Alzheimer's Resources 
( / Market Study)

Autobiography of the author of the book Caring for Norah. He shares both his adventures while traveling throughout Canada and abroad, and his challenges while caring for a wife with Alzheimer Disease. The reader not only gains insights into another person's life, but also a greater understanding of the difficulties encountered by caregivers dealing with loved ones suffering from AD.

 

Arthur Young was a United Church minister, but at 75 years of age he was in a locked unit of Kipling Acres, a Metro Toronto Home for the Aged due to his tendency to wander. His wife recounts the six years from before he was diagnosed with Alzheimer disease til he was placed in the nursing home.

 

This book is a personal account of a family's experience with Alzheimer Disease. The author's husband, Julian, was 59 years old when he was diagnosed with AD. When she began to write about how AD was affecting their lives, he was in the mild to moderate stage of the disease. This book describes their lives from the summer of 1992 through the spring of 1993. Their story is presented in the form of 56 vignettes, which describe the author's feelings and her husband's deterioration. Although Julian's AD progressed to the point where he attends a day care program twice a week, his intrinsic personality, love for his family and social nature remain intact. The vignettes chronicle the events that led them from their initial fear and anger to a feeling of acceptance and moments of peace.

 

This book describes the author's experiences of caring for her mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the reactions of herself and her father to her mother's changing condition. She covers issues including: stages of AD, legal issues, communication, support services, and choosing a nursing home. She describes the emotional challenges of AD including her frustration and anger, the need for a sense of humor, the support from friends, and the importance of her Christian faith. She discusses her faith, and the spiritual experiences of herself and her father.

 

Living with and caring for those with Alzheimer disease and dementia can be a saddening, agonizing time for loving family members and caregivers. Finding a silver lining of hope and even humourous relief during these times can be difficult, if not impossible. How can caregivers and family members lighten the load of grief brought on by such cases? How do caregivers especially deal with the intensely difficult day to day work with those who are afflicted? Book explores through personal accounts and vignettes, the golden moments of humour found during the caregiving of those with AD that go a long way to ease the tension and pain felt by caregivers and families.

 

Book both a personal journal that chronicles the 12 years that the author cared for his wife, a patient with Alzheimer disease, and a caregiver's resource guide with strategies for effective caregiving at home. The first part of the book is the detailed journal that the author kept from the onset of his wife's first symptoms and diagnosis in 1982 through her death in 1993. Part 2 focuses on the needs of the caregiver, including maintaining physical and mental health, financial considerations, social support systems, and respite care. Part 3 sets forth an overall strategy for at-home care, including the potential benefits of tacrine (THA or Cognex). This section offers suggestions for activities and equipment, and a sample at home schedule. Part 4 is the transcript of a presentation made by the author at a geriatric care conference.

 

Daniel Heinrichs writes of caring for his wife Norah through series of anecdotal articles and collection of poems, some published in Alzheimer Society of Manitoba's newsletter. The purpose is to empathize with others in similar circumstances and to be of help to them. Also available online

 

Based on the author's personal journals, written as she cared for her husband Hank at home for 10 years after his diagnosis with Alzheimer Disease. Book records their experiences as they are challenged with Hank's decline, the changes in their relationship, and problem behaviours.

 

Memoir of author's experiences in looking after her mother, a novelist. The author documents the slow erosion of her mother's mind, of the powerful bond the two shared, and of her own descent into alcohol, tranquilizers and despair. The coping mechanism she finally finds is in her writing, where she brings to life the memories her mother is losing, of the author's childhood, of the daring and vibrant mother she remembers, and of a time that no longer exists for either of them.

 

In 2003, it was discovered that Leo wasn't just an absent-minded professor, he had Alzheimer Disease. Lorna and Leo take turns telling their side of the story, each sharing their own perspectives of what life is like when living with dementia.

 

This book tells the story of the Tyler family's struggle to stay together in the face of overwhelming odds. Manley Tyler, a school principal, was only 42 years old when he first showed symptoms of Alzheimer Disease. Jean Tyler relates the anguish of her husband's steady decline, describing the progressive disintegration of memory and judgement that made it impossible for him to perform even the simplest tasks and made him increasingly prone to hostile behaviour and paranoia. Manley's story is special because of his age and his ability to fight the disease for 15 years, but the experiences of his wife and children are relevant to anyone who must learn to cope with a loved one who has AD.

 

The story of a Canadian family that was affected by Familial Early Onset Dementia through several generations, starting in the early 1900s when little was known about the disease and it was kept as a secret from other family members.

 

This book is the true story of a journalist named Aila Olson and her illness with Alzheimer Disease, as written by her husband, Arthur. The book relates the couple's experiences and difficulties and intersperses these anecdotes with factual information and practical suggestions for families dealing with an AD patient, including coping strategies, support groups, institutions and financial matters. Many chapters include poems written by Arthur that capture and express the emotions he feels as the disease progresses.

 

The story of one family's experience with early onset dementia from early to late stage. The father started to show symptoms of dementia at 57 when the author was only 20 years old. The story also includes mention of the author's academic and work related experiences as well as selections from her father's journal. Full text also available online.

 

The author's story of caring for a mother who has a heart attack, and a domineering father with dementia. Despite personal problems, she takes on the task of getting her parents some help when she realizes that her father is no longer able of taking care of his wife and himself . Her father fights her at every turn, using both charm and rage to get what he wants, while health care providers do not believe that her father is violent and the violence increases as the dementia progresses. With medical treatment, drugs, behavioral training, and a fantastic caregiver, miracles finally start to happen.
Includes A Physician's Guide to Treating Aggression in Dementia by Rodman Shankle

 

Personal account by John Bayley of his marriage of 43 years to novelist Iris Murdoch, and her 5 year battle with Alzheimer Disease. In examining their relationship Bayley attempts to discover the real Iris, but the harder he tries the more ineffable she becomes, even more so after being diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease in 1994.

 

In 1994, Elsie Rourke-Copeman was diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease. Over the following four years, her condition deteriorated from being able to live in her own apartment, to living in a nursing home totally dependent on the help of others. In this book, written by her daughter we are presented with a face to put to the story of Alzheimer Disease. She discusses the early warning signs, diagnosis, stages and progression of the disease. She shares the difficulties of watching her mother change, the doubts dealt with in choosing the right nursing home, and the conflicting emotions she felt when sometimes devoting more time to her mother than her own family. This book offers helpful suggestions on how to make visits with a loved one more meaningful, and methods for keeping the lines of communication open as the disease progresses. At the time of her mother's diagnosis in 1994, there was little information available to families on what to expect at the different stages of Alzheimer Disease. She believes that her story will help prepare people in similar situations for what lies ahead. Through her book, she hopes to provide families with a better understanding of this disease so that they will feel more comfortable in taking an active role in the care of their loved ones. With her book, the author seeks to remind us to always see the individual first and the disease second.

 

June cares for her husband Charlie who suffers from Multi Infarct Dementia. Her honest and intensely personal diary account reveals emotional turmoil which ranges from bitterness, anger, self pity, defeat and despair to strength, tenderness, humour, love and deep friendship. Offers both family caregivers and professionals vivid examples of the effects of dementing illness and comforting realization that they are not alone with the emotions illness can generate.

 

Rosemary Upton and her siblings couldn't believe that their vivacious, independent, and completely reliable mother was suffering from Alzheimer Disease. In diarylike form, Rosemary documents the emotional pressures and frustrations of all family members.

 

This book provides insight into the emotional turmoil families may experience when a loved one with Alzheimer Disease or other dementias mysteriously vanishes. It presents the personal account of a Marianne Caldwell, a vocational nurse, her anguish, grief, and confusion in the years since her mother vanished from a New Hampshire neighbourhood schoolyard in 1991. The author describes her struggle to resume a normal life amid terrible anxieties and the unceasing search for answers.

 

Author intertwines the scientific race to discover the causes of Alzheimer Disease and the personal experiences of his family as they struggle with the disease. When his father was diagnosed with AD, the author went on a quest to discover everything he could about the disease. The book traces the history of research into AD starting with Dr Alois Alzheimer's work, to current work by scientists including Dr Peter Hyslop. On the personal side, the author discusses how AD affected the family relationships, and how AD, that claimed not only his father but his three uncles also, may continue to affect the family in the future. In his description of some moments of tenderness and humour shared with his father, the author shows the importance of love .

 

This book is a personal account of a health care professional forced to become a family caregiver when her spouse is stricken with Alzheimer Disease. The author shares the experiences of her journey from wife to caregiver, the events in their lives as her husband moved through the progressive stages of the disease, and the impact AD had on them as it progressively altered the behavior and personality of her husband. The account, by focusing on their relationship, presents a story of love and compassion between two people in the face of extreme conditions. The book concludes with lists of books the author found useful in helping her cope with the stresses and psychological difficulties she encountered.

 

Cohen chronicles the year her aging father, Sanford, suffering from mid-to-late-stage Alzheimer Disease, came to live with her and her baby, Ava, in a New York State farmhouse. The three endure a cold winter, Ava's teething and the progression of AD. Sanford, a retired economics professor, retains his physical health while his mind deteriorates and he loses the ability to know her. Ava learns to walk and talk while Sanford forgets how to climb stairs and struggles with his vocabulary. Sanford misses his wife, who lives with Cohen's sister on the other side of the country; Cohen's husband abandons them early on and she struggles to find help from local social services. Cohen takes pleasure in her daughter, outings in parks, friends' and neighbors' generosity and the "memory project"-her attempt to catalogue her father's stories from his childhood, war years in the Pacific and teaching career.

 

Intimate photo essay of four families and their process of coping with Alzheimer disease, a process of coming to terms with the practical and emotional consequences of a disease that changes the entire family dynamic. Photographs and narratives weave together to show both the unpleasant and beautiful sides of the struggle for connection between spouses and across generations. Intimate glimpse into the hearts and minds of caregivers and patients

 

The author's wife, Jane, began showing symptoms of Alzheimer Disease and Parkinson's in her late 50s. The story centers on the bitter fight waged by Wirsig to obtain permission from the Federal Drug Administration for his wife's participation in treatment with the experimental drug THA. The author believes that THA was responsible for the improvement in his wife's symptoms while she was receiving it. Wirsig cared for his wife until his own heart attack forced her institutionalization; his account is intended as a loving tribute to his partner of 45 years.

 

Written by a Canadian woman, this story tells the experiences of her family with the nursing home environment. The father, who has Alzheimer Disease, is placed in a nursing home when the mother can no longer look after him. Then the mother goes to a nursing home after breaking her pelvis and having a colostomy. The author includes a chapter on ways that long term care could be improved and one on how to have meaningful visits with someone in a long term care setting.

 

The author's mother lived with Alzheimer Disease for five years, spending the last 2 1/2 years in a nursing home. His story tells of the experiences of the family through the progression of the disease, the moments of clarity, the doubts and emotions of being a caregiver, and the importance of finding meaning by living one day at a time.

 

This book provides a comprehensive, first hand account of how Alzheimer Disease affects both patient and family. The author details the decisions and the discoveries she made after her mother was diagnosed with AD including her search for a proper caregiving facility and how she decided on Tanglewood, the 24 patient AD special care unit of the Woods Center for the Aging. Chapters discuss family and patient issues, dealing with nurses and staff, and long term care services.

 

This book presents the author's personal experiences caring for his wife who had Alzheimer Disease. He briefly describes how he met his wife, what their lives were like before the onset on AD, the early signs that something was wrong, and the effect of getting a diagnosis of a dementing illness. The author discusses the effect of AD on his wife and on himself, and describes how he cared for his wife while struggling to maintain his own mental, physical and emotional well being. He discusses his changing role as caregiver, the importance of reaching out for support, the use of a volunteer day-care centre, the decision to move his wife to a nursing home, the nursing home experience, legal and insurance issues, the difficulty of facing his wife's death. This book is unique in that it is the perspective of an elderly male caregiver. The impact of the disease is especially heavy for men because usually they have had less experience with the caregiving role than women Mr. Grubbs shows caregivers how to survive the disease.

 

Sequel to Elegy for Iris. Personal account by John Bayley of his early life, marriage of 43 years to novelist Iris Murdoch, and her death after a 5 year battle with Alzheimer Disease.

 

This book is the story of an aging mother with Alzheimer Disease (AD) and her children's attempts to care for her. The author, the oldest daughter, traces the family's experience from 1991, the year they learned their mother was diagnosed with AD, through the mother's decline to the advanced stages of dementia. She describes the difficulty of dealing with the early symptoms of AD, the siblings' feelings of guilt that they could not care for their mother at home, and their visits with their mother after her move to the AD unit of a nursing home. She explores the feelings of failure family members often experience, the failure to do enough to make a difference, to stop the progression of the disease, or even to remain a memory to their parent. The purpose of the book is help other families understand they are not alone in their struggle, and to help them realize they have not failed.

 

The story of a woman who cared for her father for seven years in Belleville Ontario, after he developed symptoms of dementia in the early 1950s.

 

Transcript of presentation by Canadian woman about what it is like to live with a diagnosis of dementia, and the importance of the Dementia Advocacy and Support Network. Full text also available online.

 

This book is designed for caregivers and contains a collection of the author's thoughts during her mother's illness with Alzheimer Disease. It includes thoughts and comments that the author personally found to be most helpful and many classical quotations that she found to be instructive, humourous, or consoling. The author's reflections are organized around 7 broad themes: the nature and effect of AD, the effects of AD on her mother's personality and capabilities, her mother's move to a nursing home, the effect of AD in her father's life, caring for her mother at home and in the nursing home, coping with the author's emotional reactions to her mother's illness, and the special memories of a happy home and life with her mother. This book also shows how the author's thoughts evolved throughout the long process of saying goodbye to her mother.

 

The author provides an open, frank yet compassionate account of the long and difficult journey she took with her husband, Edwin, after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease. She shows how the disease progressed from beginning to end, the dramatic changes that occurred to Edwin’s personality and the devastating effects it had on his abilities to communicate and function. Marian Ritchie writes about how important it is for caregivers to be informed, to join a support group and to find time for themselves. With this book, she hopes that others will learn from her experience so that they can better cope with the challenges presented by the disease and she hopes they will realize that they are not alone.

 

Donna's story of caring for her husband, Joe (a former Montreal Alouette), who was diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease at 57, as told to the author. Includes family photos.

 

How do you deal with a mother to whom the rules and complexities of the late twentieth century no longer apply, a mother who, though sweet and gentle by nature, can turn a trip to a health care centre into a medical malpractice suit? Can mother and son ever understand each other? Can a 91-year-old woman and her middle-aged son live together in harmony? Yes, says William Thomas, but you'll need a whack of humour and a lot of Band-Aids for your tongue. Here are the true-to-life adventures of Margaret and her wise-cracking son, stories filled with laughter and enduring affection.

 

In this book, the author recounts her father's struggle with Alzheimer Disease and the effect on his family. She describes her father as a formerly strong and authoritative person who slowly became frail and confused as the disease progressed. She related the difficulties her family faced as her father's condition worsened, including some of the medical and legal issues. The author notes that her goal in writing the book is to offer some insight into the devastating effects that AD has on both the person with the illness and the family.

 

A story of love and commitment which chronicles the author's struggle to maintain her mother's wishes, values and quality of life while slowlly losing her to Alzheimer Disease. Offers advice to guide family and professional caregivers through each phase of the caregiver journey. Addresses in detail the kinds of decisions and ethical issues that face the caregiver who has the durable power of attorney.

 

Author shares experience of caring for her husband who was diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease, as well as the personal stories of other caregivers.

 

In this book designed for families of people diagnosed with Alzheimer disease a geriatric psychiatrist who specialized in AD interweaves clinical information about AD with stories about his patients. These stories describe the progression of AD, from the earliest signs to the terminal stages, and the different ways the disease manifests itself. They are intended to show the people behind the illness, describing not only sadness and difficulty but also joy, hope and meaning as the patients and families seek to cope with the changes in their lives. The author also presents scientific information about how the diagnosis of AD is made, how AD may resemble other illnesses such as severe depression, and what type of research is being done in the field.

 

This book tells the story of an adult son who tried to find out the truth about his biological father from his mother who has Alzheimer Disease. When Tom Dodge's stepfather died and he assumed the care of his mother, he was dismayed by the extent to which she had become disabled by AD. The struggle to care for his mother as she was loosing her memory and the ability to take care of herself was complicated for Tom and his family by the paralysis of his son resulting from a diving accident.The story is a look at life in small town Texas in the 1940's, but above all it is the story of the relationship between mother and son that is complicated and intensified by his struggle to give her necessary care that she seems not to appreciate or remember.

 

Mary Walsh and her husband made a promise to his grandmother (Gram) that she would never be placed in a nursing home. After the family moved to Pennsylvania, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease, and the family held to its promise of care for as long as possible. Told with humour, love, and compassion, this is the story of how that decision affected the entire family. The book is based on a journal Mary Walsh kept during the years they looked after Gram, and shows the importance that faith played in their lives. This book will encourage anyone in a similar sitation, as it shows that despite the illness, family life with all of its joys and challenges goes on.

 

This book is the story of a mother, Lou, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer disease in 1985, as told by her daughter, Kim. A former newspaper reporter, Lou kept a journal recording the changes caused by AD until she was no longer able to write. These journal entries, which are characterized by humour and courage in the face of frightening mental and emotional changes, are woven into the daughter's account of the development of her mother's illness and the responses of her family. During the mother's illness, the daughter completed a master's degree in art and began to express her responses to her mother's illness in her work. Paintings are included in the book. Early paintings reveal Lou's growing awareness of her illness, and later paintings recount attempts to find a doctor prescribed drug therapy that could help her and her eventual entry into a nursing home.

 

In 1993 Linda Grant's mother, Rose, the daughter of Jewish immigrants from Poland, was diagnosed with multi-infarct dementia. With Roses's memory deteriorating, a whole world was in the process of being lost. In this work the author looks at the question of identity, memory and autonomy that dementia raises. She discusses the difficulties of long distance caregiving, the changes in familial roles when daughters are required to care for a less than affectionate mother, the problems encountered when trying to place their mother in a suitable long term care environment, and how the loss of memory of one member of a family affects the memory of all the other members.

 

Sandiford grew up in Montreal and moved to his parents' native Barbados in 1996. His journey 'Back Home' led to a series of insightful and often poignant meditations on relationships, island life, and the decline of his father, diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease twelve years earlier.

 

Philip and Pauline's marriage of 34 years has been one of sharing. Now Pauline has Alzheimer Disease. Philip briefly reflects on the changes that have occurred in their relationship.

 

Both informational and inspirational, this book provides a realistic account of how whole families are affected by early onset dementia, the challenges, decision-making and problems that they have to deal with in order to survive. George traces Sara's life from birth through nursing home placement. He describes her vitality and love people of people during her youth; her activity filled college years and accomplishments as a home-maker and mother; the subtle changes in her personality and behavior that gradually forced him to realize that something was wrong and the steps taken in Sara obtaining a diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease while in her early fifties. He describes the many visits to the family doctor, a psychiatrist and a neurologist, the tests and medication she endured. He continues to be actively involved in his wife's plan of care while she lives in a nursing home. George shares the many little things he does in order to keep his love for Sara alive as well as how he manages to get the needed respite in order to carry on.

 

A memoir written by a daughter in honour of her father, that carries the readers through both the tragedy of Alzheimer Disease and the joys of a remarkable father daughter realtionship, proving the strength or the human spirit and the immortality of human love.

 

When the author's mother develops Alzheimer Disease in her seventies, her behaviour changes drastically. She starts out by being merely eccentric, and ends up resembling a bag lady, sporting hideous hats from the Salvation Army, shoplifting and accosting strangers. When she burns down her home, her family is left to grapple with the agonizing decision: Who is to be their loved one's keeper? The author's mother ends up in public institutions, sustained only by memories and family visits.

 

A rural caregiver's experiences with her husband's progression through Alzheimer Disease in a rural British Columbia ranching community. Using nine of the symptoms for a clinical diagnosis of AD, the author tells how they affected her and her husband Rusty. The author was unable to find advice on how to deal with AD while living in a rural setting where machinery, animals and hazardous substances are a part of everyday life. This book addresses how families in isolated areas can manage AD in their family, with local community support and a lot of creativity.

 

This book presents a personal story in which the author shares her experiences of caregiving for her mother with Alzheimer Disease to help others care for an AD patient and finding help for themselves. The story covers 7 years in the lives of the caregiver and her mother, with flashbacks on the mother's earlier years. The author describes in intimate detail the effects of the disease on each of them and how help finally comes. The slow progression of symptoms from early, subtle changes in personality to the final stages of a disease that destroys her mother's mind and twists her personality into that of a stranger are illustrated. Sidebars that give a clinical explanation of symptoms typical of each stage of the disease supplement the human story. Appendices suggest how the caregiver may take care of themselves in battling such problems as stress and depression, how to get help for caregiving, and legal and financial information for caregivers.

 

This book is a personal narrative of a husband who cared for his wife at home from the time of her diagnosis with Alzheimer Disease, multi infact dementia, and Parkinson's disease until her death. The book is both a diary of the last 7 years of Mary Wall's life and a handbook for caregivers. The author gives the reader a roadmap explaining what to expect as the illness progresses, including some of the signals, symptoms, and patient's reactions to mental confusion, incontinence, falling, wandering, and other problems. He emphasizes the need to provide respite and support for the caregiver who may not be trained and may be overwhelmed with the responsibilities associated with providing full time care for the patient.

 

Based upon her personal experiences in taking care of her late father with Alzheimer Disease, this book addresses issues related to the treatment and care of individuals with Alzheimer Disease: diagnosis, support groups, conservatorship, in-home and out-patient medical care, skilled nursing care, family conflicts, legal and financial considerations, and celebrating life.

 

Bea Gorman's life story tells of the terror of living with familial Alzheimer Disease and shares her struggle to find meaning in life as one by one, her mother, two brothers, and two sisters fell victim to the disease. The book shares helpful ideas for those who struggle daily with the unending, challenging task of caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer Disease.

 

Lela Knox Shanks cared for her husband Hughes, at home for 14 years after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease until his death in 1998. This book draws on personal experience to provide practical guidance and inspiration for other caregivers. Topics covered include: behavioural symptoms, stages of AD, maintaining self esteem of patient, techniques for in home care, day to day activities, dealing with problem behaviours, incontinence, wandering, caregiver stress, coping strategies, relief from continual care, hope for the future, rewards to the caregivers, and outlines for caregiver training.

Video shows three Alzheimer Disease patients at different stages of the disease. Eddie was diagnosed with AD at 57 and is in the first stages, Keith was 72 when diagnosed and is living in the middle stages at a long term care facility, Lily 85 has lived with AD for 15 years and resides in a nursing home. Their spouses talk about their hopes and fears, how they cope with everyday challenges of living with the affects of AD. Three experts discuss the stages and progression of AD, and the problems associated with each.

 

Julie Meisner Eagle wrote and produced this documentary about her mother who showed the first signs of Early Onset Dementia at the age of 47. The documentary covers approximately 18 months, showing the impact the progression of the disease had on her mother, going from living on her own to becoming a resident in a special programme: HOME Helping Our Mobile Elderly. We are shown the impact the disease has had on the family as a whole. Remarkable outcomes of the disease include the uniting of a disjointed family, and the discovery of a hidden artistic talent as her mother becomes involved in an art therapy program at the local adult day care program and eventually has her art work put on public exhibit. The program is hosted by David Hyde Pierce.

 

1. Madeline and Rose
: 49:20 min. Madeline Fergus has taken early retirement to look after her partially paralyzed mother Rose, full time for 5 years. The job has long hours, little recognition, and is full of hardship and frustration, but Madeline finds caring for her mother rewarding as well. Video shows the deterioration of Rose's state into a state of total dependency. Madeline, dependent on two small pensions, must seek more help from a system which can be difficult to access. When Rose dies, Madeline loses not only her mother but her best friend, her heart is broken but her spirit isn't, and she knows she has no choice but to go on.
2. Doris and Tom
: 50:12 min. Doris and Tom Homewood had been married 54 years, when Tom suffered a massive stroke that left him unable to walk or speak. Doris is 78, but determined to care for her husband at home. She displays remarkable strength in feeding, bathing, and transporting Tom from bed to wheelchair and back. Doris has learned to accept the isolation that Tom's silence brings, she never leaves him for more than an hour, but goes for walks, helps her daughter with the farm work, and feeds the horses. After a bout of pneumonia, Tom dies in the hospital and Doris is left to cope with her loss.
3. Kurt and Elizabeth
: 49:17 min. Kurt Weitz has been caring for his mother Elizabeth 88, for the past 8 years . She is suffering from a variety of illnesses including Alzheimer Disease, and requires constant supervision. Kurt is drained of all his energy, even ordinary housework seems overwhelming, as his mother gets worse, he needs some relief. Though he loves his mother, Kurt admits a strong sense of freedom at his mother's death. His mixed feelings are common to everyone who faces the emotional challenges of caregiving.
4. Pat and Molly
: 49:40 min. Pat Tucker was trained in bedside care as a student nurse, she now puts that training to use caring for her bedridden mother Molly, 95. Her mother requires constant attention, despite her nursing experience, Pat is exhausted by the incredible demands of looking after Molly. The support of the family, especially her husband, has assisted Pat to look after her mother. Molly is seen as the link that keeps the family united. When Molly dies, Pat is devastated, but vows that if given the choice she would do it all over again.
5. Paul and Jean
: 50:04 min. Paul Oliver has placed his mother Jean, in a nursing home that cares for Alzheimer Disease patients. With bewildered fellow residents constantly interrupting and Jean's own erratic behaviour, Paul finds it hard to have a quiet moment with his mother, but he knows his company and attention are vital to her and visits twice a week. Jean does not like the nursing home and is often depressed, her anger is vented on everyone. Although she is lucid at times, what Paul finds most difficult is his mother's increasing memory loss. He knows that eventually she won't remember who he is, so he tries to make the most of his visits

Filmed from the perspective of a daughter caring for her mother with Alzheimer Disease, this video shows with humour and compassion how the daughter first recognizes the disease's symptoms and recounts the disease's progression until she places her mother in a special care unit. This video explores the feelings and issues that both mother and daughter face as the disease progresses. It shows that although the disease affects the mother's mind and personality, she and her daughter can still interact meaningfully and she remains a valuable person in spite of the disease. The daughter provides unique insights into her mother's behavioural problems and eloquently describes her own struggle to accept the disease.

 

Video narrated by a woman who describes her grandmother's experience with Alzheimer Disease, now in the middle stages, and how it has affected both the grandmother and the family.

 

Ivy St Lawrence discusses how she cared for her husband who was diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease, and provides insight into how she was able to cope with his deterioration.

 

Drawn from Caregivers series, profiles cover a year in the lives of five different families. Told in the caregiver's own words, the stories give a first hand account of the day to day demands of caregiving.

 

This documentary provides an overview of Alzheimer s disease (AD) by interviewing researchers, family members, and people with AD. It discusses the history and the future of AD. Animated graphics are used to show how healthy brain cells communicate and what happens to those brain cells when a person has the disease. The researchers describe the three stages of AD, current treatments, and experimental treatments. In addition to describing the scientific aspect of AD, this videotape focuses on the social effects of AD. It includes interviews with caregivers and patients; and with some of the couples, a followup interview 2 years later is used to show how the disease has progressed. The videotape addresses such important caregiving issues as: coping with losing a loved one slowly, placing a loved in a nursing home, role reversal between parents and adult children, the stress of caregiving and how it affects the caregiver's health, and the importance of using services such as respite care, adult day care, and support groups.

 

Copy of program that aired on the BBC. At age 51, Malcolm Pointon, a professor of music at Cambridge University, was diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease. His wife, Barbara looked after him until his violent mood swings and physical abuse made it impossible for her to care for him at home any more. This documentary chronicles 4 years in the lives of Malcolm and Barbara, showing the progression of the disease, and the effects it has on both of their lives.

 

This video depicts the effects of early stage Alzheimer Disease on the family and illustrates the process one woman goes through as she learns that her mother has been diagnosed with AD. The daughter comes to grips with the changes she has noticed in her mother's memory and behaviour. Through diary entries, she records her growing sense of uncertainty about her mother's status and their changing relationship. The daughter recommends seeking support from resource organizations when a family learns that a member has AD.

General Books on Alzheimer Disease and Caregiving

Many of these books can be found at your local Alzheimer Society, library or bookstore. If you'd like to order a publication produced by the Alzheimer Society, contact your local Alzheimer Society or use our online Order Form.

From the Alzheimer Society of Canada

Alzheimer Society of Canada. Alzheimer Journey: The Road Ahead, Module 1. Toronto: Alzheimer Society of Canada, 1998.

Alzheimer Society of Canada. Alzheimer Journey: On the Road, Module 2. Toronto: Alzheimer Society of Canada, 1998.

Alzheimer Society of Canada. Alzheimer Journey: At the Crossroads, Module 3. Toronto: Alzheimer Society of Canada, 1998.

Alzheimer Society of Canada, Alzheimer Journey: Understanding Alzheimer Disease: The Link Between Brain and Behaviour, Module 4. Toronto: Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2002.

Alzheimer Society of Canada. Guidelines for Care. Toronto: Alzheimer Society of Canada, 1992. ISBN 0-9695301-2-9.

Alzheimer Society of Canada. A Personal Care Book. Toronto: Alzheimer Society of Canada, 1993.

For family caregivers

Alzheimer Society of Ottawa-Carleton. A Family Guide to Dementia Care in Ottawa, 2001 . ISBN 0-9689722-0-9. www.alzheimerottawa.org/resources/res1.htm#caregiving.

Alzheimer Society of Prince Edward Island. A Caregiver's Guide for Alzheimer and Related Diseases. www.alzcaregiversguide.com.

Bowlby Sifton, Carol. Navigating the Alzheimer's Journey: A Compass for Caregiving. Health Professions Press, 2004. ISBN 1-932529-04-7. www.healthpropress.com.

Bryan, Jessica. Love is Ageless: Stories about Alzheimer's Disease. NY: Demos Medical Publishing, 2002 (2nd edition). ISBN 0-9619311-1-6. www.demosmedpub.com.

Conrad, Patricia. Gentle into the Darkness: A Deaf Mother's Journey into Alzheimer's. Edmonton, Alberta: Spotted Cow Press, 2004. ISBN 0-9733864-3-6. www.spottedcowpress.ca.

Le Navenec, Carole-Lynne and Vonhof, Tina. One Day at a Time: How Families Manage the Experience of Dementia. Auburn House. Can be purchased from Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, P.O.Box 5007, Westport, CT 06881-5007, U.S. Tel: (203)226-3571.

Mace, Nancy L., and Rabins, Peter V. The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer's Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001 (3rd ed.). ISBN 0-8018-4034-1. www.press.jhu.edu.

Mindszenthy, Bart and Gordon, Michael. Parenting your Parents: Support Strategies for Meeting the Challenge of Aging in the Family. Dundurn Press, 2002. ISBN 1-55002-380-2. www.dundurn.com.

Molloy, William and Caldwell, Paul. Alzheimer's Disease, (revised ed.). Key Porter Books Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-55263-483-3. www.keyporter.com.

Shenk, David. The Forgetting: Alzheimer's: Portrait of an Epidemic. Doubleday, 2003. ISBN 0-385-49837-3. www.randomhouse.ca/about/double.html.

Strauss, Claudia J. Talking to Alzheimer's: Simple Ways to Connect When You Visit with a Family Member or Friend. New Harbinger Publications, Inc., 2001. ISBN 1-57224-270-1. www.newharbinger.com.

Tapp-McDougall, Caroline. The Complete Canadian Eldercare Guide. John Wiley Canada, 2004. ISBN 0- 470-83449-8. http://ca.wiley.com/WileyCDA.

Womack, Dorothy. Passage Into Paradise, iUniverse, Inc., 2002. ISBN 0-595-24926-4. $32.95, www.iuniverse.com.

For health-care professionals

Bell, Virginia and Troxel, David. The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care. Baltimore, MD: Health Professions Press, 1997, (2003 ed.). ISBN 1-878812-35-1. www.healthpropress.com.

Bell, Virginia and Troxel, David. A Dignified Life, Baltimore, MD: Health Professions Press, Inc., 2002. ISBN 0-7573-0060-X. www.healthpropress.com.

Castleman, M., Gallagher-Thompson, D. and Naythons, M. There is still a person in there: A complete guide to treating and coping with Alzheimer's. Berkley Publishing, 2000, paperback: ISBN 0-399-526358; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2000, hard cover: ISBN 0-399-145710.

Fazio, Sam. Rethinking Alzheimer's Care. Health Professions Press, Inc., 1999. ISBN 9-781878-812629. www.healthpropress.com.

Howe-Borges, Danielle. Geriactive Resources for Activationists & Programming Staff. www.geriactive.ca.

Kitwood, Tom and Bredin, Kathleen. Person to Person: A Guide to the Care of Those with Failing Mental Powers. Gale Centre Publications, 1992. Whatakers Way, Loughton Essex, 1G10 1SQ, U.K. ISBN 187-258-27-4.

Sawyer, Eleanor (ed.). The Road to Eden North: How Five Canadian Long-Term Care Facilities Became Eden Alternatives, CHA Press, 2004. ISBN 1-896151-13-2. chapress@cha.ca.

Silin, Peter S. Nursing Homes. The Family's Journey. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8018-6625-1. www.press.jhu.edu.