Following the recommendation of the Croatian Alzheimer Alliance, a Croatian edition of a 2016 book by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has been published. The original text, "Caring for People with Dementia in Hospital - A Best Practice Guide" was written by Jo James, Beth Cotton, Jules Knight and Rita Freyne. The Croatian translation was done by Mario Gros, MD, PhD. The editor of the Croatian edition, entitled "Najbolja skrb za osobe s demencijom u bolničkim uvjetima – praktični vodič” (ISBN 978-953-176-875-7), is Professor Ninoslav Mimica, MD, PhD, of Alzheimer Croatia. He also wrote the Foreword. The hardcover book, illustrated in colour, is 108 pages long and was published by Medicinska naklada Zagreb, University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče and the Croatian Society for Alzheimer's Disease and Old Age Psychiatry.
The original text was written by a Dementia Expert Team of highly educated and specialised nurses, practitioners working in the hospital and developing ways to recognise, understand and help people with dementia during their treatment in general hospitals, which occurs most often for some medical reason other than dementia. The practical guide includes 15 chapters, from the introduction, describing what dementia is, to advice on how to improve communication or deal with the changed behaviour of people with dementia. There are chapters on mental capacity, deprivation of rights, advanced care and end of life care. Other topic areas include delirium, estimates of pain, mobility, nutrition and hydration, as well as hand massage, and there is a particular emphasis on the ethics of care. Special attention is also paid to informal caregivers i.e. families living with dementia. At the end of the book, additional literature is provided for each of the above-mentioned topics.
This book is a guide for all those who are in dealing with people with dementia in a hospital setting. It is useful both for people working in the healthcare profession, as well as others. It aims to give the reader a better understanding of people living with dementia and their needs, fears, struggles, wishes and preferences. In the absence of a cure, non-pharmacological approaches to dementia management are particularly important. This book, which is a guide to best practices and practical approaches through comprehensive care for people with dementia, helps provide this, as well as demonstrating the effectiveness of the techniques and practices covered.
