Journey Through Alzheimer's

Journey Through Alzheimer's PDF Author: Rick M Gardner Ph D
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 360

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Book Description
In this deeply moving chronicle of love and loss, cognitive psychologist Rick Gardner recounts his journey alongside his wife, Betty Ann, as she progresses through dementia and eventually Alzheimer's disease. Part love letter to his wife of 50 years, and part science narrative, Journey through Alzheimer's conveys in vivid detail Betty Ann's descent from her first understated symptoms to her subsequent cognitive decline. Gardner describes what happens in the brain when dementia occurs, including the deterioration of the five senses on cognitive functioning, and the effects aging plays in the process. The book is the only first-person account of decline of thinking and cognition into Alzheimer's written by a cognitive psychologist, and readers will appreciate the clarity of Gardner's insights, as well as his compassion and candor. This book will be especially helpful, as well as cathartic, to family and caregivers of those with Alzheimer's, although it is Gardner's tender portrayal of his commitment to the brilliant, vivacious Betty Ann that will remain with readers long after the final page is turned.

Ten Thousand Joys & Ten Thousand Sorrows

Ten Thousand Joys & Ten Thousand Sorrows PDF Author: Olivia Ames Hoblitzelle
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101443669
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 354

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Book Description
"Ten Thousand Sorrows & Ten Thousand Joys offers a vision of lives well-led, and of love in the thick of crisis and loss. Beyond inspiring."-Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence "This beautiful book is unlike any other personal account of living with Alzheimer's disease that I have ever read . . . it offers patients and families practical insights into how they can live their lives more fully amidst the heartbreak of a mind-robbing illness."- Paul Raia, Director of Patient Care and Family Support, Alzheimer's Association, Massachusetts Chapter "A story of courage, love, and growing wisdom in the face of Alzheimer's."-Joseph Goldstein, author of One Dharma, Founder / Director of Insight Meditation Society In this profound and courageous memoir, Olivia Ames Hoblitzelle describes how her husband's Alzheimer's diagnosis at the age of seventy-two challenged them to live the spiritual teachings they had embraced during the course of their life together. Following a midlife career shift, Harrison Hobliztelle, or Hob as he was called, a former professor of comparative literature at Barnard, Columbia, and Brandeis University, became a family therapist and was ordained a Dharmacharya (senior teacher) by Thich Nhat Hanh. Hob comes to life in these pages as an incredibly funny and brilliant man who never stopped enjoying a good philosophical conversation-even as his mind, quite literally, slipped away from him. And yet when they first heard the diagnosis, Olivia and Hob's initial reaction was to cling desperately to the life they had had. But everything had changed, and they knew that the only answer was to greet this last phase of Hob's life consciously and lovingly. Ten Thousand Joys & Ten Thousand Sorrows provides a wise and compassionate vision for maintaining hope and grace in the face of life's greatest challenges. (This memoir was originally self-published as The Majesty of Your Loving.)

Living in the Labyrinth

Living in the Labyrinth PDF Author: Diana Friel McGowin
Publisher: Delta
ISBN: 030780464X
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 177

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Book Description
Living In The Labyrinth is the story of how one woman found the strength and the courage to cope with a devastating disease that has afflicted five million Americans. Far from being an exercise in self-pity or a standard autobiography, this is an unflinching and ultimately uplifting look at a debilitating illness from the inside out. “Somewhere there is that ever-present reminder list of what I am supposed to do today. But I cannot find it. I attempt to do the laundry and find myself outside, in my backyard, holding soiled clothes. How did I get here? How do I get back?” Only forty-five when she first began to struggle with the memory lapses and disorientation that signal the onset of Alzheimer’s, Diana Friel McGowin has written a courageous, stirring insider’s story of the disease that is now the fourth leading killer of American adults. Diana’s personal journey through days of darkness and light, fear and hope gives us new insight into a devastating illness and the plight of its victims, complete with a list of early warning signs, medical background, and resources for further information. But Diana’s story goes far beyond a recounting of a terrifying disease. It portrays a marriage struggling to survive, a family hurt beyond words, and a woman whose humor and intelligence triumph over setbacks and loss to show us the best of what being human is. “A stunner of a book . . . it takes the reader on a terrifying but enlightening journey.”—San Antonio News Express “Touching and sometimes angry . . . a poignant insider’s view.”—The Cincinnati Enquirer

Alzheimer's, a Love Story

Alzheimer's, a Love Story PDF Author: Ann Davidson
Publisher: Carol Publishing Corporation
ISBN: 9781559724180
Category : Alzheimer's disease
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The gripping memoir of one critical year in the life of Ann Davidson and her husband, Julian, a prominent physiology professor at Stanford Medical School who has Alzheimer's disease. These 56 vignettes each tell a complete story, progressing from Ann and Julian's initial confusion and anger through adjustments and moments of humor and joy to increasing acceptance and an odd sort of peace.

Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer's Journey

Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer's Journey PDF Author: Jolene Brackey
Publisher: Purdue University Press
ISBN: 1612494838
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 298

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Book Description
The beloved best seller has been revised and expanded for the fifth edition. Jolene Brackey has a vision: that we will soon look beyond the challenges of Alzheimer's disease to focus more of our energies on creating moments of joy. When people have short-term memory loss, their lives are made up of moments. We are not able to create perfectly wonderful days for people with dementia or Alzheimer's, but we can create perfectly wonderful moments, moments that put a smile on their faces and a twinkle in their eyes. Five minutes later, they will not remember what we did or said, but the feeling that we left them with will linger. The new edition of Creating Moments of Joy is filled with more practical advice sprinkled with hope, encouragement, new stories, and generous helpings of humor. In this volume, Brackey reveals that our greatest teacher is having cared for and loved someone with Alzheimer's and that often what we have most to learn about is ourselves.

Before My Eyes

Before My Eyes PDF Author: Diane Currie
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 1450216781
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 90

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Book Description
"Imagine the heart-wrenching devastation that is experienced by a family when a parent is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease! Author Diane Currie shares her candid and personal reflections about her mother's struggle with this disease as she copes with the reality of the present but always honors the memory of her past. Through a series of moving vignettes, she remains connected with her mother in a creative way as the strong bond between them slowly dissolves as the disease progresses. From the first moment of her mother's diagnosis, Currie conveys in a captivating manner the intense feelings of loss and hopelessness one experiences when dealing with this dreadful disease. She is able to protray the subtle changes in her mother's behavior and personality throughout her decline, all in a deeply human way. While Before My Eyes describes one family's touching and painful journey, in essence Currie's reflective account may typify the Alzheimer's experience, while offering support and validation to all those who walk its arduous path"--Page 4 of cover.

The Emotional Journey of the Alzheimer's Family

The Emotional Journey of the Alzheimer's Family PDF Author: Robert B. Santulli, MD
Publisher: Dartmouth College Press
ISBN: 1611687454
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 231

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Book Description
Alzheimer's disease is a growing public health crisis. According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are 5.4 million victims of this disease; by 2050, there will be close to 15 million people who suffer from this debilitating disorder of memory, thinking, personality, and functioning. The disease profoundly affects immediate family members, close friends, and neighbors. These people - the Alzheimer's family - undergo tremendous psychological and emotional change as they witness the cruel and relentless progression of the disease in their loved one. Incorporating over thirty years of experience with Alzheimer's patients and their families with current medical knowledge, the authors chart the complex emotional journey of the Alzheimer's family from the onset of the disease through the death of the loved one. They discuss the anger that rises in the face of discordant views of the disease, the defenses that emerge when family members are unwilling to accept a dementia diagnosis, and the common emotions of anxiety, guilt, anger, and shame. They focus especially on grief as the core response to losing a loved one to dementia, and describe the difficult processes of adaptation and acceptance, which lead to personal growth. Final chapters emphasize the importance of establishing a care community and how to understand and cope with personal stress. This volume will be useful to medical professionals and ordinary people close to or caring for a person with dementia.

Where Two Worlds Touch

Where Two Worlds Touch PDF Author: Jade C. Angelica
Publisher: Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
ISBN: 1558967117
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 362

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Book Description
Jade Angelica shares the wisdom and hope she gleaned from caring for her mother and from many years working closely with Alzheimer's patients and caregivers. Challenging the predominant belief that people with Alzheimer's no longer have purpose, potential, or the capacity for meaningful relationship, Where Two Worlds Touch is both a spiritual memoir and a pastoral guide for those who love someone with Alzheimer's. Readers will find here the reassuring words of a friend who has been there and can give advice on preserving connection, finding hope, self-care, and staying open to the possibility of grace.

Keeping Love Alive as Memories Fade

Keeping Love Alive as Memories Fade PDF Author: Gary Chapman
Publisher: Moody Publishers
ISBN: 0802494412
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 240

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Book Description
Across America and around the world, the five love languages have revitalized relationships and saved marriages from the brink of disaster. Can they also help individuals, couples, and families cope with the devastating diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD)? Coauthors Chapman, Shaw, and Barr give a resounding yes. Their innovative application of the five love languages creates an entirely new way to touch the lives of the five million Americans who have Alzheimer’s, as well as their fifteen million caregivers. At its heart, this book is about how love gently lifts a corner of dementia’s dark curtain to cultivate an emotional connection amid memory loss. This collaborative, groundbreaking work between a healthcare professional, caregiver, and relationship expert will: Provide an overview of the love languages and Alzheimer’s disease, correlate the love languages with the developments of the stages of AD, discuss how both the caregiver and care receiver can apply the love languages, address the challenges and stresses of the caregiver journey, offer personal stories and case studies about maintaining emotional intimacy amidst AD. Keeping Love Alive as Memories Fade is heartfelt and easy to apply, providing gentle, focused help for those feeling overwhelmed by the relational toll of Alzheimer’s. Its principles have already helped hundreds of families, and it can help yours, too.

"Where's My Shoes?"

Author: Brenda Avadian
Publisher: 1st Impression Publishing
ISBN: 9780963275240
Category : Alzheimer's disease
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Explains the history of the rodeo, important rodeo figures, and different kinds of rodeos.