A friend gave this to me after my mother's dementia worsened over the past year. It was very informative and helpful in dealing with the many changes and adaptations to this illness. I will admit that there were parts of the book I skipped as they did not apply to my situation, but almost every section of the book had helpful information that was amazingly 'on-target' for my situation. Would gladly recommend this to anyone in a situation dealing with dementia.

I’ve learned so much from this book, it goes over so much. But, I’m still at a loss as to how to get the ball rolling in helping a family member who we think might have dementia. The book suggests to contact their physician about your concerns and ask for a screening for them. But what if you don’t know who their physician is? And what if you have already gently approached your concern about them, and they either respond by 1. Laughing it off because it’s “just their old age showing through” or they 2. Get really defensive and shut it down.

A month or so ago, I finished reading the "MAYO CLINIC ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND OTHER DEMENTIAS." I found the book to be exceptionally informative and helpful in understanding Alzheimer's disease and Dementias. I also thought it a relatively easy read.

My cousin, Helen, recommended that I read, "The 36-hour Day," which she read while taken care of a relative suffering from Dementias.

After recently loosing two friends to Dementia, and unintentionally given another close friend the wrong information about Dementia, I had no problem following up on my cousin's recommendation. Whereas the first book was great, Ms. Mace and Mr. Rabins, "The 36-hour Day," published by The John Hopkins Press was even better. Not only did it cover everything the first book covered but it went into further, easy to understand details and also covered the research that is currently taken place.

Alzheimer Disease and Dementias are diseases that not only drastically affect the patient, but the whole family unit, friends, and very often neighbors. it is no wonder why this book is considered the 'gold standard," where families affected by these diseases turn to for guidance and support in caring for someone suffering from these diseases.

Thank you Helen for your great recommendation.

Maybe 2.5 stars rounded down.
This book wasn’t terrible, it just had a ton of information not really applicable to our situation. I would really have liked a useful section on helping a dementia patient through grief. Yet didn’t need the sections on home care, caregiver self care, or finding resources. I felt like the examples could be slightly patronizing. It gave me the feeling that the whole book was intended for someone with zero experiences with dementia or perhaps understanding human nature at all. Judging from the glowing reviews, it does seem like most people who loved this book were just starting on their cognitive impairment journey. That’s great that it was a valuable resource for them, but it’s far too exhaustively basic for anyone already in the trenches. Maybe would have been good for my dad to read about what my mom was going through at the start of it all.

wow is all i can say.. i love this book will be buying it for references ..
One of the keys to the success of this book is their acceptance that caregivers are going to have emotions, unrealistic ideas about the prognosis, misinformation about the nature of dementia and will underestimate the diseases effects on them and their family. It's okay to feel guilty, it's okay to feel conflicted, it's okay that you eventually may be unable to care for this person you love, whose personality is changing slowly before your eyes.

But once the authors are past the emotions, they also have a huge database of information built on the experiences of others. Time after time, you read in this book "this may happen, but it doesn't happen to everyone." That wide panorama of experience will help caregivers deal with virtually every circumstance that might come up.

You need to read this book, not to become a cocktail party expert, but so you will understand not only what's happening to your loved one, but also to yourself. When do you need to intervene? (Taking away the car keys, for example, is a huge step, both practical and symbolic.) What can you do to deal with erratic behavior? How do you help them deal with their finances?

It is never easy to deal with dementia. It will change your outlook on life, as well as how you feel about your parent or spouse who has dementia. I strongly recommend this book, not only for caregivers but also for those who are only starting to think "Boy, Mom sure has some weird ideas lately."

The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss is a compassionate and indispensable resource, primarily aimed at caregivers supporting loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Now in its sixth edition, co-authors Nancy L. Mace, MA, and Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH, bring a wealth of expertise and empathy to the task of educating and guiding those navigating the complexities of dementia care.

One of the book’s strongest features is its comprehensive, accessible approach. Mace and Rabins cover a range of critical topics, from understanding the symptoms and progression of Alzheimer’s disease to managing behavioral challenges, maintaining physical and emotional well-being, and handling the legal and financial issues that often arise. Each chapter is filled with practical advice, often addressing scenarios caregivers might not anticipate. This practical, real-world approach reassures readers by acknowledging both the emotional and logistical struggles involved in caregiving, making the book feel like a trusted companion rather than a clinical manual.

The authors provide clear explanations of medical concepts and behavioral changes, offering caregivers an understanding of what is happening in their loved one’s mind. They also give guidance on maintaining the dignity and respect of the person with dementia, emphasizing that compassion and patience are paramount. By addressing common questions and suggesting responses to various situations, the book encourages caregivers to take a balanced approach to their responsibilities, including advocating for moments of self-care.

A key theme throughout The 36-Hour Day is the emotional resilience required of caregivers, who are often family members bearing the brunt of emotional and physical strain. Mace and Rabins underscore the importance of building a support network, learning to ask for help, and recognizing the limits of one’s ability to handle caregiving alone. The book also includes an extensive list of resources for support groups, organizations, and further reading, demonstrating the authors’ awareness that caregiving is a marathon, not a sprint.

The language is empathetic and respectful, with an emphasis on practical strategies rather than academic theories. For caregivers, this approach makes the book feel deeply relatable and immediately useful. Even for professionals in the healthcare field, it offers fresh insights into the experiences and needs of families affected by dementia.

In sum, The 36-Hour Day stands out as a definitive guide for caregivers, offering insight, practical solutions, and hope. It empowers caregivers with the knowledge they need to support their loved ones effectively while navigating their own journey of compassion and resilience. For anyone supporting a family member or friend through the challenges of dementia, this book is a vital resource.

My LO has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's officially for 5 years. Memory was lost, didn't remember his mother, or past life, acted like a 12 yr old. he was 75, He had some terrible night as he kept asking to go to the bathroom and get up at night. The doctor prescribed a sleeping pill (zolpidem), but it had a very bad side effect on him (delusions and hallucinations) and we decided not to give it any more and went for the Neuro X program that was introduced to us by his primary care doctor, he was on the Neuro X program for Alzheimer’s disease from Uine Health Centre for 6 months. The treatment relieved symptoms significantly, After the treatment he’s all of a sudden back active again, almost all his symptoms are gone, no signs of agitations, his sleeps pattern are back to normal. His memory loss has greatly improved, and he tells stories about his past life, we got the Neuro X program from uinehealthcentre. com

I only read so much of this book as it is more of a reference for when you get to certain stages or deal with certain things. I don't want to read about things that COULD happen, get really sad about it, and then my dad never has that specific hardship.

This book seems like it's really helpful and I'm glad I found it. The only thing I'm not a fan of is how it's meant more for the MUCH later stages and it doesn't really touch on the beginning or slightly middle stages. Thankfully, I've read other books to help in those areas. But I would definitely pick this up if you're dealing with a loved one who has Alzheimer's or Dementia. I still learned quite a bit from the parts I did read so far and I can see it being incredibly useful in the future.

Very insightful!!!

I can't imagine a more comprehensive and compassionate book on caring for a loved one with dementia. Even if you are not a primary caregiver, this will be of interest if you know someone who is or have someone with dementia in your life. The author describes the person is trying his/her best, often making an incredible effort to get through each day and the reasons people with dementia do many of the things they do. I am dealing with this right now and it was an eye-opener that made me more forgiving and contains a wealth of information on how best to help a loved one.

If you have family or friends who are dealing with someone who has Alzheimers or dementia issues, in my opinion, this book would provide very helpful material. It contains lots of suggestions and ideas about appropriate actions to take to address the issues emerging when living with someone who has these mental challenges. Also, there are lots of ideas for how to help family or friends who are responsible for dealing with these challenges in helping their own family members.

Keept this book open to use as a reference guide. Very helpful.