The Dementia Caregiver's Survival Guide: An 11-Step Plan to Understand the Disease and How To Cope with Financial Challenges, Patient Aggression, and Depression Without Guilt, Overwhelm, or Burnout

by Janet G. Cruz

If you have a loved one with dementia, then The Dementia Caregivers Survival Guide is an essential read. This guide will equip you with the tools and knowledge to care for your loved one more efficiently to prevent caregiver burnout. You will understand the dementia patient’s and caregiver’s perspectives when dealing with dementia. This book is for you as a caregiver of a loved one facing the challenges of dementia. Understanding the progression of dementia will help you plan and prepare for the future. You may find this information powerful when deciding about your loved one’s care. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, over 16 million Americans are already providing care for a loved one suffering from dementia. Dementia caregivers often face challenges such as sleep deprivation, financial strains, emotional distress, depression, and anxiety. This guide will provide caregivers with the tools they need to cope with these challenges and provide the best possible care for their loved ones. You probably think that the best way to care for your loved one is by providing him/her with as much normalcy and routine as possible. This may help the patient feel comfortable and secure, while also giving you a sense of control during what can be a very chaotic and unpredictable time. You also believe that it is important to keep the lines of communication open with the patient and to never give up hope. You think that even though the disease may progress, there are still moments of connection and joy that can be shared between you as a caregiver and your loved one. Learning about the different stages of dementia will help you understand what your loved one is going through and, more importantly, anticipate his/her needs. This can help reduce stress and provide a more supportive environment. Knowing about the progressive nature of dementia can also help you make long-term plans for your loved one’s care. To provide care, it is crucial that you first take care of yourself so that you can continue providing the support your loved one needs. If you are struggling to keep your loved one with dementia safe and comfortable at home, this guide is for you. This well-researched book will provide you with: Foreword by Jose G. Garcia, MD. Stop struggling while caregiving to your loved one. Scroll up and click the “Buy Now” button right now!

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

Published January 22, 2023

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some decent information in this book, but I did not like the writing style. It needed an editor badly! Very repetitive and the fact that there are pages throughout the book with QR codes so you can leave an Amazon review was horrid. Who thought that was a good idea?

[Jamie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard-Won Advice From Someone Who’s Been There, Done That

One beauty of modern-day publishing is that anyone can publish a book. The author of this book probably never would have been picked up by a traditional publisher, and what a sad thing that would have been! The author comes across as so authentic, so understanding. She understands the dementia caregiver’s pain because she has been a caregiver for a long time. But she not only relies on and shares her own personal experiences; she's also done a lot of research on dementia, including its types, stages, and therapies. I was impressed as soon as I saw this book's table of contents. I liked its logical flow from looking at dementia in the broader sense and then looking at it from the caregiver's perspective. The author's passion and compassion come through on every single page. It's not perfectly written, with a few odd linguistic idiosyncrasies, but it has so much heart that I can find little fault in it. If you are caring for someone with dementia, buy this book to find out more about the diagnosis as well as how to care for your loved one and yourself as you take care of them at this most critical point in their lives. Highly recommended.

I received a free digital copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

[☺Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Cruz has written a practical and jam-packed survival guide for caregivers. Filled with information detailing the various types of dementia and the seven phases to expect. Although loaded with information this guide is a quick and easy read.
The only problem I had while reading this is with the slightly schmaltzy attitude towards the demented person needing care - and the glossing over of complex and negative behaviors and the unrealistic ease of the resolutions. What if they aren't, and never were, the "most loved" person in the caregiver's life. What if they weren't all that loveable before their dementia diagnosis?
Also, way too much responsibility is on the caregiver's shoulders! For example: getting the demented to willingly give up driving is easier said than done. (From personal experience: don't expect too much help from their doctors in resolving that problem.)

[Samantha Nieboer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My grandma and grandpa both on different sides of my family are going through two different kinds of dementia. One has Alzheimer’s and the other has Vascular Dementia or a mixture (still getting diagnosis). This book was very helpful and informative when it came to the medical side of things and when it came to advice, but I also wanted to know the personal side as well. How do other caregivers feel or the person themselves feel and deep personal experiences/examples of what they go through. This was a survival guide though, so maybe I have to read other books to get more information/stories on that part.

[Mindy Bormann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very wonderful resource for anyone to help understand dementia better. The book explains the disease itself and the many different forms. It explains the behaviors of the person with the disease. Then this book talks about the caregivers role, their personal health and burdens going along with caregiving. I recommend this book to anyone who helps care for individuals with dementia.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Venus · Rating 4 out of 5]

very necessary book

Covers a lot of ground. It’s extremely specific, and if you are a caregiver for someone suffering from dementia, this book is a godsend. I’m dealing with this myself right now and I couldn’t sing this books praises enough. I will definitely be recommending it to others… Though I don’t know anyone in my position right now. But if you fit the bill, read this book.

[Egar Sugimo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely helpful

I found this book extremely helpful
For this sensitive topic. My father in law is sadly at this point in his life and I’m trying to support my wife and figure out what we as a family can do. We have added situations since he is in a different country but again I found this book very helpful. I’d recommend this if you have to unfortunately have someone with dementia.

[Sammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a caregiver for my wife 6 years with Alzheimer´s I can attest to the details described in this book because I am living through those ongoing situations. There is important help and information to help and guide a caregiver. The author, a caregiver herself, knows what we are going through and hits home with our feelings and experiences and how to deal with them. It´s a fast read and well worth the pause.

[James Kennedy Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tremendously helpful, informative, understandable, encouraging, supportive and explained clearly from beginning to end of disease. There are 10 different types of dementia and alzheimers is one of the 10. The 7 different stages of dementia helps one to know what to expect and why things are happening now that are puzzle to understand. I only wish that we would have had this book when my MIL had dementia. I highly recommend this book.

[Brett Comeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

If someone you love has dementia it can be brutal

When someone you care about has issues with Dementia it can be draining on you who is taking care of them. This book can help you keep your balance in your day to day life. This book will help you keep your balance

[April Welton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written in an easy to follow format. Providing knowledge of what may happen with the person who has dementia and advice on how to be a caregiver. The message is clear. You can be a caregiver and take care of yourself without losing your sanity.

[Beverley Turnquest · Rating 5 out of 5]

helpful

Brought for a family member and it was relayed that this book was needed and helped tremendously with an aging parent that suffers from dementia

[Robert Strom]

A great guide for caregivers!

A very very helpful book! This book is a must read for any caregiver. It will definitely help anyone who has this responsibility.

[Chelsea Vaughn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a helpful 101 book, but not a book I would recommend if you are looking for support on how to care for a loved one who is defiant or refusing to accept that they need help.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for getting some basics.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really helpful book if you are a caregiver to a loved one with dementia. Recommend on audio.

[kiri]

some solid advice in here. i am currently reading anything and everything i can get my hands on related to caregiving for dementia at home. i am searching for the right combination of words that will empower me to speak to my family with grace and understanding during their moments of understandable frustration. i'm a dick and lowkey sometimes a bad sister!! surprising no one!!!

i have yet to come across something that outlines how to handle when the dawson's creek theme song coming on shuffle while you are washing your hair and then pretty quickly begin hysterically crying because this song ONLY makes you think of snuggling up with your dad on the couch to watch a show that was not second grade appropriate but you liked michelle williams a lot and wanted to see what her much beloved (to you) character, jen, was going to wear, so he let you stay and watch with him. and the pain in your heart. and the joy in your heart.