DEMENTIA

NON-FICTION

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THE 36-HOUR DAY BY NANCY L. MACE & DR. PETER V. RABINS

The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss is written by Nancy Mace, consultant to and member of the board of directors at the Alzheimer’s Association, and Peter Rabins, MD, MPH, founding director of the geriatric psychiatry program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The book consists of 19 chapters, covering the symptoms of dementia, problems in independent living and daily care, behavioural and mood symptoms, medical problems, getting outside help, effects on the caregiver, financial and legal issues, long-term care arrangements, preventing and delaying cognitive decline, and research. It is a comprehensive, practical book. Now in its 6th edition, it was first published in 1981 and has sold over 3 million copies.

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LEARNING TO SPEAK ALZHEIMER'S BY JOANNE KOENIG COSTE

Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s: A Groundbreaking Approach for Everyone Dealing with the Disease is a book for caregivers of patients with dementia, by Joanne Koenig Coste, an Alzheimer’s family therapist and board member of the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Published in 2004, the book offers a practical approach that focuses on coping with the diagnosis, communication, challenges such as driving and bath time, and behavioural issues such as wandering, paranoia, and aggression.

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THE DEMENTIA HANDBOOK BY JUDY CORNISH

The Dementia Handbook: How to Provide Dementia Care at Home is written by Judy Cornish, an American attorney and a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and of the American Society on Aging. The book describes a method of care developed by Cornish called DAWN: Dementia & Alzheimer’s Wellbeing Network. The book consists of five sections. First, Cornish describes dementia as “Bad, but not all bad.” She goes on to describe what is lost (for example, memory and rational thought processes) and what is not lost (intuitive thought processes, the experiential self). Section 3 is about designing person-directed care, focusing on security and well-being, and Section 4 focuses on practical issues such as conversations, meal time, grocery shopping, and mistaken identity. She concludes by reviewing why we ought to provide dementia care at home: it’s kinder, respects elders, and is more affordable.

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CREATIVE

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STILL ALICE BY LISA GENOVA

Still Alice is a 2007 debut novel by American Dr. Lisa Genova, who holds a PhD in Neuroscience. The book is about Alice Howland, a 50-year-old Harvard university professor, happily married with three adult children, who develops early onset Alzheimer’s disease. The book chronicles the progression of the disease and the impact on her career and family, from the protagonist’s perspective. The book was adapted into a film in 2014, and Julianne Moore won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Alice. In 2016 the Alzheimer's Association awarded Genova the Rita Hayworth Award. 

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BEFORE I FORGET BY B. SMITH AND DAN GASBY

Before I Forget: Love, Hope, Help, and Acceptance in Our Fight Against Alzheimer's is a book by B. Smith, her husband Dan Gasby, and Vanity Fair contributing editor Michael Shnayerson. Barbara “B” Smith was an American supermodel, restaurateur, magazine publisher, celebrity chef and lifestyle maven who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at age sixty-six. This book, described as part memoir and part caregiver’s guide, combines Smith’s personal story with pragmatic advice. The book was published in 2016; B died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2020. 

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