I'm Your Daughter, Julie: Caring for a Parent with Dementia

The statistics are brutal. One in three seniors die with Alzheimer’s or another kind of dementia while 15 million family caregivers care for someone with the disease. "I’m Your Daughter, Julie: Caring for a Parent with Dementia" is written by award-winning journalist and author, Julie A. Gorges, who was the primary caregiver for her mother suffering from Lewy Body dementia. Sharing her intimate story, Gorges provides a compassionate and supportive guidebook to help caregivers cope with the many difficult challenges they will face while caring for their own needs at the same time. With gut-wrenching honesty, Gorges shares her own roller coaster ride of emotions, mistakes she made along the way, and all the ups and downs of this life-changing experience that is fulfilling as well as difficult and painful. The book is concise since Gorges realizes from personal experience that a caregiver’s time is limited, but covers a wide range of essential topics including:· how to recognize early symptoms of dementia and get an accurate diagnosis· available treatments and lifestyle changes to improve life for those with dementia and their caregivers· ways to ensure a person with dementia stays physically healthy· strategies to help caregivers communicate with a loved one as the disease progresses· how to deal with behavior issues such as wandering, agitation, sleep issues, hallucinations, behaviors, and aggression· tips on how caregivers can cope and care for their own needs during this difficult time· options available to caregivers including in-home caregiving services, assisted living, nursing homes, and hospice· what to expect during the final stages of dementiaUnlike some guidebooks on the subject, this book walks caregivers through the entire process to the end of the journey to help them cope and move forward after a loved one dies. Gorges wholeheartedly believes there are many things people can do to make life more dignified and enjoyable during this challenging time. "I’m Your Daughter Julie: Caring for a Parent with Dementia" is a must-read for those embarking on this difficult, but in the end worthwhile journey of caregiving.