People still need a book
While my daughter was still at school I encouraged her and my husband to go on a trip to the other side of the world for six weeks so that I could be home alone to write a book about Dementia and Alzheimer's disease. I managed to gather all I needed for Dementia the one-stop guide in six weeks.
It took me that long even though I had a lifetime of working with families and I knew how to sort the wheat from the chaff. If you have just been diagnosed with dementia, you shouldn't have to start searching for information. And family carers don't have that sort of time on their hands.
“My mum who was a retired secretary read and re-read the proofs with a sharp pencil in her hand. She made me change every complicated sentence and remove any fancy words or difficult phrases. She knew that people don’t have time for that…”
This guide focuses on areas that research shows are most difficult for family carers. What can you do to avoid the dangers of a hospital admission, which might lead to you losing your home? What is the best response to aggression, agitation, and anxiety? What should you do about nocturnal wandering and other difficult behaviour caused by stress and distress?
My mum who was a retired secretary read and re-read the proofs with a sharp pencil in her hand. She made me change every complicated sentence and remove any fancy words or difficult phrases. She knew that people don't have time for that… they just need to know what is practical and achievable and they want to know it fast. Mum passed away after a very short illness before the final proofs came back from the printer, and I dedicated this work to her. Future editions were proofread by my sister. It’s a sort of family affair!
A few years have passed since then, and my daughter has now graduated from university. During those years, versions of this book has been published in other countries. A new version has become available as an audiobook and it's available to download on kindle. Every day a new family finds themselves in the position where they need a book just like this. I'm glad that it is useful but I'm very sorry that anybody still needs to buy it. I saw a second-hand version in the window of a charity bookshop the other day and they let me replace it with the latest edition. I took the other one away which was well thumbed and it has obviously been useful. A reminder to me of how much need there still is.
A lot has changed during that time. General hospital nurses are much better at caring for people with dementia who are admitted to acute wards. People are more aware of the needs of carers and there is a local organisation in most parts of the UK to support the needs that carers have. A greater number of people get a diagnosis. Nevertheless, the problems for the families involved and the people affected remain very similar. I hope there is something on this website that will help. If not, let me know what you’d like to hear about.
