I keep several copies on hand to give to new caregivers. They have all found it very reassuring and easy to read. Sometimes simple is good when we are running on overload.
One can get up to 6 free from the Alzheimer's Association. I thought it was rather simplistic just as Weejun did. It's just one more book in my Alz. library. It's about his wife, and the layout is designed to look like a coach's playbook - with yellow stickie notes, etc.
I would certainly suggest you order them. We are so into the disease, we probably don't give Coach Broyles credit for his effort. The more books out there, the more people may pick them up and read them. I have thought about drawing a coloring book for children...with simplistic drawings of AD patients, opening the door for them, feeding them. picturing them in their chair with their eyes closed... and have them available free in Memory Care Homes, Neurologist's offices, etc. to give out to children while they wait. So, sometimes simple is good. There are those out there who would understand "Dick & Jane" readers if it showed their grandfather had AD.
It was the first book that told me the truth about the disease. It was gentle, but it was also honest. I passed one copy on to my son-in-law who's father also has the disease. He is handling that pretty well, so I guess he read the book. You got to begin somewhere, and it isn't a bad place to begin. I have a second copy in the house because they sent me two of them.
No, it doesn't have everything in it. That is why you come here. Frankly I found the 36 HOUR DAY totally useless. Too much information and most of it too old to be useful.
I recommend it, particularly for male caregivers. It helped me with acceptance. Once you accept, you can start to manage. It was also very helpful in getting my sons to understand where AD was going to go.
I found the 36 hour day a disaster. Our psychiatrist was surprised to hear how I felt about it. I asked if he had read it-he hadn't. I think it is very out of date, depressing and not really helpful. I felt it was all about keeping the person with dementia happy at all costs and did not adddress the caregiver.
I’m another person who is not a fan of The 36 Hour Day. I think it’s famous mainly because it’s been around quite a while—longer than a lot of other books. I did buy it at the beginning, because so many sources recommended it, but I’ve read it the least of all my dementia books.
I have two shelves of AD books, and the only one I find difficult to share or recommend is The 36 Hour Day, - yet is the one I am told about from most of our doctors (with the exception of his Neurologist!) They'll say, "You need to take care of yourself, have you read The 36 Hour Day"...as it if were the tell all - make it easy - handbook. Credit to them for writing something. But there ARE much better books out there. You just have to keep searching.
I used the Coach Broyles books to send to my two step sons. It helped them understand stages better...and one is a coach. I also have mixed emotions about the 36 Hour Day. It is not a book for caregivers (this website is the only thing I have found that really helps caregivers with REAL information). But both books are great for people to ease into what is ahead. This site might scare the wits out of them. Each book suggests further reading.
Phew..I read the 36hour day twice because everyone had recommended it. Too simplified, trite and full of old useless information....everyone knows that there is only 24 hours in a day..sheesh...learnt that in 2nd grade....and I found out that you would need all 24 hrs just to take care of dw....A much better book that I recommend is "thealzheimerspouse.com by Joan.....that is where you get the real story and accurate advice on how to handle and understand ad.......Donate the 36 hr day to nursing homes.....
There's an edition of 36 hour day that came out just within the last year. Has anyone read it? I too found it mostly completely useless and was glad to have my reactions validated here.
I read a very early edition (36-hour day) when my father was diagnosed with AD in 1995 -- it was about the only book around then and my mother and I found it helpful. I agree with phranque, this site is the best information anywhere.
I think both Coach Broyles' book and the 36 Hr Day are great for newbies to the disease. Most of us here have progressed in knowledge over time to the degree that both books are not helpful anymore. There is another book--Practical Dementia Care--written for medical professionals, that I like. It has great info. on the different types of drugs--especially the mood altering ones--that can be used. Dr. Rabins, who wrote 36 Hr Day, is one of the authors. Perhaps those of us in the trenches for awhile can now get better guidance from books not intended for laypeople.