Loving Someone Who Has Dementia

How to Find Hope While Coping with Stress and Grief

By: Pauline Boss PhD

Narrated by: Leslie Howard

Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Research-based advice for people who care for someone with dementia

Nearly half of US citizens over the age of 85 are suffering from some kind of dementia and require care. Loving Someone Who Has Dementia is a new kind of caregiving book. It's not about the usual techniques, but about how to manage on-going stress and grief. The book is for caregivers, family members, friends, and neighbors, as well as educators and professionals - anyone touched by the epidemic of dementia. Dr. Boss helps caregivers find hope in "ambiguous loss" - having a loved one both here and not here, physically present but psychologically absent.

• Outlines seven guidelines to stay resilient while caring for someone who has dementia
• Discusses the meaning of relationships with individuals who are cognitively impaired and no longer as they used to be
• Offers approaches to understand and cope with the emotional strain of care-giving

Boss' book builds on research and clinical experience, yet the material is presented as a conversation. She shows you a way to embrace, rather than resist the ambiguity in your relationship with someone who has dementia.

©2011 Pauline Boss (P)2019 Tantor

Thoughtful, real time help

This book opened a new way for me to think about dementia, my loved one with dementia, & me as I love someone with dementia. It is also a good book on how to assist caregivers. This book offers words to put to my experience & encouragement to continue loving the person with dementia well.

Thank you so much!

Thank yyou. Wonderful information! Wish I had it months ago when I fist saw the signs!

Very informative

This book helped me understand what I was feeling as I walk through caring for my mother with dementia. A must read for struggling caregivers!

Finally someone has answered the right question

I just finished this book. It isn't a long one but it took me several days to get through it because there were lots of tears involved. But finally! The book for Caregivers. I have read so many in search for not answers, although in the beginning I needed those. This book provided what we're all looking for. Support! This book will ring true with anyone who is caring for a loved one with dementia. If it doesn't all fit now, it probably will eventually. It isn't about dementia. It's about how it feels to be a caregiver and what to do about it! I believe that a lot of what's in this book can even help people with other types of loss and in life in general.

The author has obviously researched her subject. That subject is the WHY we feel how we do while caring for a person who is not the same, but not gone. Why this pain, guilt, anger, denial, etc. is lingering and what to do about it. "You have to take care of yourself first" bla bla bla. What does that even mean? This book can help you find ways to understand and cope. It provides just enough of the clinical studies to support the method, plus a helping of anecdotal explanation. Very understandable, very legitimate advice. I will keep this where I can find it easily for when the next wave of sorrow comes. It will probably be some new sign helping me know FOR SURE that my husband has this terrible thing, and how profound the change in him is becoming.

Everyone who knows anyone with any sort of lingering illness would find a benefit in reading this book. Family, neighbors, friends, everyone who knows a caregiver or person with dementia should consider this required reading. And then share it with the general population!!

To the author: Thank you for getting it.

Ambiguous loss is what it is

This book helps with identifying and validating my feelings as I cope with losing my parent to dementia. It acknowledges the difficult situation and provides a pathway to having a different relationship that is not perfect but ”good enough”.
The information is laid out in a way that is easy to understand and go back to as needed. The narration is great, in command, yet soothing. The book is also not too long, which is a plus.

extremely helpful

i love it. it touch my heart and made me understand my mom better and my emotions. thank you.

Excellent! Gives Powerful and Empathetic Guidance.

While dementia disagnosis is increasing, community members are not prepared to appropriately respind either as a caregiver or the relative, friend, or service provider of one. This book empowers by defining the issue of ambiguous loss, identifying how it relates to dementia, and provides practical guidance in how to seek or provide support. Whether professionally or personally, it is an investment to read this book.

Excellent

My family hates me and my advice, but I continue to seek help like this book in order to Grieve the losses daily of my mother living with dementia.

Just what I needed

This book touches on so many unspoken feelings and experiences one goes through when dealing with a lives one and their dementia. I’m so grateful for the perspectives offered throughout the book which has helped me with my grief and feelings. A must read for anyone in the dementia care world.

Loving Dementia

This book was suggested by my daughter as a possible guide to information that would help me learn how to deal with some of the changes that my mother would go through since being diagnosed with dementia. Instead this book suggested the importance of care for the caregiver and support. I didn’t give much thought to caring for myself, only to be the best support for my mother. I learned that we are both important. I learned that support was not just for her. I learned that my thought process going on today is okay. I learned that love and safety is not just for her. I feel that with all the uncertainties of this disease that I am more knowledgeable and more mentally equipped since reading this book. I can’t thank you enough for the information. This is a true must read for everyone dealing with this disease.