Speaking Our Minds: What It's Like to Have Alzheimer's / Edition 1

by Lisa Snyder

Overview

Gain exceptional insight into the world of the person with Alzheimer's through this enlightening collection of first-hand accounts. Speaking Our Minds provides an unparalleled view into the day-to-day experience of Alzheimer's through the reflections of seven diverse individuals with the disease. By interweaving each person's responses from in-depth interviews with her own thoughtful interpretation, dementia expert Lisa Snyder explores the many dimensions of the Alzheimer's experience. As a result, this rich text offers professionals, family caregivers, students, and people who have dementia the opportunity to learn more about The uniqueness of each person's experience and symptoms Coping strategies people use to face the changes and losses in their lives The changes that are experienced as the disease progresses Barriers to living full and dignified lives How to identify with and listen to persons with Alzheimer's Distinct issues for young-onset persons with dementia This book is ideal for people with early-stage Alzheimer's and related dementias as well as for anyone who interacts with that person, including professional or family caregivers, friends, and relatives. Discussion questions provide thoughtful material for use in coursework in aging and dementia, support groups, or book groups. The variety of backgrounds and perspectives of each featured person means that you will likely find similarities between the people in this book and your own personal experience. Whether this is your first introduction to Alzheimer's or you have an extensive knowledge of the disease, you are sure to learn from some or all of the brave and honest people who are featured. This book will transform the way you look at Alzheimer's and how you interact with those who have it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781932529500
Publisher:	Health Professions Press
Publication date:	07/01/2009
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	174
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Lisa Snyder is a clinical social worker and Director of the Quality of Life Programs for the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the University of California, San Diego where she has counseled people with Alzheimer's and their families since 1987. She was one of the pioneers in developing support groups for people with mild dementia in the early 1990s and, in the years since, has focused on gaining a better understanding of the subjective experience of Alzheimer's and the concerns specific to families facing the earlier stages of the disease. Since 1995, she has been the publisher and editor for the international quarterly publication Perspectives - A Newsletter for Individuals with Alzheimer's or a Related Disorders which remains one of the few ongoing publications written specifically by and for people with dementia.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Nicholas Greco IV, MS, BCETS, CATSM, FAAETS (C3 Education and Research, Inc.)
Description: This book provides an all-too-realistic, all-too-close-to-home examination of the world of those with Alzheimer's and the people who care for them. The author shares her intimate interviews and unique insights into this devastating disease. It is both a heartwarming and a heart-wrenching experience for readers.
Purpose: The purpose is to open the window into the world of those with Alzheimer's disease and get a first-hand look at their stories and experiences of living and coping with this unforgiving disease. This book goes far beyond the typical medical explanations and theories. The author surrounds readers in reality and emotion and, in turn, fuels the readers' passion to learn more about the disease.
Audience: Clearly, the audience includes anyone who wants to learn more about what it is like for seven diverse individuals to cope with Alzheimer's disease.
Features: This is undoubtedly a weekend read as it is easy to get drawn into in the stories and lives of the seven individuals so characteristically described by the author. Bea, Bill, Jean, Bob, Booker, Betty, and Consuelo will capture readers' hearts, and I doubt there is anyone out there who cannot identify with at least one of the cases.
Assessment: There are books we have to read. This is one you will want to read. Insightful, impressive, and an inspiration — highly recommended.

Doody's Review Service

International Psychogeriatrics JournalJune 2010 Issue

Reviews - International Psychogeriatrics

"Speaking Our Minds shows us the pain, humanity, and courage of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. It is a much-needed and much-appreciated book."

Reviews - The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

"Lisa Snyder is one of our great ambassadors to this mysterious and treacherous world. The stories and insight she brings back are invaluable"

Reviews

"Inspiring reflections abound in these perspectives and narratives. This book is for everyone living in a world with Alzheimer's."

Reviews - Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

Speaking Our Minds provides an insider's perspective of what can be a devastating illness. However with Snyder's support the personal experience of Alzheimer's takes center stage, and readers are introduced to the variety of manifestations and human responses.Snyder is a sympathetic and attentive listener and commentator, something which no doubt helped this cast of characters to speak so freely.Her accessible writing helps the reader feel at home is each individual's lounge room, and in step with the rhythm of their lives. Snyder is realistic about the difficulties experienced by her interviewees. She is alive to their uniqueness, and sensitive to their sorrows.Bea and Joe, Bill and Kathleen, Jean and her family, Bob and Erika, Booker and Brenda, Betty and Kurt, and Consuelo have brought the experience of Alzheimer's out of the shade and into the light of day. People with Alzheimer's and their families need professionals like Lisa Snyder to provide the emotional support and opportunity to speak that Alzheimer's, and attitudes towards it, too often denies.

Reviews - Metapsychology Online

"In addition to offering intimate portraits about the subjective experience of the disease and discussing the medical and psychosocial aspects of the disease, Snyder models how to listen to and talk with people who have the disease. She connects with them in spite of their impaired communication skills and invites readers to do the same. True empathy is the core message here. She knows how to empower people with AD by helping them to define themselves in new ways...She succeeds in fulfilling her stated goal of honoring the varied voices of people with the disease."

Reviews - and Director of Professional Training Institute

This timely and important revised edition of Speaking Our Minds reveals the voices and narratives of persons with Alzheimer's disease and the thoughtful reflections of the author. Lisa Snyder demonstrates not only how the act of truly listening is a most powerful form of acknowledgment, but also that the listener (and the reader) are transformed by the process."

Reviews - and Alzheimer's Disease Center

"Lisa Snyder allows persons with Alzheimer's disease to speak for themselves as they describe their challenges and hopes. Her interpretations of their voices are consistently thoughtful and illuminating and the reader is effectively brought into the real world of the lives of the deeply forgetful."

Reviews - and Head of the Division of Medicine in Society

"This is the best book I've ever read on Alzheimer's disease ...Ms. Snyder's work teaches us a deep respect for the uniqueness of each individual with Alzheimer's disease, and that the most profound way to learn is to listen."

Reviews - and Consultant to the Alzheimer's Association

Reviewer: Nicholas Greco IV, MS, BCETS, CATSM (Abbott Laboratories)
Description: This book provides an all-too-realistic, all-too-close-to-home examination of the world of those with Alzheimer's and the people who care for them. The author shares her intimate interviews and unique insights into this devastating disease. It is both a heartwarming and a heart-wrenching experience for readers.
Purpose: The purpose is to open the window into the world of those with Alzheimer's disease and get a first-hand look at their stories and experiences of living and coping with this unforgiving disease. This book goes far beyond the typical medical explanations and theories. The author surrounds readers in reality and emotion and, in turn, fuels the readers' passion to learn more about the disease.
Audience: Clearly, the audience includes anyone who wants to learn more about what it is like for seven diverse individuals to cope with Alzheimer's disease.
Features: This is undoubtedly a weekend read as it is easy to get drawn into in the stories and lives of the seven individuals so characteristically described by the author. Bea, Bill, Jean, Bob, Booker, Betty, and Consuelo will capture readers' hearts, and I doubt there is anyone out there who cannot identify with at least one of the cases.
Assessment: There are books we have to read. This is one you will want to read. Insightful, impressive, and an inspiration — highly recommended.

Doody Reviews