Live and laugh with dementia : the essential guide to maximising quality of life / Lee-Fay Low.

Worldwide, over 45 million people suffer with dementia. That number is expected to increase to 75 million by 2030; 135 million by 2050. For every person with dementia, their family and carers are faced with the decision of how best to care for them. Live and Laugh with Dementia is all about how to make life with dementia as positive as possible - to maximize quality of life for all concerned. Just as we need to exercise our body's muscles to keep them strong, flexible and working well, so too do we need to exercise our mental muscles (our brain) in order to strengthen and maintain our neural capabilities. By tailoring activities to suit the needs and abilities of dementia patients, we can help them to: maintain their relationships with others, maintain their self-identity, slow the decline of mental function by providing physical and mental stimulation, experience happiness and pleasure.