Dignifying Dementia: A Caregiver's Struggle

Biography & Memoir, Reference, Nonfiction, Family & Relationships
Cover of the book Dignifying Dementia: A Caregiver's Struggle by Elizabeth Tierney, Oak Tree Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Elizabeth Tierney ISBN: 9781904887706
Publisher: Oak Tree Press Publication: September 1, 2011
Imprint: Oak Tree Press Language: English
Author: Elizabeth Tierney
ISBN: 9781904887706
Publisher: Oak Tree Press
Publication: September 1, 2011
Imprint: Oak Tree Press
Language: English

Diagnosed with dementia in 1997, my husband, Jim, lived at home during his illness and died there in January 2006. I wish this story were fiction, but it is not. Dignifying Dementia is both a love story and an attempt to reach out to others who are living through or who will live through a similar tragedy. It is written in the hope that others might benefit from what I learned as the caregiver of a dementia victim. Only then will Jim’s cruel affliction serve some purpose, because it might help others feel less lonely, bewildered, angry or frustrated than I did, shorten the dreadful learning curve, or encourage others to ask more questions and make fewer assumptions. And because it might remind members of the health care industry – from physicians to orderlies, from agency administrators to certified nursing assistants – that dementia victims and their loved ones are human beings who deserve respect, kindness, empathy and patience, so often lost in our fast-paced society. The diagnostic process I describe was painful and disappointing; perhaps someone else’s caregiving experience might be easier. Caring for Jim was exhausting; perhaps someone else’s might be less draining. Watching someone lose his or her mind and body is not polite. It is rude and mean-spirited. Dementia brutalized Jim and stole the love of my life from me. It altered him, us and me. This is not a medical text; it is the story of our experience with dementia and the lessons I learned as I tried to be Jim’s voice, to maintain his dignity and to care for him and for me.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Diagnosed with dementia in 1997, my husband, Jim, lived at home during his illness and died there in January 2006. I wish this story were fiction, but it is not. Dignifying Dementia is both a love story and an attempt to reach out to others who are living through or who will live through a similar tragedy. It is written in the hope that others might benefit from what I learned as the caregiver of a dementia victim. Only then will Jim’s cruel affliction serve some purpose, because it might help others feel less lonely, bewildered, angry or frustrated than I did, shorten the dreadful learning curve, or encourage others to ask more questions and make fewer assumptions. And because it might remind members of the health care industry – from physicians to orderlies, from agency administrators to certified nursing assistants – that dementia victims and their loved ones are human beings who deserve respect, kindness, empathy and patience, so often lost in our fast-paced society. The diagnostic process I describe was painful and disappointing; perhaps someone else’s caregiving experience might be easier. Caring for Jim was exhausting; perhaps someone else’s might be less draining. Watching someone lose his or her mind and body is not polite. It is rude and mean-spirited. Dementia brutalized Jim and stole the love of my life from me. It altered him, us and me. This is not a medical text; it is the story of our experience with dementia and the lessons I learned as I tried to be Jim’s voice, to maintain his dignity and to care for him and for me.

More books from Oak Tree Press

Cover of the book EVOLVE: A Spiritual Blueprint for Business Success: Look Within Yourself for Business Success by Elizabeth Tierney
Cover of the book Social Media and Selling by Elizabeth Tierney
Cover of the book Applied Benchmarking for Competitiveness: A Guide for SME Owner/Managers by Elizabeth Tierney
Cover of the book Sales Tales: True Stories of How Great Sales Happen by Elizabeth Tierney
Cover of the book Resilience by Elizabeth Tierney
Cover of the book Quick Win Economics: Answers to your top 100 Economics questions by Elizabeth Tierney
Cover of the book Valuing and Licensing Intellectual Property by Elizabeth Tierney
Cover of the book Business Social Responsibility: CSR for SMEs by Elizabeth Tierney
Cover of the book Countdown to Launch: 3 Steps / 6 Weeks / 1 Goal - The Hands-on Guide to Risk-proof Your Start-up by Elizabeth Tierney
Cover of the book Managing in Changing Times by Elizabeth Tierney
Cover of the book 3 Steps to Investment Success: How to Obtain the Returns, While Controlling Risk by Elizabeth Tierney
Cover of the book Managing Litigation for Your Business by Elizabeth Tierney
Cover of the book The Seven Deadly Sins of Nascent NEDs: How to build a portfolio of Non-Executive Directorships using The Fenton Model by Elizabeth Tierney
Cover of the book Sense-making by Elizabeth Tierney
Cover of the book Making Training & Development Work: A "Best Practice" Guide by Elizabeth Tierney
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy