Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living with Alzheimer's & Other Dementias: 101 Stories of Caregiving, Coping, and Compassion

by Amy Newmark, Angela Timashenka Geiger

Overview

No one should face Alzheimer’s or dementia alone. These 101 stories will provide support, advice, and comfort for caregivers and those living with Alzheimer’s.

This collection of personal stories will support you through all the phases of your journey. You’ll read chapters on:

• Accepting a New Reality – How to keep the dialogue going
• What Does It Feel Like? – What it’s like to have Alzheimer’s
• Strategies and Tips for Coping – Great advice from other families
• Next Steps and Tough Choices – You’re not alone in big decisions
• Taking the Journey with Your Parent – Tips and support for a new role
• Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s – Support for younger families
• In Sickness and In Health – Keeping marriages strong and loving
• The Lighter Side – Laughter is the best medicine
• New Ways to Make Connections – Powerful music and art therapies
• It Takes a Village – We’re one big community
• The Special Bond with Grandchildren – Those special connections

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781611599343
Publisher:	Chicken Soup for the Soul
Publication date:	04/22/2014
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	137,376
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Amy Newmark is publisher and editor-in-chief of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Angela Timashenka Geiger is Chief Strategy Officer of the Alzheimer’s Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support, and research.

Table of Contents

Introduction Angela Timashenka Geiger xi

1 Accepting a New Reality

1 My Mom the Fighter Pilot Doris Leddy 1

2 Join the journey Ginny Dubose 4

3 The Little Woman Jill Burns 7

4 Drama Come to Life Mary Margaret Mann 10

5 Me and the Night Don't Get Along Joey McIntyre 13

6 The Lady in the Mirror Molly Godby 15

7 Black Eyebrows Maria Montagna Bohlman 18

8 Slipping Away Sue Young 22

9 Good Times with Mom Bern Nadette Stanis 23

2 What Does It Feel Like?

10 Remember Me Cynthia A. Guzman 29

11 What My Alzheimer's Diagnosis Has Taught Me Kris Bahowski 32

12 Coping with Alzheimer's Lou A. Bordisso 36

13 Socializing Amidst Mental Chaos Lois Bennett 38

14 What Alzheimer's Disease Feels Like Dr. Stephen Hume 41

15 Living Well with Alzheimer's Carmen Cruz 44

16 It's a Wonderful Life and Alzheimer's Michael R. Belleville 46

17 He Led the Way Ann Mane Skerl 48

3 Strategies and Tips for Coping

18 The ABC's of Alzheimer's and Dementia for Caregivers Kristen Cusato 55

19 How I Learned to Lie Johanna Richardson 58

20 The Clock with One Hand Fred Kinsinger 62

21 Mom and Her Foot Soldiers Sioux Roslawski 65

22 Living Without Math Nancy Stearns Bercaw 68

23 Managing with Mom Denise Marks 71

24 I Yelled at You Today Pat Tomlinson 75

25 Fear and Self-Pity Are My Mortal Enemies Laura Suihkonen Jones 78

26 Sharing the Journey Samantha Ducloux Waltz 81

27 Where the Truth Lies Elizabeth Parker Garcia 85

28 It's Sunday the 23rd Jeri McBryde 89

4 Next Steps and Tough Choices

29 A Survival Guide for Alzheimer's Caregivers James C. Magruder 95

30 We Are a Family Carolyn Mers 101

31 Yes, But 1 Still Know Him Patty Gunnett 103

32 One Moment at a Time Linda O'Connell 105

33 The Next New Step Jennifer Harrington 108

34 Shopping for Nursing Homes Jean Ferratier 111

35 No Matter What Wendy Poole 113

36 Songs of Remembrance Jim Solomon 117

5 Taking the Journey with Your Parent

37 Feeding Squirrels with Dad Rhonda Renders 123

38 My Mother's Eyes Theresa Hettinger 127

39 Rewind Kala Cota 129

40 A Good Conversation Nancy Hamilton Sturm 131

41 In Your Winter Kitchen Jennifer L. Freed 133

42 The Hand that Feeds Carrie Jackson 134

43 Always a Mother Kelle Z. Riley 137

44 Love Is the Answer Nancy King Barnes 140

45 Learning Acceptance Ann Napoletan 143

6 Younger-Onset Alzheimer's

46 The Hardest Day Karen M. Henley 149

47 The Promises We Make Dr. David Davis 153

48 Finding Dad Paul Hyckie 156

49 Life on 24th Street Susie Van Den Ameele 159

50 Bring Him to Me Susan Young 161

51 Runaway Words Rose M. Grant 163

52 The Journey Begins Sandy Morris 166

53 On the Road with Alzheimer's Kitty Kennedy 168

7 In Sickness and In Health

54 Life Interrupted Sherry Sharp 173

55 Lessons in the Art of Love Deborah Shouse 177

56 Living in the Moment Sue Watkins 179

57 The Talk Bruce Michael Williams 182

58 Snowflakes and Sunshine Sara Spaulding 185

59 Joy Through Tears Mary Margaret Lehmann 187

60 I'll Never Know, Richard Weinman 190

61 My Mother's Kitchen Susan DeWitt Wilder 193

62 While He Still Remembers Susan Hanna Frook 195

63 The Power of What Is Samantha Ducloux Waltz 198

8 The Lighter Side

64 Talking Potato Linda Rose Etter 205

65 The Soft Side of Alzheimer's Tamera Leland 207

66 The Bird Jean Salisbury Campbell 209

67 Laughter Through the Tears Hank Mattimore 213

68 French Toast Joy Johnston 215

69 Comic Relief Rosemary Barkes 217

70 Armchair Shopper Crescent LoMonaco 220

71 The Bear Lisa R. Richardson 223

72 A Mother's Help Cheryl Edwards-Cannon 225

9 New Ways to Make Connections

73 Dancing Words John White 231

74 A Bright Spot in Darkness Linda Veath Cox 233

75 My Ticket to Happiness Amy L. Sayers 236

76 The Man in My Mother's Room Robert S. Nussbaum 238

77 Herbert Dale Adams O'Neill 240

78 I Can't Help Falling in Love with You Laurie Rueter Schultz 243

79 Hidden Talents Marjorie Hilkert 245

80 Music Therapy Kristina Aste-Mayer 247

81 Holding On to Dad Through Alzheimer's Julie Staffen 249

82 The Pianist Martha Deeringer 253

10 It Takes a Village

83 We're All Family Here Louise Harris Berlin 259

84 My Valentine Angle Carrillo 263

85 Still Sancho Cindy Legorreta 265

86 TGIF Kristi Cocchiarella FitzGerald 268

87 A Plate of Cookies W. Bond 271

88 Unsung Heroes Tracy Crump 273

89 Those Damn Rings! Madison Thomas 277

90 Remembering the Best Part Amanda Dodson 281

91 When Research Becomes a Passion Joanne L. Lord 285

11 The Special Bond with Grandchildren

92 Understanding Nana Sarah Rafferty 291

93 Out to Lunch Jennie Ivey 295

94 Joy in an Unexpected Friendship Julie Hornok 299

95 The Struggle for His Sanity Amy Merrill 301

96 Still My Grammy K. Thorp 304

97 Pretty Little Heaven Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer 307

98 All You Need Is Love Evangeline Neve 310

99 Fade to Black Jennifer Waggener 312

100 A Beautiful Tragedy Danny Carpenter 314

101 No Longer a Thief Amy L. Stout 317

Afterword Amy Newmark 321

Meet Our Contributors 325

Meet Our Authors 342

Thank You 344

About the Alzheimer's Association 346

About Chicken Soup for the Soul 349