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Can I Tell You About Dementia?: A Guide for Family, Friends and Carers ISBN: 9781849052979
Telford, Jane and Welton, Jude
Published by Jessica Kingsley Pub, 2013
While this book is relevant for all family members, it will certainly be of significance to children who are living with or who are close to someone with dementia. It is written in a style as understandable for children as for adults, and the information is detailed and compassionate. The story is told in the first person by Jack, an Alzheimers sufferer, and we are asked in the introduction to 'suspend disbelief' while reading Jack's story as he would not in reality be able to explain his condition so clearly. This approach does, though, give us an insight into how someone with dementia might be feeling about what is going on inside his head. Jack explains the progression of his Alzheimers with great precision - losing his words and his recent memories; he explains his mood changes, his occasional rudeness, his restlessness and wandering. He gives tips on ways to help him and other sufferers, the importance of smiling and sharing such things as scrapbooks, the fun of singing old songs, of not contradicting him when he says something that seems wrong or out of context. Most of all, being calm, speaking directly and gently, and treating Jack as the adult he is are the important things as his condition progresses. When Jack's story is finished, we have a number of sections which will be of great use to those caring for a dementia sufferer: ways of developing dementia-friendly environments, some facts and figures, and an explanation of different types of dementia, and, finally, a list of organisations who can provide help and support, both in the UK and abroad. The black and white illustrations of Jack throughout the book help the information along and will be particularly helpful for children. The book is available from your local bookshop, from Amazon, or from the publishers: www.jkp.com (Tel: 020 7833 2307).
Age: 9+