Finding the Light in Dementia: A Guide for Families, Friends and Caregivers

by Jane M. Mullins, Carole Fawcett (Editor)

‘Finding the Light in Dementia: a guide for families, friends and caregivers’ (2nd Edition) is the essential self help book that explains common changes that can occur in those living with dementia. By offering valuable approaches, tips and suggestions interspersed with individuals' stories, the reader can learn to care for and maintain a connection with their loved one (care partner). Whether you’re a spouse, partner, daughter, son, sibling, friend or even a parent caring for a loved one living with dementia, this book is for you. Finding the Light in Dementia will help give you more confidence to care by:

    Supporting you through your partner’s diagnosis of dementia

    Helping you understand what your partner is experiencing

    Teaching you ways to communicate and connect with each other

    Helping you make subtle changes to your home to help your partner feel safe and content

    Introducing practical and creative ways to stimulate memories to help with day to day living

    Showing you how to create lifestories together

    Suggesting ways to keep your partner interested and engaged in meaningful activities

    Providing tips for sleeping, eating and drinking

    Suggesting ways to help your partner with their appearance and dignity

    Showing you ways of overcoming the challenges of changing behaviour, reactions and responses

    Helping reduce the effects of hallucinations, delusions and misperceptions

    Suggesting ways for you to care for yourself

    Involving families and friends

    Giving advice when considering professional care at home and in residential care

Knowing how tired and stressed you may feel, ‘Finding the Light in Dementia’ is written in bite sized chunks that makes it easy to follow. By giving you space to write down any points you would like to make and providing question sheets for you to refer to when speaking with your doctor and/or legal professionals you can make this your personal guide. When following the approaches in this book, you should find that your partner will feel more understood and you will become calmer thereby helping you both find a sense of connection and continue to live well.

 

 

226 pages, Paperback

Published December 20, 2017

Reviews

[Jill R. Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

So educational for someone who is experiencing dementia of a loved one. I learned about how they are living moment but moment, how to handle confrontations, and most importantly how to love them well and cherish time with them.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotionally difficult but also inspiring. A lot of the stuff I already knew but worded differently and a great reminder.

[Patrick McTaggart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well titled book and a great approach to helping families understand the different aspects of dementia and how it can impact the person with dementia.

Like the author, and as someone who is a carer for my Dad who has dementia I believe "the light" is always there and the book is very useful in helping you take this positive approach.

[Ann Campanella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding the Light in Dementia is a compassionate and practical guide for caregivers who truly want to partner with their loved ones who are experiencing dementia. Dr. Jane Mullins, a dementia nurse consultant, pours her years of experience into this book, providing helpful tips from the moment of a loved one's diagnosis through the various stages of caregiving. There's a summary at the end of each chapter for quick reference and pages for notetaking with suggestions about strategies and responses. The author also offers stories which give insight about what it's like for a person to have dementia and how to reach someone who otherwise might be cut off from the world. I would have loved to have had this book when my own mother was living with Alzheimer's. It would have provided a great deal of comfort and wisdom.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ideal read for any dementia caregiver or their care partner who is looking for a simple and yet sensitive guide to better understand the common changes that can occur with persons living with dementia. You'll learn how to maintain a positive connection between yourself and your care partner as the disease progresses; practical tips for common challenges related to sleeping, eating, hallucinations, mood changes, home safety, and personal care; and receive regular reminders to look out for yourself while caregiving.

This book was included in a Sep 2022 book haul blog post on HappyHealthyCaregiver.com

[Derek Winterburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book a gentle affirming book for those caring for family member who has dementia. Its focus is on a carer who might be a spouse or another who lives with the sufferer. The author has a great deal of simple (almost common sense) suggestions about how to make life easier for every one. It is non-technical and not medical at all and is addressed directly to the carer.

[Megan Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really was great on giving insight on what was happening and how my grandmother was feeling and why she was feeling a certain way. A must read if a family member has Dementia.

[Paula Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is hard to understand unless you have first-hand experience with someone who is going through the dementia stages. As I do with my mom. The book has helped me to learn to see what my mom is experiencing, and I have come to understand her more. Thank you to the author for this book.