A Groundbreaking Approach for Everyone Dealing with the Disease

I bought this book and have thus far been very satisfied with the content and information. It has helped me see a new side of my dad who is dealing with this disease at the young age of 55. I would recommend this book.

I have ordered many books on Alzheimer's Disease books which help my support group at St. Martin's Church immensely. I especially like "Learning to Speak Alzheimer's" and "911 for Caregivers". Both are excellent guides for caregivers!

This is a must read for anyone with friends or family suffering from Alzheimer's Disease or other dementia, whether or not you are a care-giver. Enables understanding of this dreaded disease, and communication with those who suffer it. You will be wiser and more compassionate after reading it.

This is a must read book for anyone dealing with a loved one with Alzheimer's.
The habilitation approach to care and understanding is in line with almost all of the progressive day and residential programs.

As a caregiver to my mother with dementia, this book has been a great help. I like to pull it out when I feel that I am short on patience, and I do not want to hurt my mom. It helps to read this. I really miss my mom. She is still physically here, but my "mom" left a while ago. I would recommend this book to all caregivers, and anyone with loved ones with dementia. It helps with the communication do's and dont's.

Fantastic. Just what I needed to spawn further thinking and reafirm that I am on the right path.
Thanks, The siblings are doing a round robin with the book so that we can share ideas with each other.
Andrea Goodman

My mother has alzheimer's . This book is so helpful. very interesting . It helps with what the patient feels. I told everyone of my sisters to read this book. The program my mom is in also wants to read the book . Thank you.I just hope i can do this.

I wish I'd have read this book before my parents moved in with me 8 months ago. This book helped me to see that my mother isn't out to get me through her vindictive and sneaky behavior. It also has given me tools and ideas to use in dealing with my father's dementia. I will definitely keep this book as a constant reference and reminder on how to create the best possible living situation for everyone involved.

Maybe I had a mistaken impression when I read about this book before buying it. I thought it would give explicit instruction for activities & interactions that caregivers could do with someone with Alzheimer's. It gave no suggestions of topics or activities to do with Alzheimer's patients, & it did not tell me anything I didn't already know about Alzheimer's Disease (AD). It's a general read for someone who's a beginner & hasn't been dealing with AD or researching it on their own for awhile. If you know nothing, this book might help you. If you're already pretty well informed, it's a waste of time.

This book enables one to understand a little better how a person with this disease mind works. It is difficult to read when one is living with someone who has the illness. It could make the life of the person who has the disease. Consequently it may make the life a little easier for the one dealing with a person who has Alzheimers.

As many other reviewers have noted this book seems to be the most aware of the realities of the lives of caregivers.

I am an only child. My mother passed away in 1998 and my father has been slowly spiraling down alzheimer's since then to the point where he requires 24-hr-care.

May other books assume a family perspective and are not sensitive to those who find themselves to be the sole caregiver.
I have also been helping my father through this since my early 20s and many other books are also not sensitive to the fact that those who are not of the boomer or "sandwich generation" may still find themselves in the role of caregiver.

This book offered actual strategies I was able to use to improve communication with my father. It also is the only book of the many Alzheimer's books I have read that made me feel better, not worse, after reading it.
My copy is so creased and dog-eared after about 4 years of use that I may need a new one soon!

I wish love and strength and energy to all those who find themselves seeking this book.
If you are seeking for someone else, please get them this book.

If you are experiencing this disease with a loved one, then you know the loneliness and frustration of trying to be all the person you care for needs. My sister bought this book, read it overnight, highlighted and post-it tabbed the most important parts, mailed it to me priority mail, and i have used it at night as a touchstone for salvation. It is indeed a bible for HOW to treat your loved one. I use it to get what I need to know in terms of sensitivity to what my cared for relative needs. I would be lost without it...it will help keep you on a path of the right relationship with your loved one that you will want to live up to. I promise you ,read it, highlight it, and you will not ever look back and regret anything you did, if you follow its advice. A true gift.

A guide to communicating with your loved one. Learning how to go to their reality when they no longer live in "our" world. But the one thing not outlined here is how to deal with family betrayals that occur when a parent is faced with a dementia diagnosis. And how it can spiral down until the court is appointing a 3rd party guardian that's supposed to be neutral. You think it can't happen to you but you should be prepared. Dementia can do that to a family. Then someone like Nancy Doty, of Nancy Doty, Inc, a guardian in Portland, OR comes into your life and your parent's life without being invited. Nancy Doty doesn't care about the health of your parent - she let's hearing aid batteries go unchanged and doesn't hook up pacemaker monitors. She doesn't take your parent to the doctor because she'll tell you it's unnecessary. If your parent dies, she gets to charge a lot more money to sort through the estate. She'll place your parent in a facility of Nancy Doty's choice. A facility where there are no private room and the roommate of your parent can't defecate without getting fecal matter all over the toilet seat and it's not cleaned up regularly before your parent has to use the toilet. That's what Nancy Doty will do to your family. Avoid Nancy Doty and guardians in general. Read this book and learn the steps to prepare and prevent this from happening to your family. Get your parent into a lawyer to make her wishes known to the entire family before it's too late for you and your parent.

Having had my loved one recently diagnosed, I searched for books on the subject to help me wrap my head around it.

This book outlines the concept of Habilitation. Simply put, this way of dealing with and even enjoying the time left is based on creatively working along side my loved on. I believe it will go a long way to helping me be with loving care-giver I wish to be.

There are very clear and innovative approaches to making the best of a bad situation. While I am saddened to see the obvious changes, I am hopeful that with study on my part, I will be able to look back and know I did all I could.

Helpful. Practical. Insightful. FILLED with solid information--not one bit of fluff to be found. Other that the 36 Hour Day, if there is only one other book that you read to help your loved one with Alzheimer's, this is it. I am currently re-reading it and taking more notes. This book sits on my shelf, dog-earred and loved.

Alzheimer's disease takes an enormous toll on the emotions, and the physical and psychological health of the caregiving family members. This book is a godsend to all caregivers, other family members, or anyone dealing with this disease in a work setting.
This is a must read for anyone with family or friends suffering from Alzheimer's Disease or other dementia, whether or not you are a care-giver. The book enables understanding of this dreaded disease, and communication with those who suffer from it. You will learn many techniques and build compassion after reading it.

I found so many suggestions and helpful ideas, it was amazing. There was a lot of information that I had not been aware of before. It gives you a view from the perspective of the person suffering from this disease.
She sees these demented, often paranoid, confused, sometimes combative persons as the person he or she once was, not as they seem to be now.
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I bought this book 8 months ago when my MIL set her kitchen on fire and we knew then that she could no longer live at home alone safely. Since my husband works and her daughter works that left me to care for her day to day. I have always been one to learn as much about a subject or disease as possible to better understand the problem and learn how to deal with it head on. This book is a wonderful manual for those like me that need to know a lot quickly about a difficult to understand subject. This book provides a lot of information about many topics that affect the person with AD such as behavior of all kinds, judgement problems, loss of time and memories, dressing and hygiene. It addresses problems you may have in how your home is set up and how to make it easier and safer for the person with AD with some adjustments. It glosses over things such as language problems, repeating things, time orientation and other daily problems an AD person faces. It shows charts about what symptoms to look for at which stages of the disease they are in. It is a great beginning book for someone trying to learn about the disease.
I purchased this book along with 2 other books that I also found extremely helpful in trying to know what to expect and what it would look or sound like. "The 36 Hour Day " and "Learning to Speak Alzheimers" A wonderful trio for the caregiver and the family.

I picked up this book by chance right after traveling with my mother for the first time since we diagnosed her Alzheimers. At home, in a comfortable environment, she was able to mask her symptoms for a long time. I was very nervous and scared after the traveling. But after reading this book, I was able to relax and now help my mother instead of stressing. Now, when I read all of the issues people have with their Alzheimers friends/family, I can just smile and say, I speak Alzheimers, so I don't have these issues anymore. I have let go of so much and I can't find a way to thank the author, except here. So buy the book if you are dealing with Alzheimers in any way. It will relieve lots of stress

Dealing with dementia is really tough. This book has been so helpful to me that I MUST recommend it here. You learn how to handle many tough situations that can be applied to yours. The author touches on the subjects that are untouchable, so necessary for those of us dealing with someone with dementia. I recommend it to doctors, nurses, caregivers of all ranks and situations. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. DON"T LEND IT OUT, BUY IT FOR SOMEONE. It will be a gift beyond measure. . .

I would HIGHLY recommend reading this book if you are wanting to know more about Alzheimer's. Earlier this year our family started researching and learning about this horrible disease. We've now gone through several books and passed them around for other family members to read. THIS book BY FAR has been my favorite on the topic. The thought of HABILITATIVE care of Alzheimer's patients is so right on... you can see the difference in the patient immediately with the tips covered in that section of this book. Amazing what this disease is capable of and how, if you let it, it will rip apart people who love each other. Buy it today... and no, I'm not receiving any sort of compensation for the recommendation! ;- )

I work with the families and loved ones that are caring or that have alzheimer's. This book will be very helpful for them when they are having to deal with behaviours or other concerns. It was delivered on time and I have just starting reading it.

Alzheimer's disease takes an enormous toll on the emotions, and the physical and psychological health of the caregiving family members. This book is a godsend to all caregivers, other family members, or anyone dealing with this disease in a work setting.
This is a must read for anyone with family or friends suffering from Alzheimer's Disease or other dementia, whether or not you are a care-giver. The book enables understanding of this dreaded disease, and communication with those who suffer from it. You will learn many techniques and build compassion after reading it.

I found so many suggestions and helpful ideas, it was amazing. There was a lot of information that I had not been aware of before. It gives you a view from the perspective of the person suffering from this disease.
She sees these demented, often paranoid, confused, sometimes combative persons as the person he or she once was, not as they seem to be now.
[...]

I bought this book 8 months ago when my MIL set her kitchen on fire and we knew then that she could no longer live at home alone safely. Since my husband works and her daughter works that left me to care for her day to day. I have always been one to learn as much about a subject or disease as possible to better understand the problem and learn how to deal with it head on. This book is a wonderful manual for those like me that need to know a lot quickly about a difficult to understand subject. This book provides a lot of information about many topics that affect the person with AD such as behavior of all kinds, judgement problems, loss of time and memories, dressing and hygiene. It addresses problems you may have in how your home is set up and how to make it easier and safer for the person with AD with some adjustments. It glosses over things such as language problems, repeating things, time orientation and other daily problems an AD person faces. It shows charts about what symptoms to look for at which stages of the disease they are in. It is a great beginning book for someone trying to learn about the disease.
I purchased this book along with 2 other books that I also found extremely helpful in trying to know what to expect and what it would look or sound like. "The 36 Hour Day " and "Learning to Speak Alzheimers" A wonderful trio for the caregiver and the family.

I picked up this book by chance right after traveling with my mother for the first time since we diagnosed her Alzheimers. At home, in a comfortable environment, she was able to mask her symptoms for a long time. I was very nervous and scared after the traveling. But after reading this book, I was able to relax and now help my mother instead of stressing. Now, when I read all of the issues people have with their Alzheimers friends/family, I can just smile and say, I speak Alzheimers, so I don't have these issues anymore. I have let go of so much and I can't find a way to thank the author, except here. So buy the book if you are dealing with Alzheimers in any way. It will relieve lots of stress

Dealing with dementia is really tough. This book has been so helpful to me that I MUST recommend it here. You learn how to handle many tough situations that can be applied to yours. The author touches on the subjects that are untouchable, so necessary for those of us dealing with someone with dementia. I recommend it to doctors, nurses, caregivers of all ranks and situations. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. DON"T LEND IT OUT, BUY IT FOR SOMEONE. It will be a gift beyond measure. . .

I would HIGHLY recommend reading this book if you are wanting to know more about Alzheimer's. Earlier this year our family started researching and learning about this horrible disease. We've now gone through several books and passed them around for other family members to read. THIS book BY FAR has been my favorite on the topic. The thought of HABILITATIVE care of Alzheimer's patients is so right on... you can see the difference in the patient immediately with the tips covered in that section of this book. Amazing what this disease is capable of and how, if you let it, it will rip apart people who love each other. Buy it today... and no, I'm not receiving any sort of compensation for the recommendation! ;- )

I work with the families and loved ones that are caring or that have alzheimer's. This book will be very helpful for them when they are having to deal with behaviours or other concerns. It was delivered on time and I have just starting reading it.

My mother recently passed away - and I'm finally dealing with even writing a review on this book. Truth is, it prepares you for what to expect...but nothing prepares you for it in real life. IF you are alone and taking care of a parent - your overall strength will be tested. At times, I felt guilty for losing 'my cool' as it were. But let's be honest - there is no control over this disease and it's affect on you personally; let alone the person who has it. Most families need to come together and deal with this as a family, and I pray that they have the heart to face this and educate themselves.

My mother was a hard woman to deal with - and to have dementia must have been equally as difficult on her; had she been willing to share her feelings with me. But she was very private - and for that I had to suffer through this with her in the only manner I could. But I never gave up on her, and stuck with her life till the end. My mom died from complications of a fractured hip - and acute anemia in a nursing home. For now, she is at rest until God's plan for a resurrection comes - and that is the only way I am coping for now - I believe in that promise as well. So I rest my faith on this.

On the other hand, after much research on Alzheimers and cognitive issues - there is much to be said about the foods we are eating and a connection with how it affects our body. Since then, I have gotten off of most sugars and/or products that have corn fructose. Also, I no longer eat any wheat or gmo'd foods as well. I do believe the affects of our food system contribute to disease we have to endure. Also, I recently read that AB blood types have a higher risk for dementia - I am AB positive. My mother was B positive. Am I doomed? I don't know - but if I can change how I eat now, perhaps there is a less risk of issues as I move into my 70's or 80's.

By the way, by the time we reach our 20's our bodies are already showing signs of aging. Or to put it quite frankly...our body begins to die. Aging is just a nicer way of saying so. The thing is that in watching my mother deal with this, it began to really put things in a different perspective for myself. How do I want to live the rest of my life, now that I'm in my 60's? Mom died at 84 - that leaves me with how much time left. Without sounding morose - you have to really Look at things again. I want to use each day in a way that makes a difference, even if it means taking a time out for rest, and well being. Even the food I put into my body! How much should I sacrifice to take care of myself. My mother hoarded - and would rather have stuff than good food, She scrimped on eating right - so she could have money to buy more stuff! Which I am now having to unload and sell off - at a pittance compared to what she spent. So, not only did I see my Mom die due to her memory loss...I saw her die off a second time in death...and then another time by unloading her belongings. It's been a long grieving process that I hope to change soon, so I can move forward.
Sincerely,
Juliana

Excellent resource for families trying to manage a loved one with Alzheimer's Disease, teaching valuable easy techniques for keeping communication going and helping to reduce frustrations. Joanne was a delightful guest on my 'Coping with Caregiving' radio program at wsRadio, sharing so much important information.

-Jacqueline Marcell, Author 'Elder Rage, or Take My Father... Please! How to Survive Caring for Aging Parents', International Speaker on Eldercare & Alzheimer's

I am so please to have yet another excellent resource to help battle this terrible disease - Alzheimer's disease - why? Because we have an obesity epidemic as well as a diabetes epidemic.
Obesity, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Alzheimer's Disease are strongly linked - we need to do all we can to reverse these diseases and books like the Learning to Speak Alzheimer's are very important messages to help win the war against Alzheimer's Disease. Recommend for nurses and doctors both.
Another excellent book I recommend is the two time Award Winning Book - THE APO E GENE DIET - An Integrative Medicine approach to Alzheimer's disease, Heart Disease, and chronic illness - THE APO E GENE DIET - by Pamela McDonald NP.
Pamela McDonald is a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner - trained in disease prevention and an Integrative Medicine Fellow - trained at the University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine with Andrew Weil, MD.
The Apo E Gene Diet: A Breakthrough in Changing Cholesterol, Weight, Heart and Alzheimer's Using the Body's Own GenesThe Apo E Gene Diet: A Breakthrough in Changing Cholesterol, Weight, Heart and Alzheimer's Using the Body's Own Genes

This book was extremely helpful to me in not only educating me about the disease, but also in giving me insight into what the person dealing with this disease may be thinking or feeling. The suggestions on how to converse with these people afflicted with the disease were very helpful. It also gave me insight on what to expect in the future as my mother progresses with the disease.

I really was at my wits end with my grandmother when I found this book. I wish everyone at the nursing home would read it as well as it really helped me learn about grandma's illness a lot more and I was actually able to communicate with her. It was very comforting to read and truly helped me a lot.

Those new to Alzheimer's disease will find this book to be a helpful guide. Even those who are familar with caring for someone with the disease will find nuggets of wisdom in the middle section, "The Five Tenets of Habilitation." It is here where Joanne Koenig Coste is at her best in describing how to preserve the personhood of those with dementia. This section alone makes the entire book worthwhile. It's about time Joanne put her thoughts into a book--she has been helping people navigate their way through the choppy waters of Alzheimer's for over 20 years!

My father is an Alzheimer's patient who is in late Stage II-III. This book was recommended by a support group. It is truly full of practical information and insight in dealing with this terrible disease. I would highly recommend it, and several family members have read it to aid in the care of my father.

Although I have only read the sections pertaining to the beginning stages of Alzheimers (since that is where we are now with my mother-in-law) this book has been extremely helpful already. It was actually recommended to me by a co-worker, who said she refers back to it frequently as her mother-in-law grows progressively worse. I highly recommend it as a starting point if you are just beginning this journey with someone you love.

This book contained some very helpful advice on dealing with Alzheimer's patients. I must admit, however, that it made me feel inadequate. I would love to be the caring, loving, ever-patient caregiver, but that is not my reality. The person for whom I'm caring is irascible, stubborn and impatient, and I frequently run out of patience. That said, this book is still a very valuable resource for families caring for an Alzheimer's patient.

Support World Alzheimer's Day (September 21st) and become a Champion in the fight to end Alzheimer's Disease. Sign up, get involved and HELP the more than 5 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer's. It's your move.

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Help raise awareness of this devastating disease while supporting our goal to reach $[...] million in donations. Whether you host a party using our exclusive tips from David Tutera, host a sporting event, like Round to Remember, or get your co-workers involved in the cause. All donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar by The Harrah's Foundation. Your help is sure to go a long way. Together we can put an end Alzheimer's.

There are more than 5 million people in the United States living with Alzheimer's. The seventh leading cause of death in the United States, Alzheimers' is a common, progressive, and deadly disease. You probably know someone who suffers from it. Every 72 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer's. The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer's and other dementia amount to more than $[...] billion annually.

The time to act is NOW. Click the link below to help make a double difference in the fight against Alzheimer's.
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The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

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My siblings and I, all read this book. Our mother has Alzheimers. In order for all of us to help her, we decided to read this book. Thus all of us have similiar tools/techiques to use while visiting/talking with her. This book was VERY HELPFUL and the approaches have been VERY Easy to use! Thank You.

This is a wonderful book for our entire family ~ especially me, the spouse, as the Care Partner. It's just what I needed and will continue to mark pages and refer back to this terrific guide ~ I want to be all I can be to give my husband dignity and quality of life. This tool will help tremendously.

This is a book to learn the in and outs of Alzheimers. You will learn what to expect from the inflicted person. How to approach. How you will react. How to help the inflicted person, the caregiver, yourself.

I didn't read the book but to me it seems like it should come naturally. There are many similarities between a young child and an Alzheimer's patient. When a young child cries you don't always know for what and when an Alzheimer's patient, my mom, says something that sounds ludicrous, you have to figure out what while and with much understanding you do.

As a caregiver with two Alzheimer's victims, I found the book to be a how to do little right and treat the patient like a mindless doll. I prefer a real world approach to AD not one from fantasy land.