About the Author

Virginia Bell, M.S.W. is Program Consultant for the Greater Kentucky/Southern Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. She is the founder of that association’s award-winning Helping Hand Adult Day Center. With David Troxel, she has co-authored numerous articles on dementia care and three books. She has lectured about the Best Friends approach in more than 20 countries.

David Troxel, M.P.H., most recently served as President and CEO of the California Central Coast Alzheimer’s Association, Santa Barbara, California. Today he is a consultant and speaker for dementia and long-term care programs. He has worked in the field of dementia care since 1986 and currently serves on the Ethics Advisory Panel of the national Alzheimer’s Association. With Virginia Bell, he has co-authored numerous articles on dementia care and three books.

Tonya M. Cox, M.S.W., is Vice President of Education and Programs for the Alzheimer’s Association serving greater Kentucky and southern Indiana. She began working in dementia care in 1995 in the Helping Hand Adult Day Program developing and leading activities for persons with memory loss. She also teaches and presents on activity programming and caring for persons with dementia.

Robin Hamon, M.S.W., is Family Support Coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the University of Kentucky Sanders Brown Center on Aging. She worked with the Alzheimer’s Association Lexington/Bluegrass Chapter for 11 years. During her tenure as program manager for the Helping Hand Day Center, she developed a creative art training program for staff and volunteers working with persons with dementia. Her special interests are in training and providing creative arts experiences for persons with dementia.

Reviews

"a valuable addition to any day centre or care home wanting to develop understanding of activity as being much more than providing entertainment and outings."--Journal of Dementia Care"Reviews" (01/01/2001)

"It's important to have structured activities, but the energy surrounding spontaneity is also important, which is why we try to follow the Best Friends approach of making everything an activity."--Riverside Adult Day Program (Wilmington, DE)"Reviews" (03/08/2018)

"a wonderful resource ... very practical for staff, volunteers, and family members. This book will be one of your most-used resources"-- (01/01/2001)

"A 'grab and go' book that was written to assist an activity director to take an everyday activity and turn it into something creative and meaningful. [The book] presents activity principles which are essential in developing programs that are appropriate and creative in maintaining dignity and quality of life."-- (01/01/2001)

"Highgate Senior Living has embraced Best Friends(TM) as our core program philosophy. Our activities have been transformed by this person-centered approach. It has helped staff connect to residents as Best Friends and is a program that really works."-- (01/01/2001)

"The Best Friends approach is part of every activity and has resulted in a caring, contented, and happy atmosphere. Friendship has become the bonding force among our clients, staff, families, and volunteers."-- (03/08/2018)

"Troxel and Bell have done it again; their new book on activities will enrich, enliven and lighten the daily lives of both people with dementia and their family and professional caregivers. These pages offer dozens of creative, innovative ways to help people connect with one another, and that's a treasure for all of us."-- (01/01/2001)