Full disclosure: my father doesn't have Alzheimer's and his cognitive decline is relatively mild. But he has some habits that distress the hell out of my Mom, and I worry about what will happen if he gets worse. While googling some answers on handling irritating behaviors in people with dementia, I ran across this book and bought a copy on a whim.

It's extremely informative, easy to understand (till you get to chapter on genetic factors, and even the book's authors preface it by saying it's a bit of a wade) and well organized. It's also meant for family and caregivers of people with profound dementia, so go into it know it's a look at the worst case scenario.

It's also not a magic spellbook on how to stop irritating or upsetting behavior, mostly because there isn't a magic solution. Different tactics will work for different people, and some people are beyond a point where they can change. This book is about the things you have a shot at controlling: your outlook, your communication, and how to make informed decisions.

The authors try to reassure the reader on several accounts: you're not a bad person if you get angry. The person you love isn't trying to upset you, they literally can't help themselves. And it's not wrong of you to need a break, whether it's for a few hours, or a day, or the rest of their lives (if you can afford it; they don't pull any punches on how expensive nursing facilities are, or how imperfect they can be.)

They also point out to those of us caring for someone with MILD dementia that there's no guarantee that everyone will get to a PROFOUND level of dementia, so prepare for the worst but it's okay to hope for the best.

This is one of those books that nobody wants to read, but I'm glad I did. I didn't find a solution for the exact things that upset my Mom, but I found some coping methods that may help (biggest one being for goodness sake try to stop arguing with the person who has dementia; it won't help either of you, and they probably won't remember what you said anyway.) And while we can't control the future, it's comforting to have as much useful information as possible.

The book is organized so that one can read it in sections as a reference manual for needed tips and techniques. The advice I've read through was quite useful and prepared me for handling specific situations I encountered dealing with my loved one. The chapters I've chosen to read through in their entirety do the same. Alzheimer's is a disease that is very hard on us care-givers because the disease is awful, so if you are looking for a book offering practical advice without sugar-coating, this is for you.

As a caregiver both in the past as a nurse on an Alzheimer's ward and now as a spouse to someone diagnosed with vascular dementia, I have read this book several times over the years. It is a great reminder to family members and friends as to what is happening on a day-to-day basis with folks who have this terrible disease. Sometimes it is easy to forget on days when they seem to be doing fairly well.

This had some practical suggestions, but for the most part, this ship has sailed and I was well aware of a lot of the material.

Mostly I found myself thinking, "Holy sh!+. Thankfully I don't have to deal with that particular issue ... so far ..." Feeling grateful is in short supply in the caregiving world and this book helped me feel that. Or is it just me?

Very informative. This book was recommended to me by a friend and later by out Alzheimer's clinic. It's not a book to be read cover to cover but one where you can find guidance for whatever issue you're currently facing.

Developed to help caregivers and family members who are coping with a loved one with mental impairment due to disease, I wished, while reading, that someone had referred me to this book years ago. Most of what it contains I have learned already through trial and error or independent research, but it is a fairly comprehensive, but easy to read, book on the subject.

As someone who is dealing daily with the problems this book addresses, I felt I needed to review the book and encourage anyone who is seeing those early symptoms, the mood changes, the short-term memory loss, the confusion, the complaints of eyesight problems when the ophthalmologist says nothing is wrong with the eyes, or a sudden lack of interest in doing things, to please pay attention and get an early diagnosis and help.

One thing people should realize, but often don’t, is that there are many diseases that fall under the umbrella of dementia. Alzhiemer’s is only one of them. This book does go into the different types and points you in the direction that you need to go for the specific type of dementia you are dealing with. My husband has dementia associated with Parkinson’s, but also that brought on by stroke, so I am dealing with a two-fold disease. And, very important--your loved one may have delirium, which is treatable and often reversible, so you need a true diagnosis and the sooner the better.

Don’t stop pushing for a diagnosis, particularly if you are dealing with an elderly individual. I went through a number of health professionals who patted my husband on the head and said “not fun getting old, is it?” before I found one who would listen to me that there was much more going on here than aging. Once I got the diagnosis, I got some help, and that has made a great deal of difference for him, and for me. You cannot stop dementia or Parkinsons, they are degenerative diseases, but you can help with symptoms, know what to do in the face of what seems unfaceable, and you can feel a little more in control when you know what to expect and what new symptoms mean.

I read a fair amount of medical information and I do not tend to review those kinds of books here, but I truly felt that if only one person who suspects there might be a problem read this book early on, I might be actually helping. My husband first began to display symptoms in 2014; I got a diagnosis in 2019. Those five years of not knowing and no help were the hardest to bear. I made radical changes in our lives to get that diagnosis, and the last two years have been easier, despite the fact that his disease has become more pronounced and harder to manage.

Forgive me if this review is just too personal. I could find no way to write it without bringing my own situation fully into the picture. My prayers are with everyone out there who is dealing with these horrendous diseases that steal our loved ones in bits and pieces. BTW, if you are not directly involved in taking care of someone with dementia, but you know someone who is, you might want to read this book and know what they are dealing with. They need your understanding; they need your prayers.

hard to read. but very helpful

I am sure this book is helpful to many.

Highly recommend for anyone who has a family member with dementia.

This book is good when a person is recently diagnosed with Alzheimers. My husband neurologist suggested it to me, and I did get some use from it, but it would have been more helpful a couple of years ago. I also think this would be a good book for any extended family, such as siblings or children of the person affected.

The most comprehensive guide on Alzheimer and Dementia

As someone with a family member that has just been diagnosed with a possible pre-dementia, this book is immensely helpful. I get to see the many different worst case scenarios that await us, as well as how to handle them all properly.

Because yes, unfortunately we cannot cure dementia (yet), but with the right attitude, the right knowledge, and with the many different hacks available to us, we can deal with it less painfully and live a perfectly functional life.

No wonder that this book has been the number 1 go-to book on Alzheimer and dementia for almost 4 decades. It gives back the much needed sense of control over an unwinnable battle. Thank you Nancy and Peter, I’m forever grateful.

Heavy, but interesting and informative.