Dementia Sucks: A Caregiver's Journey - With Lessons Learned

by Tracey S. Lawrence

The surprising true story of one woman’s journey through the nightmare of losing both parents to dementia, as she learns that a sense of humor is mandatory for survival.

“Not buying it, huh?” My mother acknowledged her assertion that the woman she pointed out at the rehab center as being her dead husband was a bit of a stretch. But this was the kind of conversation I had with Mom as her cognitive abilities declined and her psychosis fully bloomed.

The true, heart-wrenching, and yet hilarious stories at the center of Dementia Sucks were borne of a journal and blog that author Tracey Lawrence kept as her mother transformed from classic Jewish mother, to mildly forgetful Floridian grandma, to geriatric delinquent removed by police for knife-play at a rehabilitation facility. Really.

Tracey’s journey takes her from being an established graphic artist in northern New Jersey through bouts of full-time, hands-on caregiving of both her aging parents. She discusses many of the common challenges families face, and provides a humorous and highly educational perspective on her emotionally charged ride through geriatric illnesses, doctors, hospitals, insurance, facilities, family dynamics, and much more.

Anyone who has family members they care about will want to read this book. Whether dementia visits or not, some aspect of Tracey’s caregiving journey will likely resonate with, amuse, and enlighten you. The trick to surviving loss after loss is to find the humor in it all and avoid punching anyone, least of all yourself. This irreverent look shows you the way.

256 pages, Paperback

Published May 15, 2018

Reviews

[Ann Campanella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I, for one, am grateful to Tracey Lawrence for documenting her mother's journey through dementia. Born to the role of caregiver, Tracey moves her mother into her home when it's clear her mom can no longer take care of herself. Tracey rides the humorous, crazy, poignant twists and turns of her mother's behavior with aplomb. Yet, as her mom's health vacillates wildly near the end of her life, Tracey states what so many have felt: "The roller coaster ride continues, and I long to get off." As she disembarks, the author leaves behind so much more than a record of her mother's challenging last years. She shares a picture of what it means to live fully engaged with the people we love. As a bonus, for all those who find themselves in a caregiving role, Tracey provides tools for coping. This book will be a gift to many!

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for caregivers who want to read the real thing!! I was looking for a book that would tell me basically what I was going through with my own mom was not all in MY head. Ms. Lawrence tells her own experience of how dementia ravenged her parents' mind with honesty, sadness, anxiousness and humor which was what I needed to read because it made me feel I wasn't going through this alone. More importantly, what I was feeling inside was okay--thank you Tracey!!

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author gives a very personal account of the struggles she dealt with as her mother descended into dementia.

[Teri Darnell]

Such a heartbreaking disease.