Today, there is a disease afflicting many people and arousing fear in those whose ages can start as young as forty years, and moving on through the sixties, seventy and eighty year old groups. It is known as Alzheimers Disease. This book is about sharing this experience with my sister-in-law who came down with this disease in her later years. She was eighty-four at the time and lived to be ninety four years old. I was encouraged to take notes and write about this by a doctor who told me I would be in a position to see its development every day for as long as she remained with me. He said, Take lots of notes. You will be able to observe so much more than I, because I dont spend that much time with a patient, and you will be with her day and night and observe the changes as they happen and what triggers her behavior. Good Luck! With that I started out on my ten year trip through the ups and downs, the good days and bad days of Alzheimers disease. Our days were laced with pain and humor, but I was determined to see it through, laughing a little and crying a lot, hoping the scenery would change, but finally surrendering to this fate that had come upon us. Our mantra became Lets laugh because if we dont we shall most certainly cry! I chose to care for her because I wanted her to be surrounded by love, music and laughter, in a place where we could laugh with her and cry with her and never be alone. Im glad I did.

Using over 100 illustrations and captions, Ian Donaghy captures the emotion and the reality of living with dementia. He has a message for all those touched by dementia - those living with dementia, their carers and all professional staff.

A positive approach to dealing with Alzheimer'ss, The Last Dance is a book of courage and inspiration. Susan McLane was a pioneer and public servant advocating for the families and environment of New Hampshire over her twenty-five years in the NH State Senate. The Last Dance tells the story of her struggles with Alzheimer'ss disease, interwoven with memories of a lifetime.

Laughing Through the Tears Shortly after Eric Haywood's retirement party, he and Crystal, his wife of twenty-eight years, embark on the first of several trips they planned long before he retired. When they reach their hotel in Las Vegas, both are more excited than two kids on their first trip to Disneyland. But a few hours later their excitement is over-shadowed by Eric's strange and unexpected behavior. Crystal is use to Eric's sometimes funny sometimes crazy antics but this newest episode both angers and alarms her. After returning home to prepare for their next venture, a seven day cruise, Crystal and Eric keep a scheduled appointment with their doctor. Crystal decides to put the episode in Vegas behind them and does not mention it to Dr. Winters. Their cruise proves to be more exciting than they ever dreamed and the two emerge happier and more in love than ever. When they return, Crystal is not prepared for Dr. Winters' diagnosis; Eric has dementia. Crystal refuses to believe that all the years they've spent loving each other and raising their four children will soon be erased from Eric's memory causing their lives to change forever. Crystal goes from a state of frustration and denial to understanding and acceptance. With the help of her children, her best friend Sherry and her next door neighbor Dorothy, Crystal learns to laugh in spite of her tears.

What's Funny About Dementia? Laugh to Keep From Crying is a memoir of the author and social worker, Jataun J. Rollins', personal journey in caregiving for her beloved grandmother, Maggie Passmore who survived Alzheimer's for about fifteen years. The author embraced laughter and spirituality to keep from crying as a live in caretaker and respite provider for her grandparents. She reflects about family participation, engagement and offers practical tips on managing the responsibilities of caregiving and identifying signs earlier on to prompt medical screening for Alzheimer's and other dementias to begin treatment. She endeavors to keep others encouraged to focus on the individual and not the disease. Memory loss is inevitable for the the survivor, but life still carries on inside them. Her book helps the reader to focus on the lucid moments and embrace the life they have left to live.

My hope for this book is that I give a glimpse to you, the reader, into the experiences we went through when my husband - a young, healthy man - was diagnosed at age 50 with Early Onset Alzheimer's. My aim is to give you some insight into how to perhaps deal with each change with a little more understanding, and the knowledge that you aren't alone. On those days where you are frustrated or unsure if you can continue with your journey as a caregiver through this terrible disease, you must remember that nobody is infallible and nobody is a saint. You are human, you make mistakes, and you are doing the very best you can. When my husband was first diagnosed, I remember telling a friend, "I don't think I can do this; I don't know if I can ever do the full care when he gets to that stage." I was able to continue the care-giving a lot longer than I ever imagined - one day at a time. I wanted to "give back" in some way to help others who are facing what we faced. My memories are still very vivid right from the first indication that something was wrong. I don't regret any of the treatments we tried or the care-giving I did. My only regret is that I wasn't able to cure him. From our family to yours. God bless you in your journey, knowing you aren't alone.

This book is dedicated to all of the families who have ever lost a loved one to Alzheimers and Dementia, I have spent over Twenty five years, giving care to these moms and dads, who have acquired this horrible disease . Id like to take you on my journey, and tell you about some of the experiences Ive dealt with, and some of the care Ive done, although some of these days, and nights were hard, and sometimes I felt like running, not to return, I hung in there because I truly felt that this is my calling in life. There were a lot of tears, fears, smiles and laughter, and no matter how sad, or how hard times got, we could always find a moment for love. I hope that you will embrace my story, and find some comfort as you read about all of the challenges I encountered, while giving care to those who could not care for themselves. May you find a little laughter, as I take you through what some of you may view as impossible to go through. But unless you truly have a heart to give this type of care, it could never be for you, it can be greatly overwhelming. But for me, it is therapy, truly therapy. And this is why there are folks like me, it is my passion, I love to care for others. I hope you enjoy, and find some comfort, smiles, and a little laughter, as you go through this journey with me. I do not wish to be disrespectful, nor offend anyone by writing these short stories of actual accounts that happened with some of the people I cared for. Im writing in hopes of you receiving some in site on what it takes to be a great caregiver, or find one. God bless.