By Claudia J. Strauss. Oakland: New Harbinger Publications, 2001. 137 pages.
This book is written for caregivers and others who need information on communicating effectively with people who are impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions.
Talking to Alzheimer’s is for those who work with daily interactions at home, and for those visiting people in residential facilities or hospitals. It is not just a ‘how-to’ book, although it is that.
It also introduces, or perhaps reintroduces us to the art and joy of conversation. The very challenges that dementia put our way are presented to us in a way that will help us to become better conversation partners for all of life.
The book gives practical help, like explaining how to talk to people whose reality is altered because of dementia; it reminds us how easy it is to unintentionally cause pain – such as talking about people as if they are not there; and it includes information to help us talk to facility staff effectively.
It is organized in sections so that you can read the parts that are most relevant to your situation. Sections include how to help others, like children, to visit; as well as many that are about making our own visiting a rich and rewarding experience.
My favourite quote, because it gets at the heart of the book: “Because one of the hardest things for all of us is to have our fears, our concerns, our worries dismissed. Our feelings matter. And that doesn’t change as long as we are breathing. People with Alzheimer’s may have trouble with mental process, may have trouble finding the words to express the meaning in their heads, but their feelings are intact.”
I also loved a poem from a patient’s room that she quotes in the book:
“Doctors, nurses please beware!
This placid looking patient here
Can teach you how to fly a plane
Or ski downhill in rough terrain!”
Talking to Alzheimer’s is an important tool and companion as we strive to maintain the personhood of people with dementia through life.
Review provided by: Betty Sinclair, Director of Support and Education, Alzheimer Society of B.C.
Talking to Alzheimer’s is on the recommended reading list for Making the Connection, an educational program for professionals and facility care teams to improve the standard of care received by people with dementia. To view the recommended reading list, click here .
Talking to Alzheimer’s is on the recommended reading list for Making the Connection, an educational program for professionals and facility care teams to improve the standard of care received by people with dementia. To view the recommended reading list, 
