Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s

I went to a book-signing and talk yesterday given by Joanne Koenig Coste, the author of
 Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s.  In the book, and in her presentation, she describes her husband’s early onset Alzheimer’s, he was forty, and how she learned to deal with the disease and help her husband through a practice she calls "habilitation."  Many of the vignettes in the talk were quite sad, but Joanne interspersed lots of humor throughout her talk, something she says is essential in dealing with a person with Alzheimer’s.

The book describes concrete ways to make life easier for the Alzheimer’s patient and their carepartner, the term Joanne prefers to caregiver.  Tips include how to cope with the diagnosis and talk about the illness, adjusting room design for the patient’s comfort, making meals and bath-times as pleasant as possible,  as well as dealing with wandering, paranoia and aggression.

One woman at the talk, whose mother has Alzheimer’s, had a worn copy of the book which she said is the best book out there for people caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. She was taking the complimentary copy from the talk to donate to her caregiver’s support group.

If you are caring for, or otherwise working with, a person with Alzheimer’s this book is an essential read. And if Joanne is ever in your area for a talk, I highly recommend going.