Product Description
Receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease profoundly alters lives and creates endless uncertainty about the future. How does a person cope with such a life-changing discovery? What are the hopes and fears of someone living with this disease? How does he want to be treated? How does he feel as the disease alters his brain, his relationships, and ultimately himself? Richard Taylor provides illuminating responses to these and many other questions in this collection of provocative essays. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at age 61, the former psychologist courageously shares an account of his slow transformation and deterioration and the growing division between his world and the world of others. With poignant clarity, candor, and even occasional humor, more than 80 brief essays address difficult issues faced by those with Alzheimer’s disease, including • the loss of independence and personhood • unwanted personality shifts • communication difficulties • changes in relationships with loved ones and friends • the declining ability to perform familiar tasks This rare, insightful exploration into the world of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease is a captivating read for anyone affected personally or professionally by the devastating disease. Individuals with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease will take comfort in the voice of a fellow traveler experiencing similar challenges, frustrations, and triumphs. Family and professional caregivers will be enlightened by Taylor’s revealing words, gaining a better understanding of an unfathomable world and how best to care for someone living in it.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 19 reviews)

Excellent Book by Deborah G. Fletcher (Plano, Tx.)

5 Stars
October 16, 2009
This is a great read if you want to know what Alzheimers is like from someone who has it. It is very well written by a teacher with a formerly very high IQ who was diagnosed at age 58 and forced to retire. It is short essays about his experiences up to about age 63. It is easy to read from front to back. I didn't get bogged down with sadness. After I read it I loaned it to my mother, she liked it to. My Dad has Alzheimers.

Alzheimer's from the patient's perspective by Emery Szlezak (Orlando, FL)

5 Stars
October 11, 2009
Richard comments on his dementia in the early stages. In the later stages, he can only see HIS needs.

Yesterday I hear Mr. Taylor speak by M. Karelitz (Atlanta, GA)

5 Stars
March 03, 2009
Yesterday I hear Mr. Taylor speak to a room of spellbound seniors in a bridge (between independent and assisted) home in Atlanta. One of these seniors is my 89 year old mother, who has been diagnosed with cardio-vascular dementia. Mr. Taylor showed me, like no book or outside expert could, what a person with dementia feels and thinks inside. As he warned the caregivers not to treat their family as children, not to snatch chores and precious belongings away, not to order them about, not to show their frustration, and so many other feelings I know I have been guilty of, I knew I had been invited into a world I needed desperately to FEEL, not just learn about, but FEEL. The room full of nodding heads and murmured agreements convinced me of the harm we who try so hard to help can do to the ones we love in our rushed quest for expediency.

Good reading for everyone by S. K. Artman (Pennsylvania, USA)

5 Stars
February 25, 2009
Any caregiver of a person with dementia should read Alzheimer's From the Inside Out. It is actually good reading for anyone. As one would suspect, Dr. Taylor gives you tremendous insight into the thoughts and feelings of someone with Alzheimer's disease. The writings reinforce the fact that there IS someone inside a person with dementia, a human being first and foremost, that deserves to be treated respectfully and is worth the trouble of doing what it takes to communicate with effectively.

Personal experiences with Alzheimer's by Hal E. Gieseking (Williamsburg Virginia)

5 Stars
August 21, 2008
I found this book profoundly moving since my wife is caring for an individual with advanced Alzheimer's. The statistics are frightening. Metlife Foundation surveys have found that adults 55 and older fear Alzheimer's more than cancer. 4.5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's. Some of the symptoms we have observed personally include wandering, inability to perform even basic human tasks (such as unlocking a public toilet door from the inside), striking out at people, grabbing small children, wandering,using foul language and losing an understanding of colors. I have recently read Hermine Hilton's new book, Fuhggeddaboutit! The book that will help you stop worrying about your memory (and Alzheimer's). I benefited from her hundred tips on improving your memory. The book is brand new and should be listed on amazon.com soon. Right now I found it at www.lulu.com/tontent/237234. One other important thing I have learned. Never discuss something an Alzheimer's victim has done wrong or try to contrict him or her. Often their brain is operating and hearing even though they can't responsd and you run the risk of making them needlessly upset.

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