Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer's Journey: A Guide for Families and Caregivers, Fifth Edition, Revised and Expanded

by Jolene Brackey

Overview

The beloved best seller has been revised and expanded for the fifth edition. Jolene Brackey has a vision: that we will soon look beyond the challenges of Alzheimer's disease to focus more of our energies on creating moments of joy. When people have short-term memory loss, their lives are made up of moments. We are not able to create perfectly wonderful days for people with dementia or Alzheimer's, but we can create perfectly wonderful moments, moments that put a smile on their faces and a twinkle in their eyes. Five minutes later, they will not remember what we did or said, but the feeling that we left them with will linger. The new edition of Creating Moments of Joy is filled with more practical advice sprinkled with hope, encouragement, new stories, and generous helpings of humor. In this volume, Brackey reveals that our greatest teacher is having cared for and loved someone with Alzheimer's and that often what we have most to learn about is ourselves.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781557537607
Publisher:	Purdue University Press
Publication date:	11/15/2016
Pages:	376
Sales rank:	42,693
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Jolene Brackey has shared her message of joy and inspiration with families and caregivers across North America for over twenty years. Now a sought after voice in the health care community, Brackey maintains an active speaking calendar that can be found at www.enhancedmoments.com. Passing on all she has learned from her travels and from her work with families and loved ones, her passion is to change the way people see people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments x

How to Use This Book xii

Prelude xiv

Defining Moments

Signs 2

Get a Diagnosis 4

Early Stages 6

Understanding the Person 8

Family Moments

I Promised 16

"I Can't Leave 'Em" 18

Love: Noun or Verb 20

Taking Care of Yourself 22

"They Look Great!" 24

Helping Hands 26

"I'm Here to Take Care of You!" 28

"You Can't Drive" 30

Finances 34

Funerals (Should we take them?) 38

Outings with Less Stress 40

Holidays 'n' Family Reunions 42

People Stop Visiting 44

Not Forgotten 48

"Who Are You?" 50

What Do You Love? 54

What Does This Person Love? 55

You've Got Mail! 56

Challenging Moments

Development Level 60

Live Their Truth 64

"I Want to Go Home" 68

Stop Correcting Them 72

You Are Wrong… They Are Right 76

Blame It on Something Else 78

Your Mood Affects Their Mood 80

Illusion of Choice 81

"My Mom Never…" 82

Swearing 84

Vomited On 86

The Facts Are All Off 88

"See" Authority 90

Everything Gets Lost 92

Replace, Replace, Replace 94

Glasses Dentures Hearing Aids 96

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat 98

Nonsense! 100

The "Spin" 101

Saturate Their Obsessions 102

Kick-Starting 104

Joy 106

Look Good, Feel Good, Play Good 108

Honey, Dearie, Sweetie 110

Men… Being Gentle-men 112

Socially Engaged 116

Moments of Discomfort 118

Hallucinations 120

Sundowning 122

Wandering, Hoarding, Combative 124

Age Appropriate 126

Confidentiality 128

Let's Talk about Sex 132

Traumatic Moments 136

Violent Moments 138

Basic Right to Live 140

Taking Them to the Doctor? 144

Medication 146

Transitioning Moments

When Is It Time to Move? 152

Choosing a Care Community 156

What to Expect 160

Creating a Safe Haven 162

"Where's My Room?" 166

Playing Favorites 168

Remember Their Greatness 170

Habits of a Lifetime 174

Personal Questionnaire 176

How Did They Love You? 182

Memory Box 184

Life Reflection 186

Music Does Wonders 188

A Commercial about TV 192

Ring, Ring, Ring 194

This Is Not Your Room! 196

It's Saturday Night! 198

Where's the Outhouse? 204

Suppertime!!!!! 210

Get Your Zzz's 216

Enhanced Moments

So You Wanna Visit? 222

Let's Talk Communication 226

Quality Connections 228

Yes 'n' No Questions 230

"How Are You?" 231

When In Doubt…Laugh 232

Share Your Life 234

Magic Words 235

Saying Goodbye 236

Sparking Moments 237

Child 'n' Pet Therapy 238

Art vs. Crafts 240

"Help Me" 242

Drink Up 244

Walking, Walking, Walking 246

Quiet as a Church Mouse 250

Breaking of Bread 252

Final Moments

Windows in the Brain 256

Late Stages 260

Power of Touch 262

Final Moments 266

Be Gentle 268

Just Breathe 270

Be Like a Duck 272

Be Like the Sun 273

Spiritual Strength 274

The Beginning 275

Consider 276

Create a Moment 278

About the Author 281

Editorial Reviews

"Jolene Brackey offers caregivers and families one practical suggestion after another, including ways to use the important details of a person's history, passions, and interests to empower loved ones to overcome daily struggles." —Ann Kaiser Stearns, PhD, best-selling author of Living Through Personal Crisis

"Alzheimer’s disease wraps its tendrils around all those within the range of loveof the person living with the disease. Jolene Brackey’s Creating Moments of Joy shows us how dear healing moments can be experienced by all who are within the grasp of the disease." —Paul Raia, PhD, retired vice president of clinical services, Alzheimer's

"I have been working with older adults with dementia for over twenty-five years. Jolene brings a perspective that crosses both years and bridges. Whether the caregivers are family or professional, young or 'vintage,' rookie or seasoned, she understands the struggles and creates a language to communicate with them all." —Deborah Richman, BS, ACC, vice president of education and outreach, Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota / North Dakota

"Jolene shows us how to lighten up and even find humor in the most highly charged situations." —Karen And Kim, co-founders of In Care of Dad

"This book is key for anyone looking to transform a hardship into a life-affirming experience for both the care recipient and the caregiver, ultimately making you a more effective caregiver as well as a happy one!" —Carlyne Fournier, producer of the short film Remember When

From the Publisher

Jolene Brackey offers caregivers and families one practical suggestion after another, including ways to use the important details of a persons history, passions, and interests to empower loved ones to overcome daily struggles.

ANN KAISER STEARNS

This book is key for anyone looking to transform a hardship into a life-affirming experience for both the care recipient and the caregiver, ultimately making you a more effective caregiver as well as a happy one!

CARLYNE FOURNIER

Jolene shows us how to lighten up and even find humor in the most highly charged situations.

KAREN AND KIM

Alzheimer’s disease wraps its tendrils around all those within the range of loveof the person living with the disease. Jolene Brackey’s Creating Moments of Joy shows us how dear healing moments can be experienced by all who are within the grasp of the disease.

PAUL RAIA

I have been working with older adults with dementia for over twenty-five years. Jolene brings a perspective that crosses both years and bridges. Whether the caregivers are family or professional, young or ‘vintage,’ rookie or seasoned, she understands the struggles and creates a language to communicate with them all.

DEBORAH RICHMAN