Dementia from the Inside: A Doctor's Personal Journey of Hope

by Jennifer Bute, Louise Morse

Jennifer Bute, author of Dementia from the Inside, was a highly qualified senior doctor in a large clinical practice, whose patients included those with dementia. Then she began to notice symptoms in herself. She was finally given a diagnosis of Young Onset Dementia in 2009.



After resigning as a GP, Jennifer resolved to explore what could be done to slow the progress of dementia. She and Louise Morse decided to co-write this book, Dementia from the Inside as a practical resource for those who are living with dementia.

The book tells readers what it's like to live with dementia, how to communicate with people with dementia, especially in the later stages. The book also explains disturbing behaviour - and what the best intervention can be. It also reflects on the question of Where is God in all this?

With Jennifer's back story and mini case studies throughout, Dementia from the Inside not only takes readers inside dementia, but describes, from a professional medical background, how to understand and how to help others.

Jennifer believes that her dementia is an opportunity as well as a challenge. Her important insights are that the person 'inside' remains and can be reached, even when masked by the condition, and that spirituality rises as cognition becomes limited.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2018

Reviews

[Mrs Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book.I appreciate the 3 main principles:
1. There is always a reason why a person is behaving in a particular way.
2. When facts are forgotten, feelings remain
3. Familiar patterns of behaviour continue

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happen to know Jennifer and speak to her often - she really is a remarkable lady. Her book is a fascinating read and it was interesting to get an insight into how she manages her day to allow her to cope with the challenges she faces. Her positivity and acceptance is refreshing. Well worth a read!

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thoroughly readable, helpful and challenging book being an account of the experience living with dementia that is both medically and personally informed.
It has many insights which, although apparent elsewhere, are movingly brought together.
It is also a strongly Christian and faith-filled account.

[Emma Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very easy to read (in 2 days) and found it very helpful in understanding my mum and the journey she is on. I found it encouraging that the author wrote this book 10 years after diagnosis. It gave me hope.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

The content of this book, both on the illness and the dimension faith ads to dealing with it, is incisive and highly valuable. Sadly the style it is written in, makes for a more difficult read.

[Mark Youngkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been anxious to read books on the subject to learn more about my mother's condition. This book is written by a doctor who has been diagnosed with dementia. It's mostly her memoir and only about the last third has anything to do with her life with dementia. It's fine as far as it goes but I wasn't able to relate to what I have seen in my mother. Your mileage may vary.

[Judith Bowen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting on dementia but so mawkishly Christian as to be almost unbearable