Easy-to-Read Book now available to help in care of loved ones with Dementia
By Beth Dow, Senior Living Advice
Someone is being diagnosed with Dementia, worldwide, every three seconds!
If that person is someone dear to you, your world is on the cusp of being turned upside down. Dementia is not a disease. It is a collective term used to describe various symptoms of cognitive decline exhibited by forgetfulness, problems with communication, thinking and processing.
It is a symptom of several underlying diseases and brain disorders. The most common being Alzheimer’s Disease, Lewy Bodies Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Vascular Dementia and a host of others.
While there are many good books on the subject, as a speaker, many family members have told me they are overwhelmed by the selection. Often, they will purchase a book, only to have it sit on the shelf. They report the size of the book is often a deterrent to getting started on it or being able to finish it. Others report that the books don’t seem to be able to help them for where they are “right now.”
I wrote “My Loved One Has Dementia. Now What?” to help address those issues. It is a short, non-overwhelming book, easy to read and understand. It is based on my family caregiver workshops, what families ask most, and what they are most surprised by. Chapters cover issues such as: why you didn’t see it coming; understanding your risk once you have a loved one diagnosed; the first steps you need to take once a diagnosis has been received; and a chapter titled “What People Don’t Tell You.”
No book nor workshop is a “be-all-end-all” source for what you will need as you learn to live with this disease. My hope is that my book will be a “safe” starting point for families. A springboard that will help families learn more about their new reality. I hope this book will shed light on just how vulnerable the primary caregiver will be to depression, illness and even death if they take on the caregiving roll alone. And I hope that it will show families that no matter how far away they live from their loved one, there is help they can provide.
For more information on how to get a copy of this book, how to bring a workshop to your church or civic group, or how to help your family develop a plan of your next steps, email me at [email protected].
