Mindfulness-Based Elder Care: A CAM Model for Frail Elders and Their Caregivers

She shares with us her gold - the conception, trial and error implementation, and initial scientific investigation of a new, educationally-oriented treatment approach that she has named mindfulness-based elder care (MBEC)." -from the Foreword by Saki Santorelli, EdD, MA, Associate Professor of Medicine, Executive Director, Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society University of Massachusetts Medical School Drawing on years of experience as a geriatric social worker and mindfulness-based stress reduction practitioner, the author has taken Jon Kabat-Zinn's Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program and adapted it to the particular needs of elders, their families, and professional caregivers. Mindfulness practices focus on abilities, rather than disabilities, in order to provide paths to the inner strengths and resources that we all possess. McBee's Mindfulness-Based Elder Care conveys the benefits of mindfulness through meditation, gentle yoga, massage, aromatherapy, humor, and other creative therapies to this special population. She provides clear, concise instructions for her program, as well as a wealth of anecdotal and experiential exercises, to help readers at all levels of experience. Hers is the first book to fully explore the value of mindfulness models for frail elders and their caregivers. Features of this groundbreaking volume include: Valuable tips for establishing programs to address each population's specific needs and restrictions Designed for short classes or 8-week courses Detailed experiential exercises for the reader Replete with case studies Clear, easy-to-follow instructions for elders and caregivers at all levels This innovative book is suitable for use with a variety of populations such as nursing home residents with physical and cognitive challenges, community-dwelling elders, direct-care staff, and non-professional caregivers.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Saki F. Santorelli Preface Acknowledgments Section I. Foundations A Box for Father: Healthcare and Nursing Homes What is Healthcare? Trends in Aging and Healthcare What are the Alternatives? Elements of Care Provision What we value Learning from the Inside Out: Mind-Body and Mindfulness-Based Interventions Mind-Body Medicine Overview Mindfulness Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Other Mindfulness-Based Programs Mindfulness Practices Other Informal Practices Practice Embracing Our Stress Knock, Knock: Complementary and Alternative Medicine Aromatherapy Hand massage Creative therapy Humor Other CAM Modalities Section II. Practical Applications of Mindfulness-Based Elder Care for Frail Elders Poem: Meadowbrook Nursing Home The Sound of One Hand Clapping: Mindfulness-Based Elder Care Teaching Mindfulness to Elders What Are the Issues Clinical Work With Older Adults Overview of MBEC Groups Imagine This: Mindfulness-Based Elder Care For Frail Elders in the Nursing Home Overview Group Format Skills Considerations: Environmental Considerations: Population Endings Measuring Results: MBEC Research Drifting Away From My Head to My Heart: Mindfulness-Based Elder Care for Elders With Dementia What Do We Know About Dementia? Communication With Persons With Dementia Behaviors Accompanying dementia Group Leader MBEC groups Complementary and Alternative Interventions on a Dementia Unit The Florence V. Burden Study on the Dementia Unit Got to Go Through the Door: Mindfulness-Based Elder Care for Isolated Elders and Palliative Care Freedom and the Five Remembrances Isolated Elders in the Nursing Home End-of-life Care Homebound Elders Conclusion Dance Like Nobody is Watching: Mindfulness-Based Elder Care and Creativity Visual Arts Poetry and Words Music Movement and Music Touch Taste and Smell Use of Nature Toys Humor Section III. Caregivers Who Will Take Care Of Us? An Overview Of Mindfulness-Based Elder Care For Caregivers Informal Caregivers Formal Caregivers Mindfulness Groups for Formal and Informal Caregivers Mindfulness-Based Elder Care Riding the Waves: Mindfulness-Based Elder Care for Informal Caregivers Overview of class Introductions Formal Practices Informal Practice Discussion Endings and Ongoing Practice Caregiver Mindfulness Group Research Summary Learning to Take Care of Myself: A 7-Week Mindfulness-Based Elder Care Course Overview of Caregiver Course Course Highlights Discussion Conclusion Introduction to Stress Reduction for Professional Caregivers: A 1-Hour Class and Other Options for Staff Professional Caregiving A 1-Hour Stress Reduction Program Staff Psychoeducational Presentation on Stress Experiential Exercises Alternate Options for Short Stress Reduction Sessions Conclusion Recommendations Section IV. Conclusions Walking with Tigers Defining Aging Caring For Elders, Caring For Ourselves For You Section V. Appendix A. Mindfulness-Based Elder Care Yoga B. Guided Meditations C. Aromatherapy D. Brief Stress Reduction Session Ideas E. Handouts For Staff Stress Reduction F. Selected Bibliography and Web Sites Index

About the Author :
Lucia McBee, LCSW, MPH, is a geriatric social worker who has worked with elders and their caregivers for 27 years.