Staying Connected While Letting Go: The Paradox of Alzheimer's Caregiving

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Staying Connected While Letting Go: The Paradox of Alzheimer's Caregiving

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Overview

This book, laced with poignant stories, focuses on the emotional impact of this disease on the caregivers and offers specific coping strategies they can use to keep them emotionally sane in this chaotic time.

Product Details

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781590770122
Publisher:	M. Evans & Company
Publication date:	01/28/2003
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.38(w) x 9.22(h) x 0.91(d)

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Editorial Reviews

In their unflagging dedication to caregiving, spouses of an Alzheimer's patient often neglect their own emotional needs, say the authors of this compassionate volume. Braff, a therapist, and Olenik, formerly a research associate in an N.I.H.-funded study of Alzheimer's caregivers, chart the course of the disease from the caregivers' perspective, gathering stories of how they coped with the diagnosis, the painful progression and finally, their spouse's death. It is these stories that form the backbone of this book. Just as members of a support group share tales of grappling with fear, stress and isolation, so do the voices in this volume: Carolyn mourns the loss of meaningful conversation with her husband; Al misses the physical intimacy; Mamie comes to terms with the fact that her husband no longer recognizes her. The authors eschew direct advice in favor of vignettes that model, they hope, healthy ways of coping. This may frustrate some looking for concrete actions to take, phone numbers to call or other resources to peruse; the overwritten commentary, too, might grate (e.g. the authors want to "clip the wings of and enfeeble the predatory emotional effects" of the disease). But Braff and Olenik care deeply about their subject, and their book will help people struggling with a failing spouse feel part of a large and strong community. Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

A licensed marriage family therapist, Braff facilitated a weekly Alzheimer's support group for 14 years. Coauthor Olenik interviewed over 300 spousal caregivers over a six-year period in her research capacity at the University of California's Alzheimer's Caregiver Research Study. Their book explores the emotions that spousal caregivers of Alzheimer's patients experience as the disease progresses. In narratives arranged by the different stages of the disease, the participants manifest surprising resilience, problem solving, and coping behaviors. In addition, they are remarkably frank about discussing loss of sexual intimacy and dating before a spouse's death. This title, which effectively demonstrates that "the result of caregiving and grieving is often an initiation into a deeper, more meaningful life experience," is well suited to the comprehensive consumer health collections of large public, medical, and hospital libraries. Libraries in remote areas without local Alzheimer's support groups also will want to buy it for the benefit of isolated caregivers. Nancy Mace and Peter Rabins's The 36-Hour Day would be a better choice for small libraries looking for a single resource as it offers practical hints and guidelines for caregivers who are not necessarily spouses. (Index not seen.)-Cleo Pappas, La Grange Memorial Hosp. Lib., IL

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