Dementia is a scary word.
This condition can take on many forms and can be very difficult for the person who has it and those who love and care for them.
Earlier this year, I sat with my mother as her doctor told her she had dementia and Alzheimer’s. The diagnosis was long overdue and exactly what I was expecting. Still, it was hard for me to hear. She doesn’t remember the appointment or understand her condition and continues to decline. I never know exactly what to expect when I see her. The whole situation is heartbreaking and frustrating.
In Touch the Spirit, Dr. Deborah Forrest provides support and practical tips for dealing with the symptoms of dementia whether it’s caused by Alzheimer’s, stroke, brain trauma or other condition. It is definitely helpful to understand the disease and to have a plan in place to weather the daily ups and downs and uncertainty about the future. The book is comforting and uplifting.
Touch the Spirit
Connecting to the Inner World of Dementia
by Dr. Deborah Forrest
isbn 978-0986015625
Pub. date 6/5/13
Description: “
Drawing on the latest research in aging, spirituality and medicine, Dr. Forrest explains what dementia is and what it is not. She provides an overview of the basic workings of the ten most common brain conditions that create dementia symptoms. She discusses the state of the field when it comes to leading prevention strategies and is honest about their limitations. Finally, she addresses the impact of severe stressors on caregivers of persons with dementia. She offers caregivers practical methods for lowering their stress levels in order to sustain their own mind, body and soul during the caregiving years. Professional and humane, this book is ultimately uplifting. Touch the Spirit describes the spiritual bond between two human beings that exists beyond any brain condition with dementia. For anyone with a loved one who has dementia symptoms, Forrest’s book offers much needed advice, comfort and support.”