I've written a book titled Open A Window - Alzheimer's Caregiver Handbook. I'm very proud of how much this book helps caregivers. It's written in layman's terms. Caregivers who read the book can identify with the experiences I shared and use the solutions to make life easier for them and the person they take care of.
Monday I received a call from a woman who works at two nursing homes and for hospice. She was given one of the copies I left at a doctor's office and read it. Now she wanted more copies of Open A Window to spread around. After she told me she really liked the book, I explained the stories and solutions were true experiences I'd had while I worked at a nursing home and took care of my father. She said she knew that. I couldn't make stories like that up.
Here is a review left on Amazon from C. Wright in California. I want to thank this person for giving me such a good review.
This caregiver has taken the care to detail a number of real life interactions she's experienced while caregiving her own father and the many Alzheimer's patients at the nursing home. She's won awards for her caregiving efforts, actually.
What many people do not realize when first dealing with Alzheimer's is that the sufferer still has a lot of memory cords left, triggers that will move them, calm them, agitate them...have meaning for them. One woman patient would go around the nursing home yelling out numbers. The caregivers eventually made a game of it with the woman, and it wasn't until the woman died that they were told the patient was an avid bingo player. If they'd only known, they could have worked the concept a bit and offered the woman more of a connection to her pleasurable memories. Other patients would follow the caregivers around, or hang around the nursing station, checking on things. They then found these patients were nurses themselves, and thought they should be on the job. Lots of examples, simple stories told with heart. Will help anyone caring for people with memory problems
Another review is on the back of the book as well as on Amazon from well known Alzheimer's speaker and author of "Creating Moment Of Joy" Jolene Brackey -- "This book shares what is possible if we allow a person with Alzheimer's to "be" who they are right now. Thank you for "opening" a window."
I've listened to several of Jolene's presentations. She gives a exciting, powerful presentation that can make you laugh, cry, think and understand Alzheimer's disease. Her website is www.enhancedmoments.com Her book is sold on her website and Amazon. With a search you probably can find the book many other places. It's the 3rd revised, expanded edition. ISBN 1557533660 Also information is there on how to reach Jolene if you'd like her to speak. She draws a crowd and has a site map that shows as a speaker she's a very busy woman.
Several years ago, Jolene spoke at the nursing home as an inservice and offered to speak at my Alzheimer's Support Group the same afternoon. After the fact, I found out the administrator had sent a copy of Open A Window to Jolene. She was impressed by my stories and asked to put one in her book. I agreed. Why wouldn't I? Her books help so many people. It's an honor to be a part of that.
About five years ago when I found out Jolene would be speaking close to where I live I went to the meeting. She held up a copy of her book and said it was the only one she brought on the plane just to show us. We'd have to order from her website. After the meeting, she presented me with that book and showed me my story with my byline. She used another one of my stories as an example in another spot, too. She signed the book which really makes it a one of a kind treasure.
So for caregivers out there here is a some choices to help you. My book Open A Window and another one I wrote about taking care of my father- Hello Alzheimer's Good Bye Dad can be found on Amazon and an ebooks in Kindle and Nook as well as paperback on my website www.booksbyfaybookstore.weebly.com and the Lemstone Christian Book Store in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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