overuse of anti-psychotic drugs in nursing homes. His views were considered quite radical at the time, but have helped many institutions to adjust the way they care for patients with memory loss. In Dementia Is No Ordinary Disease, Bauer takes his views even further. For example, he is outspoken in his criticism of the common practice of segregating dementia units (often called memory care) in residential care facilities. At the same time, he offers a lot of practical advice to caregivers of people with dementia. Imagine someone who is unusually emotional. You can control her anger with medication, or you can try to improve it by sorting out the cause of her low mood. For example, she may be physically ill, or suffering from severe noise. She may not be able to articulate clearly in words why she feels depressed. But if you know how to observe, you will be able to read her body language. Music has that effect, too. Dan Cohen’s Music and Memory Project has had remarkable success in using music to restore awareness and interest to people with severe dementia (if you haven’t seen the award-winning movie Alive Inside, which describes the program, you should). If you haven’t seen the award-winning movie “Alive Inside” about the program, you should). My wife, who is a shelter chaplain, knows this well. She usually plays hymns or other religious music as a way to engage with patients who can’t communicate any other way. I recently wrote an article about a woman who was physically and emotionally exhausted from caring for her father who had dementia. Through constant searching and practice, she learned the many lessons and methods taught by Bauer, including this music therapy. When her father’s condition worsened, attendants at the local community health center would play some of his favorite songs, which literally restored his peace of mind. Bauer isn’t the only expert calling for a rethinking of dementia care. Peter Lillian DiMaria, who works at the Avila Institute of Gerontology in Germantown, N.Y., has also been working for years to train long-term care professionals in such techniques. More than 5 million people in the U.S. are suffering from dementia, but we know very little about the scientific approach to treating this disease (Alzheimer’s disease is just one type of dementia, mind you). With the help of people like Alan Ball and Pete, we’re learning how to open up the world to people with dementia. Perhaps you can’t fully agree with Mr. Bauer’s views, and his current research is still in its infancy, and some of his ideas will be subject to a certain amount of uncertainty, but Dementia is No Ordinary Disease will allow you to re-examine your own perceptions of dementia. Given that most of the current medical care for people with dementia is pretty poor, this change in perception can be a good thing.