The Loss of Self: A Family Resource for the Care of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders

I was deeply involved in the creation of this edition, and I can say from experience that the authors have crafted a masterpiece. So much work, diligence, research, and love went into this revision. It is a great resource for family members of someone with Alzheimer's and related disorders, physician's and other practitioners, and even people who have been recently diagnosed. It can be used to educate someone who knows little about dementia or offer a new perspective to the experienced clinician. I highly recommend this book!

This is a book caregivers can hand to relatives and friends to read in order to enrich their understanding of how the disease affects both the victim and their caregiver. It is not only informative in a very practical and easy to read manner but it is sensitive and to the point about the stages of Alzheimer's Disease and the human needs of the people who face this illness. The personal stories highlighted are described in ways that aren't merely words on paper written by someone safely detached from the impact this illness has on living people. This book stands out in my mind for that reason. It also speaks to the loss of relationships as the illness progresses. I refer to over and over and its one of the first I read after I realized my husband Tom and I were facing Alzheimer's Disease.