About the Author

G. Allen Power, M.D., is a board-certified internist and geriatrician and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester, New York. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine. Dr. Power has practiced medicine for 25 years, the last 18 of which have been in long-term care and rehabilitation.As a Certified Eden Alternative Educator, Dr. Power serves as an Eden Mentor at St. John's Home in Rochester, New York, where he has worked since 2000. He also serves on the board of directors of the Eden Alternative, Inc. His regular contributions to the blog of Dr. William Thomas, founder of the Eden Alternative, can be found at www.changingaging.org.Dr. Power has lectured on geriatric and culture change topics both nationally and internationally. He has been interviewed for print and broadcast media including BBC Television, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and WHYY radio among many others. Dr. Power is also quoted in the book Old Age in a New Age: The Promise of Transformative Nursing Homes by Beth Baker (2007, Vanderbilt University Press).An accomplished musician and songwriter, Dr. Power's music has been performed on three continents. His song of elder autonomy, “If You Don't Mind,” was performed by Peter, Paul and Mary, and Walter Cronkite used his song “I'll Love You Forever” in a 1995 Discovery Channel documentary on American families.

Reviews

"Al Power has authored a book that fills an enormous gap in our understanding of how we, as individual caregivers and as a society, can improve the care for those with dementia. Written with his characteristic directness, warmth, and compassion, these pages are filled with new insights and clues as to how to avoid dangerous drug therapy and restore dignity and comfort to these individuals. This book will be a landmark in geriatrics and has something of value to family caregivers and seasoned physicians as well."-- (11/23/2009)

"Allen Power is my kind of physician -- one who understands the research and who has a big heart. Drawing on years of experience, he presents a compelling case for eliminating the vast majority of antipsychotic medications used to treat unpleasant symptoms of dementia. Family members and caregivers will embrace his compassionate, relationship-based approach. Dementia Beyond Drugs should be required reading for every long-term care provider."-- (11/11/2009)

"Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing the Culture of Care is a totally engaging book that clearly illustrates the restorative effects of humane care in combination with advances in modern medicine. Dr. Al Power makes a compelling case for deep system change, where knowing the person is paramount in our approach to compassionate elder care."-- (12/01/2009)

"In a moving wake-up call to geriatrics professionals and caregivers, G. Allen Powers [sic] delivers a blueprint for the effective care of aging dementia patients..."-- (07/18/2010)

"Power has the ability to synthesize the wealth of care literature, examples from his work in long-term care, and his training as an Eden Alternative Educator---placing them all in a practical context for working with persons with dementia...Dementia Beyond Drugs is all about asking us to rethink how we "do" care for persons with dementia."-- (12/21/2011)

"This book is groundbreaking, courageous and awesome, representing a new milestone in dementia care. Dr G. Allen Power dares to challenge the current paradigm and urges readers to walk the walk of culture change, creating a better world for people with dementia. This thoroughly researched, practical and deeply compassionate book is a must for all working in the field of dementia."-- (11/25/2009)

"This extremely important book directs our attention to the virtue and value of engaging individuals with dementia as people rather than as cases to be managed with drugs. Dr. Power's deep appreciation of how a humane environment can help persons with dementia to flourish rather than to wither should be required reading for all involved with residential care."-- (11/23/2009)

"This is a 'must have' book for your library if you care about persons with dementia. It is filled with practical, valuable information and insights that can transform practice. I highly recommend it."-- (01/21/2010)

"This is one of the most original works in geriatrics in a long time. It deserves a wide readership and much discussion."-- (10/08/2010)

"Using story after powerful story to reveal the shortcomings of a biomedical approach to care, Dr. Power has helped us open our eyes to a new way of viewing those living with dementia. We have created worlds where our elders with dementia do not want to be, then medicated them to keep them there. Dr. Power's "Experiential Model" offers us a viable and humanistic alternative to caring for those with dementia. This model challenges care providers to not only open their eyes, but to also see the beauty and potential of the human spirit that remains. Our elders living with dementia are our greatest teachers and Dr. Power has been an exceptional student. He has learned their lessons well and, in this important book, now shares them with us. I hope we are ready and willing to learn."-- (11/23/2009)

Allen Power's new book, Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing the Culture of Care, has just stripped you of your last excuse for not understanding what it takes to bring about real culture change within residential care settings while at the same time reducing the administration of psychotropic drugs. He has answers for questions you've had about assisting people living with dementia. Al's grasp of the subject is comprehensive and his style of communicating is informative, accessible, and inspiring. If you implement the information that Al suggests, you can be the person you've always wanted to be when assisting others living with dementia. He's one of the best guides out there on the pathway to understanding care that treats individuals with dementia with the personal attention, respect, and dignity they deserve.-- (11/04/2009)

Power (medicine, U. of Rochester), an internist, geriatrician, and nursing home practitioner, outlines ways to address the symptoms of dementia without using medication, for those involved in patient care, including nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, medical directors, and administrators, as well as family members and students. He describes the current view of dementia and its behavioral expressions, trends in medication use worldwide, and the research the prescribing patterns are based on; the problems with this model of care; a new experiential model of care for people with dementia to experience well-being and growth with little or no medication; and approaches to care based on his work with the Eden Alternative, a movement that is working to change elder care.-- (09/01/2010)