McLean (anthropology, Central Michigan U.) reports findings from an ethnographic study conducted at a nursing home on the east coast of the U.S. from 1992 to 1994, focusing on the "disturbed behaviors" of elders diagnosed with some form of senile dementia. The research contrasts the outcomes of two approaches to dementia care for elders with severely disturbed behaviors: a task-oriented approach based on a biomedical view of disease progression and a flexible person-sustaining approach focusing on individual needs and communication. McLean offers recommendations for how to improve dementia caregiving in the future, which take into consideration political and moral aspects, and discusses community options and pioneering approaches that provide humane person-preserving care. For clinicians, students, long-term care administrators and policy makers, and interested general readers. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)