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Surviving Alzheimer's With Friends, Facebook, and a Really Big Glass of Wine: A caregiver's guide to love, humor, patience, confusion, anger, and wine
With unfiltered observations and sometimes dark humor, author Dayna Steele chronicled her mother's journey with Alzheimer's on Facebook. This collection of Alzheimer's updates posted on the social media network includes biting humor and raw emotion as Dayna carries you from the diagnosis to the inevitable end. Also included are sections from a neurologist, Long Term Care insurance specialist, other caregivers, documents expert, elder care attorney, and an assisted living advisor. This is a journey way too many of us are going to experience in one way or another. If you have to experience Alzheimer's and chances are you will - do it like Dayna with love, wit, and wine.I would normally never read a book about Alzheimer's or click LIKE on a Facebook post about someone's declining mother. Dayna Steele sneaked past my defenses the same way that she dealt with her own misery - with humor - by making me laugh, she managed to break my heart. --Lisa Gray, Houston Chronicle Gray MattersThese observations are so gripping and so graphic. --a Facebook commentThis book is going to be of tremendous help to so many. --Dr. Roy Goldberg, Geriatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
234 pages, Paperback
Published February 5, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 13, 2026
Surviving Alzheimer’s with Friends, Facebook and a Big Glass of Wine by Dayna Steele.
This book was sprung to life a decade ago, after Dayna began updating her relatives and friends about her Mom’s Alzheimer’s condition regularly on Facebook—a way of streamlining communication. Her posts were shared, and surprisingly people began following her page and responding and sharing their own experiences, finding a community of support where she least expected. Soon after her Mom’s passing, she published her journey. Now, Dayna travels back and forth from Texas to California (I’m not sure which other states) to continue her advocacy for caregiver support.
Dayna speaks candidly about a VERY sensitive, emotional subject that some caregivers like myself may be unwilling to talk about, especially when it’s difficult to wrap our heads around. The light and humor weaved in makes a difficult subject deeply resonant within the snippets of dialogue between Dayna and her Mom. Excerpts from her FB responses also comprise a portion of her book. You’ll just have to serve your own wine 🍷 while reading it, though. 😉
Dayna Steele is an authentic, charismatic public speaker (a former popular rock ‘n’ roll radio deejay in Houston for decades) and master storyteller. Her journey will move you, regardless if you’re a caregiver or have a personal connection to Alzheimer’s, dementia or any form of cognitive impairment. Her account is insightfully honest and raw, with moments that will have you laughing aloud. She’s a public servant who continues advocating for caregivers via public speaking events, tv or online interviews, and in YouTube videos where on stage she reenacts the personal talks she had with her Mom, medical personnel, and friends. Her stories offer hope and the message that we don’t have to be on this journey alone.
A little about my situation:
Since reading ‘Surviving Alzheimer’s with Friends, Facebook and a Big 🍷 Glass of Wine,’ I’ve learned that it’s okay to share my feelings with trusted friends and willing listeners. And to listen in return. Keeping everything bottled up inside during the first 4 years of my Mom’s gradual decline really took its toll on me and my family. She’s now in year 6 of her dementia diagnosis, but the first 4 were indeed the roughest. I felt overwhelming fear and despair in her changes—a heavy grief—and missing her even though she was right in front of me. The single parent who raised and nurtured me and my 2 older siblings is being stripped away from her memories and the ability to make simple decisions or perform easy tasks Is. Utterly. Heartbreaking. I was also in denial that I needed my siblings, so I hadn’t asked for their help.
Thankfully, Dayna Steele’s book has encouraged me to own my voice, to know it’s not selfish to ask for help, a shoulder to cry on, or just someone to talk with about the good days or the rough ones. My siblings and a few relatives now spend more time with Mom, and we can all see the benefits it has on her well-being, to have as much fun and attention as she can get. And I’m grateful that my best friends are my emotional support lines.
The Facebook friendships I’ve made with other readers and authors have helped me escape through informative and fun chats, seeing never-ending reading RECs and review opportunities.
I appreciate if you got this far! And I hope you pick up this book or recommend it to someone who may need it. A lot resonated with me and made me smile, giggle and even cry. Ultimately, it can be a lifeline and/or a powerful validation for anyone navigating the challenges of caregiving and a reminder that no one has to face this relentless, progressive disease alone, sustained by the hope of providing the best care for our loved ones.
This book was sprung to life a decade ago, after Dayna began updating her relatives and friends about her Mom’s Alzheimer’s condition regularly on Facebook—a way of streamlining communication. Her posts were shared, and surprisingly people began following her page and responding and sharing their own experiences, finding a community of support where she least expected. Soon after her Mom’s passing, she published her journey. Now, Dayna travels back and forth from Texas to California (I’m not sure which other states) to continue her advocacy for caregiver support.
Dayna speaks candidly about a VERY sensitive, emotional subject that some caregivers like myself may be unwilling to talk about, especially when it’s difficult to wrap our heads around. The light and humor weaved in makes a difficult subject deeply resonant within the snippets of dialogue between Dayna and her Mom. Excerpts from her FB responses also comprise a portion of her book. You’ll just have to serve your own wine 🍷 while reading it, though. 😉
Dayna Steele is an authentic, charismatic public speaker (a former popular rock ‘n’ roll radio deejay in Houston for decades) and master storyteller. Her journey will move you, regardless if you’re a caregiver or have a personal connection to Alzheimer’s, dementia or any form of cognitive impairment. Her account is insightfully honest and raw, with moments that will have you laughing aloud. She’s a public servant who continues advocating for caregivers via public speaking events, tv or online interviews, and in YouTube videos where on stage she reenacts the personal talks she had with her Mom, medical personnel, and friends. Her stories offer hope and the message that we don’t have to be on this journey alone.
A little about my situation:
Since reading ‘Surviving Alzheimer’s with Friends, Facebook and a Big 🍷 Glass of Wine,’ I’ve learned that it’s okay to share my feelings with trusted friends and willing listeners. And to listen in return. Keeping everything bottled up inside during the first 4 years of my Mom’s gradual decline really took its toll on me and my family. She’s now in year 6 of her dementia diagnosis, but the first 4 were indeed the roughest. I felt overwhelming fear and despair in her changes—a heavy grief—and missing her even though she was right in front of me. The single parent who raised and nurtured me and my 2 older siblings is being stripped away from her memories and the ability to make simple decisions or perform easy tasks Is. Utterly. Heartbreaking. I was also in denial that I needed my siblings, so I hadn’t asked for their help.
Thankfully, Dayna Steele’s book has encouraged me to own my voice, to know it’s not selfish to ask for help, a shoulder to cry on, or just someone to talk with about the good days or the rough ones. My siblings and a few relatives now spend more time with Mom, and we can all see the benefits it has on her well-being, to have as much fun and attention as she can get. And I’m grateful that my best friends are my emotional support lines.
The Facebook friendships I’ve made with other readers and authors have helped me escape through informative and fun chats, seeing never-ending reading RECs and review opportunities.
I appreciate if you got this far! And I hope you pick up this book or recommend it to someone who may need it. A lot resonated with me and made me smile, giggle and even cry. Ultimately, it can be a lifeline and/or a powerful validation for anyone navigating the challenges of caregiving and a reminder that no one has to face this relentless, progressive disease alone, sustained by the hope of providing the best care for our loved ones.
April 1, 2016
This book details a caregiver's journey with her mother into the scary world of Alzheimer's. Her insights, shared with love and humor evolved into a "how to deal with Alzheimer's" from first symptoms to her mother's passing. Dayna shared her experiences on Facebook, the book is a compilation of Facebook posts, questions- as the journey progressed, Dayna formed a community of friends to share her feelings, frustrations and insights with. Included are great resources and lessons learned from their experiences. This bittersweet tribute to her mom, Fran Nicholson is a must read for anyone that thinks that they have a loved one beginning this journey.
January 2, 2022
My husband was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s and early stage Huntington's disease. He is aware of what is going on some of the time but he refuses to bathe or do any of the things the doctors tell him. He could hardly get around because all he does is sit in front of the TV all day. He refuses to go for a walk or to a senior center and he refuses to bathe. I was beside myself as we cannot go anywhere when he is dirty and stinks. I didn’t know what to do, I could not physically overpower him and make him do things and when I ask him he tells me I am not his boss. There has been little if any progress in finding a reliable treatment. His Primary care provider introduced me to Kycuyu Health Clinic and their amazing Herbal treatments. The treatment is a miracle. the disease is totally under control. No case of delusion, disorientation, forgetfulness, making things up, hallucination, Muscle weakness, jumbled speech, loss of appetite or confusion in the evening hours. Visit www. kycuyuhealthclinic . com Its just amazing!
March 21, 2025
My LO has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's officially for 5 years. Memory was lost, didn't remember his mother, or past life, acted like a 12 yr old. he was 75, He had some terrible night as he kept asking to go to the bathroom and get up at night. The doctor prescribed a sleeping pill (zolpidem), but it had a very bad side effect on him (delusions and hallucinations) and we decided not to give it any more and went for the Neuro X program that was introduced to us by his primary care doctor, he was on the Neuro X program for Alzheimer’s disease from Uine Health Centre for 6 months. The treatment relieved symptoms significantly, After the treatment he’s all of a sudden back active again, almost all his symptoms are gone, no signs of agitations, his sleeps pattern are back to normal. His memory loss has greatly improved, and he tells stories about his past life, we got the Neuro X program from uinehealthcentre. com
July 23, 2025
An impactful look at the heartbreaking reality of what a family goes through when faced with an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. I had the honor of meeting author Dayna Steele when she spoke at an Alzheimer's Association event I helped organize in the fall of 2016; her passion for ending this horrible disease and for supporting those faced with helping loved ones through the disease is both touching and inspiring. Definitely a 5-star read!
February 27, 2023
Both wonderful and heartbreaking. Dayna bares her soul to us and it is both illuminating and terrifying to know the possibilities of what lies ahead. I found it difficult to read at times, having to stop to wipe my eyes but reading it will make be a better and more compassionate care giver. This book was a gift.
July 9, 2017
A co-worker gave me this book, as she knew I needed it, as I walk the path of a family member with Altheimer's. Altheimer's has taken my dear, older sister away from me. She now lives in a memory care facility in North Texas. I try to go once a month, but she doesn't really enjoy my visits at this point, and so I go more for me than for her. All of this, and more, is detailed in Dayna Steele's book, and it has helped me so much, to hear what you went through, and what I have still to come. Dayna, your mother very much reminded me of my ex-mother-in-law; she was a petite fireball of a woman, a southern belle, happy every day of her life, until Altheimer's took her joy also. Hugs to all the Altheimer's patients, their families and their caregivers. I will pass this on to my niece, who is way too young to be experiencing this with her mother.
June 29, 2016
I literally read this entire book in about two hours right after receiving it. I needed this book! We have a family member who is exhibiting the signs of Alzheimer's and has been "hiding" it, much like Dayna's mom. This helped me not only make a decision to deal with the elephant in the room, but to remind myself I'm going to need friends, wine, and a lot of laughter to start coping. Thanks to Dayna for sharing this very personal journey of what she so describes as an insidious disease. I can think of no other adjective more fitting to describe Alzheimer's.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews