The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care By Virginia Bell, M.S.W., and David Troxel, M.P.H.

"innovative and refreshing due to the relaxed and natural 'hands on' approach - an empowering book that proves one can enjoy life after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease."
-Aging & Society


“One of the first, and still one of my favorites [positive, uplifting books on Alzheimer’s disease]…easy to grasp and always respectful of the person with the disease.”
-Alzheimer’s Care Quarterly, Kathy Laurenhue, Director of Special Projects, Mather Institute on Aging


“For every friend, relative, or caregiver to a person with Alzheimer’s, [Best Friends] offers practical advice, compassion and optimism in understanding and dealing with the challenges they face each day and how to bring out the best in the person with the disease, so that a life that seems at times hopeless can be a life of love and dignity.”
-Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul


“Virginia Bell and David Troxel ... argue persuasively that the proper metaphor for organizing our thinking in this area is not the distant clinical reserve of the professional but the open and engaged warmth of a best friend... [They] have written powerfully about this in their book.”
-William H. Thomas, M.D., founder, The Eden Alternative


“Here at last are two compassionate, humorous, experienced authors (David Troxel and Virginia Bell) who say it’s time to stop being morbid and negative about AD. ...It’s the best training guide for families and professionals in print. A must for every Alzheimer’s library.”
-Wiser Now


“The Best Friends philosophy … has been adopted as a model through Maine and has become one of our most valuable caregiving resources. We’ve seen it in action and heartily recommend it!”
-Eleanor Goldberg, Executive Director, Maine Alzheimer’s Association


“...a potential gold mine for afflicted families.”
- Booklist


“[ Bell and Troxel] have laid out a way of relating that is immediately accessible to all involved in dementia and a policy and programme for service provision. …Here is an initiative that is easy to understand and is within the immediate capacity of each of us to deliver.”
-Journal of Dementia Care


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