Bringing Joy to People Living With Alzheimer's or Dementia

Reader21: Helped my mind set enormously and left me feeling less powerless.

United States on Aug 12, 2023

MaryAlice Ramsey: I have recommended this book to everyone I know who is a caregiver to a loved one with Dementia. Good suggestions and examples. Easy read.

United States on Aug 03, 2023

Es See: For caretakers who are taking care of a loved one, this book is a must read. It has so much helpful information that will get you through the difficult journey of Alzheimers/Dementia. I highly recommend it.

Canada on Aug 04, 2018

Valerie E.: This book was an excellent resource to me when my mother began her experience with several communication and cognitive challenges... expressive aphasia where her words wouldn't come from her mouth and a level of dementia. This book not only helps family and friends who are supporting people with cognitive issues but for me, it was a way to relate better with the elderly despite their conditions. The book helped me be more patient (instead of trying to finish sentences or relate that "I've heard that story before") and to reach my loved one where she was at the time- moving in to her world. The book is a great resource into how our responses are received by the loved one and how instead we can Create Moments of Joy for where they are at. After moving my mom from one facility to another, a caregiver said how they had observed how patient and loving I was with my mom...I attribute it all to this book. You won't be disappointed- it explains the why, is funny and makes a heck of a lot of sense. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book and have given it as gifts a couple times already.

United States on Dec 28, 2016

Louise Burton: If you want to need to deal with a person who has dementia or alzheimer's, this is the most inspiring, uplifting book you can read on this subject. I have tried to read several, but they were too depressing. This book gives the reader a lot of ideas and specific instances of how to deflect worry and confusion. I have given this book to my family members and friends. I never dreamed I'd read a book about alzheimer's and be inspired! My favorite story was of the mother who wanted nothing more than to go to the beach and stick her feet in the sand one last time. The family took her on a major trip to the beach. On the way home, she said "all I want to do is stick my toes in the sand one more time." Instead of the family going nuts and saying WE WERE JUST THERE! They quietly said, 'we'll be there in about an hour'. In an hour, she had forgotten completely what she had wanted. Of course this only works if they don't remember! I can't say enough good things about this book. It will truly save your sanity!

United States on Jan 08, 2016

ZOE: Have only read the first couple of chapters, but this book has already given me more of an insight into how my mother thinks and copes with life on a daily basis. It has helped me understand why she says and does things in a certain way, and how to create a better life for her by "going with the flow" and not worrying if she does or says things wrong. If it doesn't cause her to worry or endanger herself, then just go with it. Can't wait to finish the book.

United Kingdom on Apr 18, 2015

Eva F. Kosinski: One of the most difficult things that one has to deal with when a loved one has Altzheimer's or dementia is the reality gap. What they believe and the world they see around them ISN'T the one the rest of us see, but it is so completely real and compelling that no effort to convince them that it's not true can ever work. It's even more difficult if you have family member caregivers that are not into telling stories or making things up (techies or lawyers, or doctors) because they often can't intuit what's going on, and don't know how to say anything other than the real facts and resort to: "No, Mom, that's not true. That happened years ago," or "no, you're in a nursing home, not a train station." Worse yet, when the patient wonders why deceased friends and family can't come to visit, the caregiver can't say "sorry Mom, he died a few years ago." because it is absolutely cruel -- the patient doesn't remember the death; for them it's new news, and they grieve all over again.

This book is, for lack of a better word, a cook-book containing formulas for dealing with the most common conundrums caregivers face. In addition to helping by providing tools that work, it gives caregivers...

United States on Apr 04, 2014

Glenda Volkwyn: My mother has Alzheimer's Disease, and will soon be going into Care. Right now my 92 year old father is still trying to care for her at home. As hard as it is for the family, he deals with the day-to-day challenges. I did a quick read of the book, underlining what might be of help to him. He read the highlights, and then went back for more. If this can help a 92 year old, then I expect you can't go wrong.

Canada on Feb 18, 2014

cyberhoagy: When most of us deal with a loved one in the throws of dementia, we try to re-educate, and in the course of that misguided effort we bring suffering to loved ones who are not ever going to get better. This book is not just for professional or family care-givers dealing with dementia patients, it's for everyone who has a loved one caught in this horrible final phase of life.
Putting her experience into play, Brackey teaches all of us the means by which we can bring joy, and simple happy moments, instead of inflicting pain through our misguided intentions. This book gives everyone involved with a dementia patient, the tools to bring happiness to loved ones with the disease. If you know someone struggling to deal with this horrific problem, and failing, then this is the book to buy them for Xmas. This book helps the patient, but even more important, it empowers the loved ones of the dementia patient with the tools to bring happiness to a mind that is fading to black, long before the body quits.

Canada on Dec 03, 2012

Michael F. Hammell: I bought this book for my wife, whose Mother, about to turn 90, who has always had a very bright, quick and extensive memory has suffered a fast deterioration in memory. She has relied very heavily on her memory because she has been "legally" blind from birth and over the years her signt has been failing at a slow rate, but significant at this point. She lives alone in a very pleasant apartment and intends to remain there. My wife has taken over much of her care on a daily basis and she has found this book invaluable for understanding the situation but also the support for her, dealing with this difficult situation. I have read through it as well and find it very well written, clear and supportive and recommend it without hesitation to anyone in a similar situation.

Canada on May 16, 2012