Alzheimer's Moments: The Book!

It's official.  I'm announcing the availability of Alzheimer's Moments: Memories From A Caregiver's Diary!  The book is now available from Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions.  Alzheimer’s Moments documents Mother Dear's life, particularly those poignant and sometimes humorous experiences that occurred along the way, and the challenges of being a primary caregiver.  Many of my longtime blog readers will recognize the stories in the book as I've taken most of them and polished them up with additional details.

But there is plenty more information than what's here on the blog. I decided to divide the book up into four sections.  First is my Mom's life and some of our interactions before I moved back to New York to take care of her.  This writing is all new and not covered here on the blog.  The second section spans the time that I lived with her and took on the primary caregiving role.  Third in the timeline are her years in the assisted care facility and what I observed there.  This part also includes information about her stay at a nursing home, and her eventual death.  And lastly, in the epilogue, I give a brief description of what has happened since her death.

So why did I decide to convert this journal into a book?  I keep running into people who have stories that are so similar to mine.  There is a “silver tsunami” sweeping the country as the nation’s baby boomers age.  According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2012 Facts and Figures, 1 in 8 older Americans has Alzheimer’s disease and the numbers are rising.  That translates into 5.4 million people afflicted, 15 million caregivers, with a cost of $200 billion a year to the nation.

Anyone who has found themselves in the caregiving role to an elderly person will be able to relate to these triumphs and frustrations.  Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, always earnest, this is a first-hand account of what it’s like to live with someone progressing through the stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

I will not be reviving my writings here given the popularity and flexibility of Facebook.  Please visit me there at Alzheimer's Moments Facebook and Like the page to follow along.  I plan on working my way through our photo albums and posting pictures that bring the book's stories to life.

Thank you to all my followers who have been so supportive of me over the years.  To my new readers, browse through the posts here on the blog to get a feel for my writing style and some of the content of the book.  I'd be honored if you decide to purchase Alzheimer's Moments.

Take care.  I look forward to seeing you on Facebook!