Sunday, August 30, 2009

Looking at Alzheimers and Caregivers from the inside

Four books recommended by members of local support groups in MetroWest MA for those looking for writers with Alheimer's wanting to read books offering the personal view of individuals having ALZ and those families now facing the roles of caregivers.
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Larry's Way: ANOTHER LOOK AT ALZHEIMER'S FROM THE INSIDE
"Once a person has been diagnoses with AlzheimerÂ’s disease, they become discouraged, frustrated, depressed and angry. Larry is different. While obviously not welcoming his illness, he has turned his feeling and insights toward writing this book."
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Still Alice
"Still Alice is a compelling debut novel about a 50-year-old woman's sudden descent into early onset Alzheimer's disease, written by first-time author Lisa Genova, who holds a Ph. D in neuroscience from Harvard University."

"Reminiscent of A Beautiful Mind, Ordinary People and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Still Alice packs a powerful emotional punch and marks the arrival of a strong new voice in fiction."
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The Comfort of Home
"Burnout — the complete drain of physical, spiritual, and emotional reserves — occurs when a caregiver slips into exhaustion or depression. More and more frequently, the responsibility of caring for the chronically ill child, the disabled spouse, or the aging parent falls on a family member. "

"From the decision to be a caregiver to dealing with day-to-day activities, this guide provides help with every aspect of home care. Also included in this edition are a checklist of tasks, a chapter on self-care and avoiding caregiver burnout, a glossary, and list of helpful resources."
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The Alzheimer's Sourcebook for Caregivers
"Author is director of SHACTI (Self-Help Alzheimer's Caregiver's Training and Information). Facts-based, hands-on guide for those caring for in-home Alzheimer's patients. Discusses how to deal with stress and difficult behaviors, how to find outside help, and how to nurture your own well-being. For consumers."
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The Complete Guide to Alzheimer's-Proofing Your Home (Revised Edition) by Mark Warner and Ellen Warner

"Written by a practicing architect and gerontologist, The Complete Guide to Alzheimer's-Proofing Your Home shows you how to create a home environment that will help you cope with the many difficulties associated with Alzheimer's. "

"This unique book is divided into two sections to provide the most thorough coverage available. Section One deals with interior and exterior spaces individually, providing key information on how to ensure that the Alzheimer's patient will be safe and secure."

" Section Two gives a detailed list of potential problems related to Alzheimer's and practical information on how to cope with those problems in the home setting."

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Please feel free to make your recommendations within the blog comments.