Self, Senility, and Alzheimer’s Disease in Modern America: A history Kindle Edition
Author: Visit ‘s Jesse F. Ballenger Page ID: B0039SLS24
Done.
File Size: 2224 KBPrint Length: 256 pagesPublisher: Johns Hopkins University Press; 1 edition (February 13, 2006)Publication Date: February 13, 2006 Sold by: Digital Services, Inc. Language: EnglishID: B0039SLS24Text-to-Speech: Enabled X-Ray: Not Enabled Word Wise: EnabledLending: Not Enabled Enhanced Typesetting: Not Enabled Best Sellers Rank: #1,656,945 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store) #286 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Medical eBooks > Specialties > Geriatrics #823 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > history > science & Medicine > Medicine #1438 in Books > medical books > Medicine > Internal Medicine > Geriatrics
Senility isn’t just an issue of the last twenty years, but has long haunted the image of the self-made man. Historian Jesse Ballenger follows its impact from the 19th to the late 20th century, when Alzheimer’s became associated with the loss of self. What makes his survey intriguing is his focus on changing American society and culture which fostered the idea of selfhood as a status, and later on as a willful construction. Both science and history blend in a survey of aging and dementia, making for a broad discussion not just of changing American attitudes and culture, but changing health system responses.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Mr. Ballenger’s experience caring for people with Alzheimer’s left him skeptical of the construction that these are humans whose personhood has left them and who remain a mere shell, a sort of not-yet-dead zombie. He traces the changing attitudes toward both old-age mental impairment and toward personhood over time and the benefits and harms of construing "Alzheimer’s disease" in the way we do.
Having volunteered as a long-term care ombudsman, I share his skepticism. Although as with many old-age impairments, there is definitely tragedy and distress, so much personality remains. Someone who may not remember her age or name retains the ability to thoughtfully move her head out of the way of someone else watching a tv show and to behave graciously and enjoy music. These are impaired people, but they are not UN-people.
Prioritizing the conception of a disease has aided in funding research (and that’s a good thing per se), but it has done nothing to promote funding for proper care for those with Alzheimer’s (a more immediate need and — since as with cancer research there is no guarantee of a solution — at least as important of a need now and very possibly for the indefinite future). For instance, so often in nursing homes those with Alzheimer’s who desperately want outside and could enjoy the outdoors are not allowed there since they might wander off. If we put any priority on their care instead of writing them off as un-people, we’d build enclosed yards where they could still enjoy nature and the outdoors. As well, we’d mandate better staffing so those who care for them can do so adequately.
This book is thoughtful, knowledgeable, and hits the ball out of the park dealing with how we think about these things (and about ourselves and our own "personhood"). Can’t recommend it too highly.
Self Senility and Alzheimer s Disease in Modern America Self Senility and Alzheimer s Disease in Modern America A History Kindle edition by Jesse F Ballenger Download it once and read it on your Kindle device Amazon com Jesse F Ballenger Books biography Blog Visit Amazon com s Jesse F Ballenger Page and shop for all Jesse F Ballenger books and other Jesse F Ballenger related products DVD CDs Apparel Check out Recommended Reading Alzheimer s Association Creating Moments of Joy for the Person with Alzheimer s or Dementia Loss in Later Life 5th edition for coping with Alzheimer s Disease Related
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