Voices of Alzheimer's: Courage, Humor, Hope, and Love in the Face of Dementia

This book is a small treasure. I keep picking it up a reading different passages. It helps me understand and appreciate my father, who has Alzheimer's, in ways that I have forgotten. It helped the whole family, even dad picked it up to read. Thanks for a fabulous book,

My name is Doreen. I am one of the people in Betsy Peterson's book. She mailed me a signed copy which I have lent to other people and they also found it very useful. I am writing this to let people know that even though the book is called Voices of Alzheimers, it is really a book about Dementia in general (my diagnosis is Pick's Disease, not Alzheimers and as the book indicates they later changed Betsy Peterson's husband's diagnosis from Alzheimer's to another dementia). So if you have a family member who has a dementia other than Alzheimers, you can also find helpful (and hopeful) information in this book.

This small book is a treasure of honest and deep sharing on the part of dementia patients and their caregivers and loved ones. The book is visually very attractive, the content is well organized, and the quotes--covering the full spectrum of sadness and anger to wisdom, humor, hope, and gratitude--are interspersed with the author's own moving story. Reading this has enabled me to relate with much greater understanding and confidence to those with Alzheimer's, and there is an excellent section on available resources. Voices of Alzheimer's is unique in the literature on the subject and deserves to become a classic in the field. Jenneke Barton

It's a wonderful book. Its power is in the innocence and simplicity of the quotes. It moves you from complete unawareness of the disease, up through recognition and understanding. I bought it for my husband, whose mother is in the middle stages of Alzheimers. He read it, or should I say, devoured it, immediately. Then he bought one for his sister (he didn't want to give away his copy). It's a text book on the progression of Alzheimers, written by people who were there, and woven into a beautiful story. It brings about a sense of peace after reading it.

It is difficult to put into words how this book affected me. It is a page turner, not because it is suspenseful, but because I continued to want more of the wise, kind, and loving thoughts that came through on every page. I was awed by the patients' own words, and the honest thoughts of family and friends. Although helpful resources are provided, it is the positive attitudes of those touched by this disease that will lead me to this book again and again as the need for hope and support arises.