Dementia Books
Overviews
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In a Strange Land…..Dementia and the Local Church by Malcolm Goldsmith (2004)
published by 4M Publications
Could it be Dementia? Losing your Mind doesn’t mean Losing your Soul by Louise
Morse and Roger Hitchings (2008) published by Monarch Books
“Holy, Holy, Holy” The Church’s Ministry with People with Dementia: Suggestions for
Action by Rev Jackie Treetops (1996) published by Faith in Elderly People (Leeds)
Personal testimonies – by people with dementia
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Dancing with Dementia: My Story of Living Positively with Dementia by Christine
Bryden (2005) published by Jessica Kingsley
Also: Robert Davis, Diana Friel McGowin, Jeanne Lee, Jennifer Bute
Personal testimonies – by carers
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Keeping Mum: Caring for Someone with Dementia by Marianne Talbot (2011)
published by Hay House. (Marianne Talbot is a philosopher who
specializes in ethics and philosophy of mind. She writes about her
caring experiences from this perspective.)
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And We Fly Away: Living Beyond Alzheimer’s by Rev Ray Ashford (2003) published
by Augsburg Books. (A concise and poetic account of caring for his wife
and coming through the grief into a place of peace and acceptance)
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Keeper: A Book about Memory, Identity, Isolation, Wordsworth and Cake by Andrea
Gillies (2009) published by Short Books Ltd. (A very honest account of the
difficulties of caring for her mother-in-law, with interesting
reflections on memory and identity. Possibly a reassuring read for
people who are struggling and are not in a place where heroic
accounts of learning to become the perfect carer are helpful.)
Also: John Bayley (Iris Murdoch), John Suchet (Bonnie)
Coping with the realities of caring
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The Challenge of Caring: Bible-related Reflections by Alexine Crawford (2011)
published by Bible Reading Fellowship. (concise, honest, thought provoking,
offering hope of resolutions)
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The Selfish Pig’s Guide to Caring: How to Cope with the Emotional and Practical
Aspects of Caring for Someone by Hugh Marriott (2003) published by Piatkus.
(Very useful and humorous advice but not for the politically correct)
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Contented Dementia by Oliver James (2008) published by Vermillion. (Popular
book describing Penny Garner’s SPECAL method which many have
found helpful BUT he does oversimplify dementia and I have found
it is more useful for someone providing a supporting role (e.g. sons,
daughters, support group leaders, friends) than someone with the
24/7 role. It is too much to ask people to live in SPECAL World
24/7 and there is a danger of it piling on yet more guilt.)
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The Chimp Paradox by Dr Steve Peters (2012) published by Vermillion. (A book
not at all about dementia but rather born out of work with elite
sports people. However, it provides excellent insights into how our
own brains work allowing us to become more aware of the
paradoxical nature of our own emotions and behaviour. This in
turn gives insight into some of the strange behaviours of people with
dementia, such as the rise in paranoid thinking, nesting and
hoarding instincts, following instincts, love of routine, possessiveness
and other behaviours related to the need for safety. A clever, funny
and very educational read.
Supporting Carers
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Caring Together: A Group Study Guide for Anyone Involved in Caring by Chris
Morley (2011) published by Kevin Mayhew. (I have not used this, but I have
seen a good review and it looks very good. I would like to find an
opportunity to use it).
Learning how to be with people with dementia
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Chocolate Rain: 100 Ideas for a Creative Approach to Activities in Dementia Care by
Sarah Zoutewele-Morris (2011) published by Hawker Publications. (This book
provides very good advice from an artist who has worked with
people with advanced dementia for many years. It explains how we
need to let go of the idea of end goals and engage in the process and
the moment. The message is similar to that found in Contented
Dementia, but with a gentler and less prescriptive approach, and
simple, practical ideas for putting the principles into action)
Supporting the spirituality of people with dementia
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Words of Faith: A Bible and Prayer Guide for People with Dementia (2010) published
by Scripture Union and including a CD of hymns.
Words of Hope: A Bible and Prayer Guide for People with Dementia (2010)
published by Scripture Union and including a CD of hymns
Reflections of Hope: For People Living with Dementia by Claire Craig and Rosemary
Hurtley (2012) published by CWR
Worshipping with Dementia: Meditations, Scriptures and Prayers for Sufferers and
Carers edited by Louise Morse (2010) published by Monarch Books. (It is a
shame they use the word ‘sufferers’ to refer to people with dementia,
but in all other respects the books is very good and helpful. And
there is a danger of getting tangled up with the language police and
missing the main issues).