Wondering why I never heard of this book as my family managed my father's Alzheimer's disease from 2005-2009? Thanks to recent recommendations from several people, I received the good word on the information and support this book provides. I listened to the audiobook's sixth edition and felt a bit overwhelmed with the firehose effect of what can and should be done. All that being said, it's a terrific resource for anyone dealing with their loved one's dementia, regardless of its progression and the form it takes. The struggles are endless yet Author Nancy Mace encouragingly shares a wealth of how-to details plus do's and don'ts to ensure caregiving is optimized and respite is provided.

Every family with dementia persons in that family, and health care workers should read this book. Though the worse symptoms did not apply to my family member who has vascular dementia, it was a very helpful book.

While this book is very thorough and full of things I have experienced, I ended up skimming the majority of this book. I was too late to this advice. If you are at the stage were Mom or Dad's growing quirkiness, forgetfulness, behavior changes are starting becoming a bigger problem, this would be a good book to get at that stage. If you are 2 years into full-blown Dementia then you've already fought your way through most of these topics.

I plugged away at this slowly, and I did skip/skim a few sections that were not applicable to me.

I can only speak as someone who is not a caretaker of someone who has Alzheimer's, and none of my family members currently have it (though I have a family history of it, which is why I picked this up in the first place), but this was a wonderful guide and very clearly and kindly written. I think even reading a little bit about Alzheimer's and dementias can make you a more caring and understanding citizen of the world, understanding a little further the depth of frustration some people have with a disease like this.

I'm fortunate enough to have all 4 of my grandparents still living. While reading this, I have found that I am more sensitive and understanding in the way I speak with my oldest grandparents, and that is a gift that undoubtedly will keep on giving as they age and my relationships with them change.

I pick this up from time to time, as various issues come up when caring for a loved one. Easy and worthy reference.

I highly recommend this book if you have a loved one suffering memory loss. After reading this book, I realized my Mother was declining in memory loss years before I recongnized it as a problem. We are so lucky nothing happened to her during this time. However, we could have done things that may be made her more comfortable and less afraid. This book helps you understand certain behaviors that can occur with the memory loss and provides practical ways to deal with it. It helps you be much more impathetic to your loved one. My mother was the strong matriarch of our family so it was extremely hard to see her impairment. The 36-hour Day helped me to recognize the decease and isolate it from my Mother that raised me.

A must read for any family dealing with dementia or Alzheimer

A helpful (and depressing) overview of what lies ahead and how best to handle it if someone you love has been diagnosed with dementia. There were some tips that I hope to put into practice, but basically you would have to been an angel never to get impatient and angry occasionally, if you're a caregiver 24/7/365.

This book is more helpful than anything I've ever read or an advice I have ever received on Alzheimer's disease. It is the ultimate help for family and caregivers.

Update: Taking this book off my "currently reading" shelf since my dad's struggle has ended. I hope to not ever have to return to it, but I will keep it around in case I am confronted with the need again. It is a wonderful and incredibly useful book. Please support the Alzheimer's Association in finding prevention and a cure for this terrible disease.

Original review: This is probably going to be on my "currently reading" list for as long as my dad has Alzheimer's. It's not a book you want to sit and read all at once, but it contains a great deal of useful information for people who care for and love someone with Alzheimer's, and it describes the stages and behaviors that may be encountered during the course of the disease. The book is compassionately written both toward the patient and the caregiver.

Great read for anyone who has a loved one diagnosed with dementia. (Or just someone who works with this population.). Well-written and easy to read it covers a wide variety of needs and concerns of the person with dementia and their care partners. It is also written in such a way that it does not need to be read cover to cover, but a person can skip around to the chapters most relevant to their current needs and interests.

I was reading this book in preparation for my mother's Alzheimer's care when she passed away suddenly. I also volunteer with hospice and see dementia patients on a weekly basis. This is a very informative book, and I recommend it for anyone who has a friend or relative with dementia of any kind.