With improved healthcare, many people are now living longer lives, resulting in the world population having a higher percentage of older people. As the population ages, there are expected to be some 78 million people suffering from dementia by 2030 and 139 million by 2050. The likelihood is that most people, whether through family or friends, will be directly impacted by the condition.
Authors Caroline de L. Davies and Marguerite Boychuk, both trained as Registered Nurses, were brought together by chance after both had begun full time caregiving for their respective husbands. Carl Boychuk had begun showing signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, starting around sixty years of age. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, but it is not the only one. Charles Davies had retired at eighty-four and was soon after diagnosed with brain injury dementia, the result of an accident from his British army service some 45 years earlier. The two authors found strength and solace in being able to compare experiences and advice as they embarked on the complicated care journey with their partners. FACING ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA HEAD ON is a comprehensive, frequently inspirational, hands-on guidebook to their commitment to caring for their husbands during their final years.
The book follows the narrative of the condition, from early diagnosis and understanding the disease through possible treatment plans and care options. The most detailed sections cover the practicalities of caring for somebody at home, including adaptations to the environment and coping with difficult behaviors. The topics range from the general to the very specific. And there are useful sections that deal with the wellness of the carer themselves and the need to find a balance for the good of all parties.
The authors are keen to stress that the information they are providing is based on personal experience and that the book should not be used as a clinical guide to the conditions. Indeed, the book will prove most useful when referenced in unison with any professional medical treatment plan. What the text is exceptionally good at is clearly explaining the stages of the disease in simple terms and outlining tips and advice that actually made a difference in real world situations. This includes both explanation of the clinical stages as the disease progresses and first-person recollections. For instance, Davies recalls how her partner had found puzzles to be useful tools and how adjusting and adapting these eventually became necessary:
“Charles was obsessed with jigsaw puzzles, and the harder they were, the more he liked them. He would spend hours focusing on them, oblivious to what else was going on around him. As the disease progressed, we could visibly see the state of his brain by watching how long it would take him to complete these puzzles. As his skill diminished, we reduced the size and complexity of the puzzles.”
Though this is not a medical textbook, there are copious references and the book is meticulously sourced and indexed. The information is reliable and relatable. It is well designed and easy to navigate. Though it is written from a Canadian perspective, and includes numerous Canadian contact addresses, there is more than enough general information included for the book to prove useful to an international audience.
The authors’ prose is clear and concise, though there is a genuine warmth in the way that a lot of difficult material is covered. The harsh reality of caring for somebody with a serious condition such as Alzheimer’s or dementia is never sugar-coated, but the love and care which they devoted to their partners is clear on every page. As they write in the introduction: “This is a painful journey which will be laced with smiles, laughter and some funny moments. It is a journey that commands strength, patience and love.” The book is a gift for those who find themselves in similar situations. Caring for somebody with such a devastating condition will never be easy, but, in sharing their experience and knowledge, Davies and Boychuk ensure it is something that need not be faced alone.
Caroline de L. Davies and Marguerite Boychuk’s FACING ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA HEAD ON is a comprehensive guide to caring for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Written in clear prose and full of useful tips learned from real world experience, the book is recommended for anybody who wishes to know more about the conditions or is seeking practical advice on caring for a loved one.
~Kent Lane for IndieReader