The Little Girl in the Radiator


Book Description

A touching tale of love, loss and family, The Little Girl in the Radiator is the sometimes heartbreaking story of a man's struggle to care for his mother after her diagnosis with Alzheimer's. Martin Slevin's mother was a highly active, very intelligent and fiercely independent woman who ran her own business. But after her diagnosis, Martin moves back home to care for her. Together they embark on a journey through the various stages of the condition. But one question plagues Martin: who is the little girl in the radiator who his mum has daily conversations with?




Keeping Mum


Book Description

"At 3am I was startled awake by the opening of the stairgate. Leaping out of bed I found Mum, clothes on over her pyjamas, grumbling she was fed up of being moved from pillar to post and was going home." When her mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Marianne Talbot decided she couldn’t put her into a care home. Instead, for five years, she looked after her mum in her own home. For nearly three of those years she chronicled for the readers of Saga Magazine Online the fears and frustrations, the love and the laughter, and the tears and the traumas of caring. Now, in this heart warming book, you too can meet Marianne, Mum, and the appalling Fatcat. You will also find plenty of practical tips for caring for someone with dementia and on staying sane whilst doing so, a resources and useful contacts section and Marianne’s reflections on caring from a distance, and on when caring comes to an end. Written for anyone, anywhere, who has anything to do with dementia or with caring; in reading it you will know you are not alone.




Mum, Alzheimer's and Me


Book Description

Everyone who has a friend or family member with Alzheimer's in a nursing home should read this book. It provides a close look at the challenges faced not only by the people who suffer from Alzheimer's but also, just as importantly, by the people (including nursing home staff) who care about them. This book reveals much that is true about this disease and about caregivers- and the truth is often funny and always wearing. Court has addressed a painful subject but the book is a compelling read despite the hard truths. ... R. Dixon, WI We all live afraid of Alzheimer's--afraid that one day we will lose our mind to the disease or perhaps worse, that one we love will be afflicted. Caroline Court has written an achingly honest story of one woman's affliction and its devastating impact on the lives of those around her. Anyone who has ever cared for someone in a nursing home will immediately recognize the terrible dilemmas and compromises imposed by nursing care. A lively read, clever, and above all else, thought-provoking. this story will stay with you long after you close the cover on the last page. ... In Memphis, TN My sister is an advanced Alzheimer's patient who because of travel distance and difficulties I am only able to visit about once a year. I try to help a little by bringing back memories of our happy youth and family life together. However, this book brought home to me the time, effort, and love, some of it thankless, which is required of the immediate family and the professional staff and caregivers in the nursing home. I would recommend this book to those who wish a deeper insight into the wider but also detailed aspects of this tragic disease. ... William Young, PN




The Little Girl in the Radiator


Book Description

The story of one man's attempt to understand Alzheimer's disease as its progression slowly changed the personality of his mother. This is the hillariously funny, and often heart-breakingly sad story of a family's fight against dementia. A tale of love, joy, humanity and despair that will make you want to laugh and cry at the same time. This true story is full of wonderful characters, the Whistling Woman, who never said a word, Captain John,who thought he lived on a boat, the little man in the red bandana who had just had his brain cleaned, the Irish Band that lived in the house, and of course, the Little Girl in the Radiator, whose special secret was the key to the whole mystery. Over 25 million people in the world have dementia, and if each one has only three other family members who try to take care of them, then over 100 million people are directly or indirectly affected by a disease no-one fully understands. This book is for anyone who has an elderly relative.




My Mom My Hero


Book Description

#1 Amazon Best Seller in Memoirs category (June 2013) #7 Amazon Best Seller in Dementia (June 2013) #3 Amazon's "Most Wished For" in Dementia Category (June 2013) A Daughter's Newfound Love When Lisa Hirsch found out her mother, Ruth, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, her love, appreciation, and caring for her mother was transformed. To Lisa's surprise, it has brought her and Ruth closer together than they've ever been. My Mom My Hero tells the story of this mother-daughter relationship through a series of entries from Lisa's internationally popular blog. Ultimately this is an uplifting and inspirational book for anyone who's going through the difficult and often lonely ordeal of caring for a loved one who suffers from this devastating illness. "My Mom My Hero is filled with love and a deep appreciation for the human spirit." -Laura Stein, best-selling author "This book is a rare gift for anyone who reads it." -Holly Robinson, author of Sleeping Tigers and The Wishing Hill "My Mom My Hero is a light of inspiration in a world that can be dark and frustrating." -Franz Wisner, New York Times best-selling author of Honeymoon With My Brother and How the World Makes Love




I Will Never Forget


Book Description

It is painfully difficult to watch a loved one decline as dementia ravages their mind, destroying memories, rational thinking, and judgment. In her touching memoir, I Will Never Forget, Elaine Pereira shares the heartbreaking and humorous story of her mother’s incredible journey through dementia. Pereira begins with entertaining glimpses into her own childhood and feisty teenage years, demonstrating her mother’s strength of character. Years later, as Betty Ward started to exhibit bizarre behaviors and paranoia, Pereira was mystified by her mom’s amazing ability to mask the truth. Not until a revealing incident over an innocuous drapery rod did Pereira recognize the extent of her mother’s Alzheimer’s. As their roles shifted and a new paradigm emerged, Pereira transformed into a caregiver blindly navigating dementia’s unpredictable haze. But before Betty’s passing, she orchestrated a stunning rally to control her own destiny via a masterful, Houdini-like escape. I Will Never Forget is a powerful heartwarming story that helps others know that they are not alone in their journey. “Poignant, shocking, and honest … far more than just words on paper. If you or someone you know is living through the hell of dementia, you need this book!” —Ionia Martin, developer of Readful Things Reviews and Alzheimer’s caregiver




I've Lost My Mum


Book Description

I've Lost My Mum tell the true, soul-bearing, account of a daughter who wants to make a difference to those whose lives have been devastated by dementia. Cassandra's raw and deeply moving journey shares her own struggle for strength as well as invaluable insights into this invisible illness. This heartfelt and compelling story not only provides a deeper understanding of this cruel condition but gives hope that it's possible to find peace when someone you love is lost between worlds.




Dear Alzheimer's


Book Description

How to live a full and rewarding life after a dementia diagnosis. Keith Oliver was diagnosed with young onset dementia at the age of 55. Unaware at the time that dementia could affect people of this age, Keith set out to increase public awareness of the condition and dispel the myths about the illness. Using a unique diary format, this intimate and empowering memoir captures what everyday life with dementia is like, offering both a candid look at its struggles, and a profoundly moving account of Keith's journey to live a full life afterwards.




Love, Loss, and Laughter


Book Description

See the BBC’s slideshow of photos from Love, Loss, and Laughter.




Finding Rosa


Book Description

When her mother, Rosa, begins to show signs of dementia, Caterina Edwards embarks on what turns out to be a search for the meaning of the past and of home. During the four years she cares for her mother, Edwards must navigate between conflicting responsibilities while dealing with her mother's troubled mind and her own exhaustion. This frank memoir tells a complex story of two women in crisis, one struggling to maintain a sense of self, the other seeking to understand and accept both her past and her present.