reading Archives - Alzheimers Support

A Few of Our Favorite Reads about Alzheimers Dementia

A Few of our Favorite Reads about

Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Most of these books are available in Paperback or Kindle Version

Our favorite reads help us to learn about Alzheimer’s, to care for loved ones who have Alzheimer’s and to care for ourselves as caregivers. Read a book and learn about this disease, help others, and help yourself.

The Alzheimer’s Action Plan: What You Need to Know–and What You Can Do–about Memory Problems, from Prevention to Early Intervention and Care

A Caregiver’s Guide to Alzheimer’s Disease: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier
The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementias, and Memory..

Creating Moments of Joy for the Person with Alzheimer’s or Dementia: A Journal for Caregivers

Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s: A Groundbreaking Approach for Everyone Dealing with the Disease

The Alzheimer’s Prevention Program: Keep Your Brain Healthy for the Rest of Your Life

Alzheimer’s Disease: What If There Was a Cure?

The Alzheimer’s Diet: A Step-by-Step Nutritional Approach for Memory Loss Prevention and Treatment (Volume 1)

Alzheimer’s Treatment Alzheimer’s Prevention: A Patient and Family Guide, 2012 Edition

Loving Someone Who Has Dementia: How to Find Hope while Coping with Stress and Grief

Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing the Culture of Care

When Your Loved One Has Dementia: A Simple Guide for Caregivers

Dementia: The Journey Ahead – A Practical Guide for In-Home Caregivers

What If It’s Not Alzheimer’s?: A Caregiver’s Guide to Dementia (Updated & Revised)

You Say Goodbye and We Say Hello: The Montessori Method for Positive Dementia Care

Dementia: From Diagnosis to Management – A Functional Approach

The Simplicity Of Dementia: A Guide For Family And Carers

Managing Alzheimer’s and Dementia Behaviors

The Living End: A Memoir of Forgetting and Forgiving

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Shadowbox Press – Innovative Products for the Memory Impaired

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Shadowbox Press bring Interactive Books

Interactive Books for the Memory Impaired

Shadow Box Press creates books for the memory impaired. Books that are more than “picture books” or “storyteling!”

The mission of Shadowbox Press is to develop interactive products for memory-impaired adults to revisit and share memories through the experience of reading. Yet, some people with Alzheimer’s, Dementia or other memory-loss have impairment too severe for reading.

My mom was an avid reader and could often be seen with an open book in her lap. I’d watch as she read a single page and turned to the next. Then a bewildered look would wash over her face before she turned back to the page she’d already read. This scenario played-out over and over as her memory could longer span the time it took to turn the page.

The Shadowbox Press Books have solved this issue. Each page is a story within itself. When you turn the page a complete, new story is there to read on the next page. With large, colorful photos and extra large, bold text each book is easy to read and follow along. Every book can be read independently by the person with memory-loss or shared by a caregiver, loved one, staff member or volunteer.

As anyone who has been a caregiver knows, there is nothing like a loved one’s smile of accomplishment and happiness when they are able to do something which had previously been impossible–like Reading!

Of all the requests this website receives each month “Ideas for activities” for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, dementia or memory loss is at the top of the list.

The Shadowbox Press Books solve this issue. Besides the wonderful short stories on each page, there’s a surprise in the back of each book.

Conversation starters: A series of four questions which correlate with the pages in the book. These include both open-ended and closed-ended questions to ask your loved one. My mom was in late stage Alzheimer’s when she passed away but she could have responded to many of these “Conversation Starters.” A great source for the caregiver who is sometimes speechless with the person who has memory loss.
Sensory Stimulation Activities: With the help of a caregiver, these is a long list of activities that correlate to the pages of the book. Simple activities such as assembling a puzzle, clipping coupons, or snuggling a stuffed animal. And a few outdoor activities if weather permits.
Creative Expression Activities: These are arts and crafts projects that are simple to make and easily accomplished with a little assistance. They will certainly bring pleasure to the person with memory loss who still feels a sense of pride for such an accomplishment.
Physical Movement Activities: Easy to do indoor and outdoor activities that bring pleasure, build strength and stamina, and give that “ahh good” feeling to someone we love!

Shadowbox Press Books will spark the imagination, promote self-reflection, and provide a way to find meaning in experiences. All accomplished with these books!
Any of these books would make a perfect gift for anyone with Alzheimer’s, dementia or memory loss.

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Check out a Shadowbox Press Book below:

Dogs and Puppies – Heartwarming Stories of Man’s Best Friend are designed to provide an easy and effective way to improve the quality of communication between caregivers and memory-impaired adults. Dogs and Puppies chronicles the antics and adventures of man’s best friend. From playing catch in the park to rooting for scraps in the trash, each heartwarming tale accompanied by an endearing photograph, recalls a treasured moment of dog ownership.

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Dementia, Alzheimer’s and other books with health in mind

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Dementia, Alzheimer’s and other Books

Recently, I was searching Amazon for the new book by Gary Joseph LeBlanc “Managing Alzheimer’s and Dementia Behaviors: Common Sense Caregiving,” and was surprised to see how many new Alzheimer’s books have been released recently. I try to stay up to date with reading and reviewing new ones, but I think I’ve been slacking recently.

While I was caring for my Mom, I think I read a book a day sometimes, every new nugget of info about Alzheimer’s was like gold. It’s like an unfed hunger when you’re trying to make sense of this disease and help someone you love so much. So here are a few new books for our list of “good reads” about Alzheimer’s.

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Managing Alzheimer’s and Dementia Behaviors: Common Sense Caregiving

Of course, I already know Gary LeBlanc’s new booklet will be helpful for the caregiver as well as the person with Alzheimer’s.

Gary Joseph LeBlanc is a columnist, speaker and book dealer from Spring Hill, Florida. He was the primary caregiver of his beloved father stricken with Alzheimer’s disease for nearly the past decade.

I’m sure the information in this new booklet will be a catalyst in creating a better understanding between professional caregivers and the family members of the patients who they are caring for.

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The Alzheimer’s Diet: A Step-by-Step Nutritional Approach for Memory Loss Prevention and Treatment (Volume 1)

I think I may have been a little skeptical of this diet book while caring for my Mom. I did take care that she got a balanced diet but now that I’m coping with COPD, I have anew insight into guarding even my balanced diet. If I eat the wrong food, I can be immediately short of breath. No fun predicament and a real eye-opener for me about diet, food and our general well-being.

Dr. Richard Isaacson and renowned nutrition expert, Dr. Christopher Ochner team up to create this ground-breaking nutritional guide for individuals concerned about memory loss. In recent years, there has been an explosion in research on nutritional interventions for Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment, which is considered to be the most severe public health crisis of our day.

Based on empirical evidence, The Alzheimer’s Diet outlines what to eat, what not to eat, and highlights a step-by-step approach for improving memory and protecting the brain through diet.

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Creating Moments of Joy: A Journal for Caregivers, Fourth Edition

Jolene Brackey has a vision. A vision that will soon look beyond the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease and focus more of our energy on creating moments of joy.

When a person has short-term memory loss, his life is made up of moments. But if you think about it, our memory is made up of moments, too. We are not able to create a perfectly wonderful day with someone who has dementia, but it is absolutely attainable to create a perfectly wonderful moment; a moment that puts a smile on their face, a twinkle in their eye, or triggers a memory. Five minutes later, they won’t remember what you did or said, but the feeling you left them with will linger.

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Use Your Brain to Change Your Age: Secrets to Look, Feel, and Think Younger Every Day

I must admit, I haven’t read this book yet but that title is intriguing, don’t you think. I thought it might be an informing read for those of us who can change our behavior and make a difference in our future.

From the bestselling author and PBS star, a brain healthy program to turn back the clock, and keep your mind sharp and your body fit.

For more than 20 years, Dr. Daniel Amen has been helping people look and feel young, healthy, and vibrant with his brain healthy strategies. Now, he shares his complete anti-aging program, to improve memory, focus, and energy; keep your heart and immune system strong; and reduce the outward signs of aging.

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Why Did Grandma Put Her Underwear In The Refrigerator?

Max Wallack’s New Book is an outstanding read for the youngster who is coping with the confusion of living with a loved one who has dementia.

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