The decline in cognitive function can make a negative impact on all aspects of the individual's life. Their ability to think, and as a result their personality and behavior, may be affected to the point of this individual appearing as a different person. This, being initially mild, eventually becomes a point of severe concern for those around them.
While psychiatrists and neurologists are still working on deeper understanding of this condition and looking for solutions, it is imperative for everyone - even the layperson, to be educated on distinct types of, and different reasons for cognitive impairments, to be able to recognize these conditions and to provide an appropriate care for the affected individual.
This book is intended for those who deal with cognitively impaired patients on a daily basis. This includes primary care physicians, non-psychiatric providers in hospitals and long-term care facilities, home healthcare workers, and medical and nursing students entering the healthcare field. The book is written in layman's language to be understood by a caregiver of any educational background. A special emphasis is placed on social aspects of the affected individual's care.