My daughter gave a speech this week at her Toastmasters Club about AD. Having lived it w/her father, she had a lot to say & I gave her some hand-outs. She said that the people were really attentive, interested and had no idea what it really was--so there's another 20 or so people who have a better idea of AD.
Yesterday I met someone who is an Ombudsman. He told me about how he visits facilities to check on people, including many AD patients. I gave him my book, which is a personal narrative from the early vague signs thru every stage. Within hours he had emailed me that he couldn't stop reading--he didn't know what we had gone thru, it was all new to him. Interesting, I thought, he sees AD people all the time, but had no concept of who they might have been and how they got there. Photos on the book show my DH as a vibrant, healthy man. I hope that image stays in his mind as he visits advanced AD individuals now. So, again, someone right in the middle of it who really didn't know what he was dealing with. I was glad he was so receptive and know that he will share that info w/other ombudsmen in his office.
You can order it from Joan's home page, go to her "Book Corner". It's called 'Alzheimer's Surgery: An Intimate Portrait.' Don't let the word 'surgery' scare you off--that's just a separate part of the story. There are a couple reviews of it on Amazon. If you click on a new or used highlight, it will take you to discount booksellers who have books at a much lower price. Don't overpay, you still have to pay shipping, but it's much cheaper this way. Thanx for asking.
Bettyhere, I was going to ask the same question about your book. I'm sure I will order it. I need something to help family & friends gain more insight. Thank you.
Glad to hear that your daughter was able to share such important information with her group and that you are able to, through your work and experiences, make it possible for all of us to have better understanding of the complexities of this disease.
Bettyhere, one of the greatest difficulties for us, is in the KNOWING of who DH is/was, and the complete bafflement in responding to who he is today or at any given moment.