Alzheimers-Disease Books

This book is a valuable resource to anyone who is caring for an elderly family member. While reading the often funny, always touching, occasionally horrifying memoir, I learned so much about caring for my aging mother. This is rich with advice, examples, and brilliance. Thank you, Jackie, for sharing your story with us. I will buy more copies and give them to my friends whose parents are approaching the age where they'll need some care. I am also now taking assessment of my own behaviors as I get older; I don't want any of my bad habits following me into my golden years! It is clear from your Jake Tales that these habits may become exaggerated as we get older and I don't want my kids to have to deal with me if I'm going to be difficult

This is an excellent book for those who find themselves frustrated by the behavior of elders who are suffering from just enough dementia to be wreaking havoc, but not enough to be institutionalized. I read the book in one evening because I was desperate to learn how I might deal with an elder's belligerent outbursts, illogical thinking and unwillingness to accept help. The author faced similar issues with her father and her examples rang 100% true to me. At the end of the book, the author provides specific techniques and tips for modifying the elder's behavior. I tried some of her suggestions the very next day, and it worked! The sense of calm that I gained, knowing that I now had a "toolkit" of resources and ideas from this book, was invaluable to me. Save your sanity - get this book if you are dealing with demented elders now, or think you might be in the near future!

As a professional caregiver coordinator for a local Area Agency on Aging I read a lot of books on caregiving and Alzheimer's disease. This is the best book I have read on the subject. The story is told with humor, but it is full of excellent tips and education on the subject. A must read if you are a caregiver caring for an Alzheiemr's loved one.

I got this wonderful book about a year after my mom passed. I still refer to it so much that it is dog-eared, for information, resources and to enjoy Jackie's humorous writing style. (Okay, I admit it, I stole her idea of quoting artists and thanking them!!! I thought that was brilliant and it added a whole new dimension of enjoyment of the book for me!!!)

The book really helped me understand that the many feelings I went through while my mom was ill were NOT abnormal, and that my attempts to help were not in vain, although with this resource, I could have figured out even more and better things to do - - especially calling in APS early on. I truly think my mom's frequent infections were caused by lack of cleanliness at home and I COULD NOT get my parents to accept help with cleaning. I even hired a geriatric care manager, who recommended services that my parents would not accept. I think I would have been able to get them to accept a lot more services had I read this book first - - or at least I would have had some ideas to try.

I had the additional drawback of living 1500 miles from my parents, which is why I ended up hiring a geriatric manager (who saved MY life by just BEING there so many times when I needed someone to talk to, which Jackie points out is so important - - to have people to talk to about the elder you are caring for.) But I found that even on two extended trips to be with my family, I was unable to get the concrete results I wanted. That's why I think involving professionals, such as APS and the police, would have been so helpful if I'd thought of it at that time.

In a nutshell, this book made me feel like I was hearing from a very dear and knowledgeable friend with reassurance on a most confusing and difficult situation. I continue in my quest for info on elder care, but this remains far and away the most helpful and most enjoyable book I have read on the subject. Thanks Jackie!!!

This is a good book for anyone trying to help elderly parents. I found the style of writing, relating all things to old tv shows, sometimes distracting and confusing but the information in the book was so worth the read. It gave me strength and focus on dealing with my Mom. I am still continuing to find resources through this book and it is really a valuable tool.

despite the coincidences and the parlor room confession. The author shows us stuff we usually don't see. Drug trials and back stage drug politics. And Massachusetts. Watch out for jelly fish and slimy scientists.

I really enjoyed reading this novel and had a hard time putting it down! The aspect of the novel that I enjoyed most was the parallel stories. I found both stories incredibly engaging and was thrilled to see it all come together at the end. This is one of those books that consumes you and makes you forget that you are flipping pages and reading. The concept of memoriane is very interesting as well, especially in a time where all sorts of medical research is being conducted. The situations that the characters in the novel find themselves in cause th reader to experience his/her own moral dilemma. I am looking forward to reading more by this author!

I thought Flashback was a great read, I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the creative plot, and I was also drawn to the characters. I look forward to reading other novels by him.

Braver's novel struck me as nothing but genius. He took fascinating ideas and translated them into beautiful literature. As a nurse, I pick up easily on medical inconsistencies on television or in writing, but I was thoroughly impressed by Braver's knowledge and presentation of pathophysiology and pharmacology. "Flashback" is an extraordinary piece of work that combines modern medical concepts with a brilliant imagination. As this was my first Braver novel, I can't wait to read his other books. I would be happy to recommend Gary Braver to anyone.

Braver has written a thoroughly enjoyable thriller in Flashback. This is the first book of his that I have read and I will definitely be checking out his others. The story evolves around an ethical dilemma faced by a drug company. The company's decisions are certainly not surprising and definitely to be expected. One wonders almost every day whether decisions like this are made by the big drug companies in the world. I think they are. Very interesting storyline to involve alzheimer's a disease which surely we are all afraid of suffering.

Braver joins Lincoln Child, Douglas Preston, Greg Iles, James Rollins, Michael Palmer and others on my list of favourite thriller writers.

This book is full of information that has helped our family understand and support our family member who has memory problems.

This book has many useful suggestions and shows a deep understanding of the challenges of caregiving for someone with dementia. It was comforting to read the short descriptions of situations and how to react to them. It made me less irritable with caring for my relative. I plan to get another copy to have available for when I meet other people who face the same issues.

A truly remarkable and instructional guide for care givers of people with dementia or alzheimers. So much of what was going on in my mother's life at this stage, began to make sense to me and I was better prepared to help her. Great book!

Nuria Fernandez
Chicago

An extremely helpful book for those who are experiencing dementia and/or Alzheimer's with a loved one. You are not alone! And all those strange things that are happening are not out of the ordinary for the condition. This book covers the basics, and provides helpful suggestions for living with, caring for, and coping with dementia and your love one.

This is an excellent book. It is written in a warm and caring manner which is easy to understand. It is full of information not just for anyone dealing with a dementia patient, but for anybody who is caring for another person, (or who may think at some point they will). It covers subjects which apply to the caring of anyone who is ill and/or elderly, even if it is not dementia. I would recommend this book to anyone, before they are faced with the illness. I wish I'd read it sooner, but better late than never. Absolutely a great book, it should be in every library. I plan to buy 2 copies for my library, I will definitely NOT donate mine. I can't say enough good things about this book.

Nearly five million in the U.S. live with Alzheimer's, and the author is a child of an Alzheimer's sufferer - a journalist who signs on as a caregiver at an Alzheimer's facility in response to her mother's illness to better understand the condition. Her memoir provides insights into the field of dementia care and offers many poignant survival tactics and even a hopeful story. Highly recommended for both health and general interest lending libraries.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I would give this book 4 1/2 stars if it was available. This story was moving and funny all at once. I just thought it was a little long. It gives you a real inside look at Alzheimer's and you see that even in the midst of their dieses they have a life and are still people. I really enjoyed getting to know the people of Maplewood. This is a great story for anyone who is dealing with or knows someone or has an interest in Alzheimer's.

After much deliberation, praying and consideration, my brothers and I recently moved my mother, who is in the late stages of Alzheimers, away from her home of 39 years to an Alzheimers facility. The anticipation was so much worse than the actual move. My mother has never looked back, and loves the facility because of her interaction with others. Lauren's book really opened my eyes, and I praise her for her work. My mother's facility also has a lady who carries two dolls around, and now I understand!!!

When I was told my Mother had early stage altzheimers I was at sea. I bought three books on the subject and while each had a different "slant" for those who are watching this terrible disease they were very helpful in finding out what was happening and what I could expect. This book, tho but everything into human terms. It is a companion book to "Learning to Speak Altheizmers" . I highly recommend this book to anyone who is trying to learn more about what happens to a family member as they go on this journey.

This book really touched me in many, many ways. From the personal level, the relating to Lauren's job, and in the residents that Lauren took care of. Sometimes I had to put the book down from a few minutes--to a few hours to allow me time to reflect. Thank you Lauren for sharing your experiences with us the reader. I look at Alzheimer's disease in a better, deeper way then before I read this book. :)

For me, I can tell if a novel is good by whether I think about the characters when I am not reading the book, and after I've finished it. By that measure, "Still Alice" is superb fiction. The story is engrossing, the subject is interesting, and Alice Howland is a character not to be forgotten (pardon the pun).

"Still Alice" is a story about Alice Howland, a linguistics professor, and her battle with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. If this plot sounds overly depressing, that is what I thought it would be too. However, it's author, an online columnist for the National Alzheimer's Association, tells Alice's story in a way that not only captures the sadness of her situation, but also the glimmers of joy and humor that pop in every once in a while.

If I had to sum up what the book is about in one word, I would choose "compassion." The book is not only about Alice, but about how her family and friends cope with the situation and help Alice maintain as much sanity and dignity as possible. The book is as engaging as it is thoughtful ("What would I do in her husband's/daughter's situation?")

Highly reccomended as a stunning work of literary fiction.

My great grandmother died with alzheimers when I was in high school. The last time I saw her, she didn't remember me. She lived in a state of confusion and paranoia for years before death finally freed her. Reading this book was like a left hook right to my heart. Beautifully told and heart wrenchingly accurate.

I loved this book-I couldn't put it down! It is thought provoking and easy to empathize with the main characters. I highly recommend Still Alice.

A truly fascinating read! The author more than succeeds in presenting a very accurate and poignant profile of what it's like to live with younger-onset Alzheimer's disease. Once you meet Alice, you will begin to understand just how challenging and heartbreaking this illness can be. Lisa Genova is a very gifted author who has managed to capture the essence of both the struggle and courage that it takes to live with this devastating disease.

Lisa Genova's novel describes the assault of Alzheimers on individuals and families with accuracy and compassion. Though I read it with some amount of trepidation, frequently pausing to wonder if my own sometimes quirky and forgetful behaviors were indicative of a similar reality, this was a story of courage, hope and empowerment. "Still Alice" explores the issue of self, the things that go into creating our identity and what it means to lose those abilities and relationships that have defined us. While the story obviously focused on Alice, each person in the family was confronted with the task of deciding who they were and the kind of person they wanted to be. Just as the neural pathways become tangled, blocked and disrupted, so do human relationships. And just as the brain can find alternative connections that help us to make sense of and enrich our lives, so do individuals, families and communities. The book offers much to think about and discuss and will offer a book club a rich source of conversation. It would also be helpful for caregivers who struggle for answers and the professionals who think they have all of the answers. It demands that we take an honest look at the way we view and interact with people suffering from dementia ~ the labels, assumptions, isolation that are imposed ~ and how our own fears, frustrations and anguish add to the distress that is inherent in the disease. Despite the loss of language, cognition and independence, the person remains and to a greater or lesser degree, with unevenness and unpredictability, is still able to engage in the business of living.

While I have never directly gone through caring for a patient with alzheimer's disease, as a nurse I have cared for many such patients and had contact with their families. This account by the daughter of writer Mary Durant strips bare not only what the disease can do to a vibrant, intelligent person, but the effect it has on the psche of all family involved in the care of the alzheimer's victim. The journey begins with selfless determination and bravery, and soon has the caregivers directly involved reduced in a crazy-making world of desperation and guilt.
While this book can be devastating in its honesty it is not without humor, and the writing is nothing short of wondrous. Very few books have me reduced to tears at last turning of the page; this one did. These people will live on in your heart long after reading Death in Slow Motion.

but unlike the passage from 1 Corinthians, Eleanor Cooney's perception and view of Alzheimer's disease is clear, unmuddied and unlike any that I've ever read. As the disease clouds the memory and behavior of her mother, the range of emotions that I felt as a reader and witness were sometimes too much to bear.

This is a book that I first read when a condensed version appeared in a Harper's magazine article in 2001. I purchased the book shortly thereafter since my own mother had been diagnosed with the disease a year earlier at the age of 58.

I still pick up Death, in Slow Motion every few weeks. I can't tell you what a comfort it has been to me as I journey through the dark and twisted tunnel of care for my own mother. Although our circumstances are different, and the case of every Alzheimer's patient is truly unique, I felt and still feel as if I have met someone who is willing to hold up that mirror and tell me what I am in store for - but in a comforting, compassionate and very honest manner.

Eleanor Cooney has written the most eye-opening and honest account of Alzheimer's that I have ever read! I was a caretaker to my Mother who also had Alzheimer's and much of this mirrored our experience. It felt like someone was finally telling my story: I'm broke, I'm exhausted, I can't take it, I'm abusing substances, I love her, I sometimes wish she'd die, I miss her....I hate myself!

I don't always find authors or experts that have her down to earth way of relaying the real nitty-gritty experience of caring for someone with Alzheimer's. She's an intellegent, strong woman who jumped head-first into the role of caretaker of her Mother, Mary who was beginning the long decline of Alzheimer's. This is a task many children take on and barely survive. Eleanor Cooney is definately a survivor and a brilliant, funny, brutally honest author.

But Eleanor Cooney is also a wonderful storyteller. I feel like I have been in these Connecticut neighborhoods and homes, and have met this cast of characters that tell the exciting story of Mary Durant's life. I especially feel like I've met someone special, Mary. It's hard to remember the person that's inside that Alzheimer's shell. Eleanor has done her Mother proud and left a loving memory of a very beautiful, creative and unusual person.

As the author remarks of Alzheimer's: "you will never be the same once it's paid you a visit." I have not been the same since I've read this book! Do yourself a favor and take this journey!

I bought this book because I had to for a Psycology class report. I read this in 1 day and was pulled in by the true, raw emotion described in this real story about the author and her mother. It is the kind of book you want to read about a subject you want to look away from. I recommend this for anyone who has a loved one suffering with Alzheimers, in the medical feild, or just someone who wants a gripping, powerful read.

p.s. I bought this book used.....wonderful condition...used is the way to go for any college student! low $$$$

This superbly interesting book reads like a story. She has done something major for anyone taking care of a person with Alzheimer's Disease. Her amazing honesty is like a breath of fresh air, and the book helped me more than any other book or support group.

I have known people with Alzheimer's but this book reveals to me the true nature, the depth of anguish, the devastating impact on a family. This book is a must read; it is as educational as it is compelling, poignant, and heartbreaking. Kudos to Dr Zalar for his incredible love and caring. This book has had such a profound affect on me, I pray it will become a movie so it's knowledge can spread nationwide.

Day Is Ending deals with the meeting and courtship of Dr. Zalar and his wife and follows their lives up to his wife's demise at the hands of Alzheimer's disease.
I found her letters that were her keepsakes over the years relating to their relationship and marriage to be inspirational.
This is a very thought-provoking book. I have read it several times and each time I get something new out of it.

"Day Is Ending" provides people with a touching and insightful journey treating and caring for a loved one through a difficult disease. The love between Dr. Zalar and Trude is inspiring and his dedication to her and her humane treatment during challenging times provides guidance for all loved ones who may one day face the same challenges involved in caring for a loved one.

This moving book says it all.He was dedicated to his profession,his children and to his beloved wife my dear Aunt Trude.I too hope that this moving book is movie material

Moving love story of dedication, loyalty, compassion with care. Touching read.

The author writes of her father's decent into Alzheimer's Disease (being more
and more child like in his progression of the disease and her young son growing up from a toddler to young boyhood..the opposite ends of the spectrum. A very moving book. I may reread this one.

In September 2004's Australian Reader's Digest, the story "The Unlikely Gift" had me in tears. It moved me so much that I searched out and ordered the book it was taken from - "The House on Beartown Road". I had been mourning the
death of a favourite and much loved friend who died from the ravages of a similar brain disease (vascular dementia). Although her body died recently, the soul and the entity that I loved which made her who she was, was taken from me many years ago when the diagnosis was made and the slow but inevitable slide began.

My friend Kath, whom I met in 1980, taught me joy and sharing, she took me into her family as if I was one of her own. As I am of a different background, she taught me to enjoy roast dinners and chocolate ripple cakes. She was a favourite auntie, a surrogate mother and most of all, a best friend. In the later years, I have been unable to be in her presence,
as I couldn't reconcile the angry, violent person as being the same caring friend I had known. She was diagnosed in her 60's which is much too early and didn't allow her to enjoy her twilight years with those she loved and who loved her.

Elizabeth Cohen's book is a beautiful and simply told homage to the reality of family life and in my opinion, a must read.

What a wonderful book. I have noticed that many who review this book are intimately involved in Alzheimers, be they professional or private care-givers. I don't have anyone in my immediate family with Alzheimers, but I read this as a potential gift to a friend who does. I am grateful that I was motivated to read this lovely, loving account of a disease and the way if effects those who are near it. The author and her family serve as reminders that love comes in all forms, and may be asked of you at the most inconvient moments. Don't wait until you have Alzheimers in your family to read this book. So much gentle learning to be done, so much joy to be given, so many miles we go, travellers through life.

Few books have brought me to tears. This one did. The author writes in a matter-of-fact way about the heart-wrenching disease of Alheimer's, its impact to her life, and the lives of those around her. I didn't want the book to end. It is a quick read. Great book.

I found "The House on Beartown Road" shelved in our local library (Pound Ridge, NY) under Mental Health/Alzheimer's. I don't know who decides these things, but this wonderful memoir ought to be prominently placed along with other contemporary memoirs. Elizabeth Cohen is a fine writer and she deserves recognition for this generous tribute to her 80-year-old father, Sandy, to her daughter -- one year old Ava, and to new-found neighbors on Beartown Road and to friends in the Binghamton, NY, community. Sandy and Ava of these are at opposite ends of the verbal spectrum, one forgetting language and the other learning. Elizabeth Cohen herself is there in the middle, somehow trying to work full time as a reporter, managing day care for the two people who depend on her, figuring out how to survive the winter in one of the nation's true snow-belts, and keeping her own sanity as a harrassed single mother.My own mother is 97 with Alzheimer's and I have a one-year old granddaughter, so this book is close to the bone in many ways. I tell everybody about it. I use it in the memoir course I teach. I want to keep it to survive as a classic memoir and as a year-long account by an un-self-pitying caregiver. Elinore Standard Pound Ridge, NY

This was a very interesting book. The author did a good job of explaining the frustrating process of seeking a diagnosis and treatment of a rare condition. She includes a lot of useful information for those
who may have inherited this condition.

This is a great resource for the newly-diagnosed, and a well-written, gripping bio - but it is far more than that. ... What an moving reliance on the power of prayer! What an awesome testimony of faith! I loved the anecdote about the 'pennies from Heaven'!

A BIG 'thank you' to this author!I am confident that there are few people who will not profit by the information contained in this book. Especially in view of the so-called 'Pandemic which is looming over all of us, I feel that it is imperative for everyone to know how dangerous it is to be 'overloaded' with iron - which, to bacteria, fungi and viruses, is like 'fertilizer' to plants! This riveting, well-written, 'first-person' account alerts readers to the perils of iron accumulation in the body.

More than just about a disease!.
On another website, I saw this book described as the 'definitive book about Hemochromatosis', and I agree. However,a prominent researcher has written that it is the story of a remarkable man and an extraordinary relationship. He was right. - It's more than a layman's reference to genetic disorder. It's a consummate love story. Love at first sight...the enduring adoration of a teenager for a young man; which would lead her, in time, along an thorny path and against all odds, to a fight against ignorance of a disease. That fight has culminated in the saving of lives around the world.

Original edition - 1989 ISBN 0889258856 autographed. Collectors' item. Limited number available! $30.00

This book has given me some help on things to think about with my aging parents.

Read "The Retirement Nightmare" by Dr. Diane Armstrong. Get the real truth about the fraud and abuse of the elderly and not so elderly. To avoid a professional guardianship, should be of paramount importance. Reports of guardians stealing from their wards' bank accounts and other wise abusing guardianship powers are surfacing with disturbing regularity. 'This problem is going to get bigger and bigger,' says E. Bentley Lipscomb, AARP's Florida state director and a former state secretary of elder affairs. - GUARDIANS DRAWING INCREASED SCRUTINY, AARP Bulletin.

Virginia Morris nails it with this comprehensive volume. She addresses every issue I've faced as a caregiver and more. Her sensitivity and caring shine through every page, and she's packed the book with useful information.

If you're caring for aging parents, start here. "How to Care for Aging Parents" stands head and shoulders above other general caregiving books.

Phyllis Staff, Ph.D.
author, "How to Find Great Senior Housing"
and
"128 Ways to Prevent Alzheimer's and Other Dementias"

Taking care of my 90 yr old Grandmother was so difficult. This book gave me so much insight on area's that I had no understanding of. Also helped point me in the right direction to planning at the end.

This book is exceptional. The author includes all specifics needed to apply the valuable information provided throughout the book...including phone numbers and addresses. Not only did the book help my husband and I prepare to care for our own parents, reading it has helped us prepare for our own aging process. The information will make things as easy as possible for our single child when we become the "Aging Parents". This book is a must have. I bought one for each of my siblings and also copies for good friends who are also caring for elderly parents.