Photograph: Authors and participants coming together in September 2021 to celebrate the final script
Dr Michelle Hamill and Dr Martina McCarthy, Clinical Psychologists from the Mental Health Care of Older People's services in East London have co-written a psychologically informed book 'How to Help Someone with Dementia.'
It includes content from experts by experience from the service; Patrisha David - Person with Dementia, Shirley Drake, daughter and carer to Eileen McDermott and Edna Medland - wife and carer of Robert 'Bob'. Sadly, Eileen and Bob passed away during the writing of the book.
The book aims to promote a holistic, person-centred, compassionate and creative approach in supporting carers in the lives of people with dementia.
Dr Hamill and Dr McCarthy speak to psychological principles in the publication to help carers to look after themselves to be able to support a person with dementia with dignity and respect, whilst acknowledging the challenges that can arise.
Dr Hamill says, "We managed to write the book in 9 months. We feel privileged to have worked with these women and we thought their stories brought amazing life to the psychological ideas and principles offered in the book."
Origins of Book
The book came about when Michelle was contacted by a publisher/editor who had found some papers authored by Dr Hamill and Dr McCarthy on attending to the psychological needs and wellbeing of carers of people with dementia, an area central to their service delivery.
They asked if they would consider writing this book as part of their 'How to Help' series, which are directed at carers to enable them to help loved ones with a variety of issues including eating disorders, post-natal depression, and dementia.
Dr Hamill said, "We couldn't say no, given how much carers of people with dementia contribute, often quietly and without recognition. We felt it was very important to co-write the book with people we have worked with over the years, given their lived experience and what this can add to people in similar situations feeling less alone and more empowered."
Carer's Perspective
Here is what carer Shirley had to say about the experience of writing the book:
"It is so exciting; the book will be such a great help to everyone. I really wished I had the book when mum was diagnosed as I felt totally alone, naive and ignorant really. So our beautiful book will help so many, yippee!!!!"
Colleagues Impressed
The book has impressed many colleagues working in this field. Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Juliette Brown, from the Newham MHCOP service had this to say:
'I think this might be the best book I've every read about dementia! I’ve had the privilege of working with Dr Hamill and Dr McCarthy for many years and have seen the positive impact their work has had. They - and the carers and people with dementia who have helped produce this book - have distilled their positive, strengths-based approach and an absolute wealth of learning into a wonderfully accessible, informative, and generous guide to caring for a person with dementia and for oneself as a carer. Despite 25 years of experience with dementia, I have learned plenty here to take back into clinical practice. How to Help Someone with Dementia synthesises the very best available practical advice and evidence on the subject and I’ll be highly recommending this book to everyone involved in dementia care'.
Publisher: Welbeck Publishing Group
ISBN: 9781789563016
Number of pages: 256
Dimensions: 190 x 140 mm
The book is with all the usual book stores including Amazon, Waterstones, Blackwells and is also with major stockists in the U.S. Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. It's also available on Kindle.