by - Julie Fleming

​Surviving Alzheimer’s: Practical  Tips and Soul-Saving Wisdom for Caregivers  appealed to me largely because I found it at a time when I wasn’t sure I would survive my father’s illness. It offers bite-sized tips and stories with support and instruction, making it easy to read in short bits of time. I also appreciated the emphasis on addressing stress and increasing quality of life for both the person with Alzheimer’s and those caring for him. The book teaches a problem-solving framework that will support you throughout your caregiving.
​

by - Julie Fleming
​

I highlighted A Caregiver’s Guide to Alzheimer’s Disease and read back through my highlights periodically to refresh my own memory. Logically organized, you’ll find it worthwhile to read through the book and then make your own lists of practices to adopt. It’s easy to dip in and out, which makes reading it feasible even if you only have a couple of minutes at a time.

​

by - Julie Fleming

​
When I found Early Stages, my father had progressed through the stages it addresses. But the lessons are useful even later in the disease because it’s important to understand the progression. It won’t carry you into the depths of caring for your loved one who has the disease, but it will give you a necessary foundation, and if your parent is in the early stages of the disease, this is a must-read book.

by Julie Fleming

Teepa Snow is one of the best Alzheimer’s educators I’ve ever met. She combines a deep understanding of the science behind the disease with an equally deep understanding of people, and the result is a caring and effective approach to caring for those who have Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias.
The video Challenging Behaviors will walk you through how to think about troubling behaviors and how to solve the needs that underlie them.
​
I highly recommend all of Teepa Snow’s training DVDs, which you can find here.

by - Julie Fleming

The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide for Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementias, and Memory Loss  is the classic go-go book on Alzheimer’s Disease, with many editions in print. It discusses the nature and progression of Alzheimer’s Disease, offers help for medical and behavioral issues, make decisions concerning care and living arrangements, and find support as a caregiver.
​
The 36-Hour Day is useful because it describes everything that may happen in the course of the disease. That strength, however, is what will break your heart as a caregiver. I urge you to use the book as a reference and not to read it cover to cover, because much of what is described may never happen to your parent and reading the parade of horribles is too much to bear.

by - Julie Fleming

​
I like I’m Still Here: A New Philosophy of Alzheimer’s Care because it explicitly counters the line you’ll hear over and over: “he just isn’t himself anymore.” My belief is that someone who has Alzheimer’s Disease is still himself, just different. The kernel of who your parent is will remain even though you often may be unable to find it. This book operates from the same philosophy and addresses how to access the abilities that remain as the disease progresses.