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Living in the Moment: A Guide to Overcoming Challenges and Finding Moments of Joy in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias

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Like a What to Expect When You're Expecting for dementia, Living in the Moment offers a comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide to understanding Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases, and what to do next. For caregivers and patients alike, renowned geriatrician Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk offers a path for patients to live a healthy and full life with dementia.

A loved one’s dementia diagnosis can leave you feeling scared and overwhelmed. But you are not alone. Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk, founder of ElderConsult Geriatric Medicine, has led thousands of patients through a brain disease diagnosis, equipping them with knowledge, tools, and support to help them live happy and engaged lives. She shares her expertise in this practical reference that offers helpful explanations, advice, and guidance through an often confusing and challenging new landscape.

Dr. Landsverk’s advice covers understanding the disease itself to managing a patient’s aggression and paranoia, from protecting against elder abuse to creating a long-range plan for patients and caregivers that includes home care, assisted living, and hospice care. LIVING IN THE MOMENT promises a plan that will minimize medication, treat pain, and relieve agitation, without falling back on standard medical approaches.

Here is everything you need to know about caring for your loved one and making his or her life the best possible, starting now . You’ll


* How to recognize the earliest dementia changes

Dr. Landsverk demystifies the ins and outs of dementia, explaining what it is and what it’s not, making sure you and your loved one will be ready to address whatever develops and maintain quality of life. Uniquely, Living in the Moment will transform how you think about dementia, providing comfort and support for the best life possible—at any stage.

272 pages, Paperback

Published May 31, 2022

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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Ronald.
149 reviews1 follower
October 25, 2022
Recently, I was faced with my loved one needing a full-time caregiver; that caregiver turned out to be me. This job isn’t something that you in any way prepare for in life. Being at a loss with what to do and where to turn. I bought the book, Living in the Moment by Doctor Elizabeth Landsverk, looking for answers.

How do I deal with seeing our plans for a happy retirement disappear? How far do you go in securing medical help for your loved one? Is subjecting a person with dementia to medical tests and probes the right thing to do? What do you do if there is a problem? Should I pursue an operation that will correct a mobility problem but result in extended hospitalization followed by six months of Rehab putting my wife under extreme stress due to her confused mental state? The questions listed are only a few of the many that caregivers have to find answers to when presented with this situation. Doctor Landsverk offers guidelines on how to address these questions, how to care for someone with dementia, and how to effectively communicate with him or her.

Landsverk describes the differences between Nursing Homes, Memory Care Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities, and Rehab Centers. If at all possible, she recommends that the caregiver provide care at home since the patient is familiar with that setting. Absent in this setting, however, are activities that keep the patient engaged and simulated. Sitting a dementia patient in front of a television all day is not the answer as it doesn’t lead to the quality of life possible for a dementia patient and results in muscle loss, anxiety, and depression. So, if the caregiver is not able to provide full-time care, a memory care facility would probably be the better choice. There are no absolute answers as each patient is different.

There are caregiver support groups and Landsverk strongly recommends that caregivers join such a group. According to the author, many a caregiver has sacrificed their health due to burnout and self-blame due to caregiver demands.

While this book didn’t give me all the answers I needed, it gave me some answers and guidance on where to go to get more information. The book is a worthwhile read for those like me who suddenly find themselves in a dementia patient caregiving role.
4 reviews
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December 16, 2022
Awareness of Dementia patients

I chose this book because it was written by a doctors who deals with demitia I am in the early stages and trying to learn all I can before my illness gets worse. I’ve learned a lot from this book and am trying to get by for nowI’m trying to do everything I can do myself now because as this disease gets worse I might need a lot more help. Thank You For the great book
Profile Image for Dave.
281 reviews20 followers
February 11, 2026
Interesting book to begin with but as it became less of an "information" book and more of a "how-to" I don't want to say I lost interest but it got very "text-booky" the last third or so. All that being said (run-on sentence anyone?), it was definitely worth reading for anyone that may be affected by dementia themselves or someone they care about. Some highlights (as usual!);

- Only one in five of those with symptoms of dementia have been diagnosed, according to testimony before the United States Senate.

- The hippocampus, with one lobe on each side of the brain, controls short-term memory. People with damage to this part of the brain may have a detailed memory of a football game thirty years ago but not something you told them in the last five minutes. They may ask the same questions over and over.

• The temporal lobes, one behind each temple, and the frontal lobe, behind the forehead, govern emotion, reasoning and social inhibition. People with damage in these areas may start acting inappropriately. They can be quick to anger over a little thing. They may burst into tears at the drop of a hat. They may have lost control of their impulses: They may eat to excess. They may grab someone they find attractive or misinterpret the actions of the young caregiver assisting with bathing as something they remember that had to do with their spouse and romance. They may decide on a whim to sell all of their possessions. This is where risk assessment and judgment reside, and they are often the first functions to go when dementia develops.

• The parietal lobe, at the upper back of the brain, helps with sequencing—that is, which things go first, second, and so on. People with damage to this area have trouble remembering how to put things in order. They struggle to work their way through a multistep process. They may put their underwear on after their pants. Or they may sit down to dinner but then not know what to do at the table.

• The occipital lobe, at the lower back of the brain, controls vision and balance. People with damage here have difficu

- Forty percent of cases examined in a 1998 study by the National Center on Elder Abuse involved some sort of financial abuse, amounting to 220,000 victims in a single year. About 30 percent of all crimes against elders involve financial exploitation, a higher percentage than the physical abuse that most families fear. In 2003, the U.S. Senate’s Special Committee on Aging reported to Congress that more than three out of four cases of elder abuse go unreported. On that basis, it conservatively concluded that three million to five million seniors are taken to the cleaners annually. Financial abuse was estimated to have cost elders in America as much as $2.9 billion in 2009, according to a MetLife Mature Market Institute study.

- Remember that dementia is a terminal illness. It is not survivable. If your brain—command central—doesn’t work correctly, the body may send signals of pneumonia or a heart attack or even constipation, but the brain can’t interpret those signals or communicate the problem in order to get help. With modern medicine, few adults die from pneumonia. In those with moderately advanced dementia, the risk of dying from pneumonia is 25 percent with treatment.

- Every day an elder stays in bed, he or she will lose 5 percent of their muscle mass. That means that a ten-day stay in the hospital may cause a 50 percent decline in physical strength. In such cases, it’s important to consult a physical therapist as soon as possible, at the start of a hospital admission.

- Although very "text-booky" as I said up top, this was still an interesting chapter on drugs and both their value AND contraindications as a result of an improper balance. Drugs used for dementia/Alzheimers patients are a very slippery slope and can result in some uintended consequences.

- ...imagine what it’s like for the person with dementia. In its early stages, dementia can be terrifying. Try to remember back to a time when you lost something important, like your wallet. Remember that dread and terror, that pit in your stomach as you imagined someone merrily charging up the balances on your credit cards? Now imagine that you have that disorienting, catastrophic experience one hundred times an hour. That approximates what life is like for many with dementia as their disease first becomes noticeable.

- Toward the end stage of dementia, the swallowing reflex fades altogether. At that point, your loved one will stop swallowing. That is a sign that the elder is very near the end of the disease.

- While it’s important for those with dementia to keep moving, periodic hospital stays or other chronic conditions often strand them in bed. For every day elders spend in bed, they lose 5 percent of their muscle mass (That’s 50 percent in ten days!)
Profile Image for Rebecca Parten.
117 reviews20 followers
April 9, 2022
I received this book for free from NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Living in the Moment: A Guide to Overcoming Challenges and Finding Moments of Joy in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias by Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk is an easy to read, practical guide for the family navigating this journey and focuses on helping to create the best life you can for your loved one with dementia. While I am not the primary caregiver for my loved I still found it really informative. The book isn't super depth but goes just deep enough to serve as a good reference, especially when it comes to understanding the types of medications your loved one may be taking or offered. The caveat is since I'm not a pharmacist, physician, or other type of provider I can't say with 100% certainty that all the information is correct. I would hope so given that the author is a physician specializing in this field but you never know. Therefore it's always best to talk with your own care team when making decisions about medications (and procedures, tests etc.). Something that I really liked about the book is the author emphasized making decisions with (and when needed, for) your loved one that essentially boils down improving or maintaining quality vs quantity of life.

The author describes not only the medical aspect of caring for someone with dementia but also helps you think about the financial and legal sides of things. These chapters provide a short overview of the different kinds of paperwork that can be completed such as power of attorney, durable power of attorney (which I learned are two separate things), living wills, trusts and more,

Finally, the author stresses the importance of caring for the caregiver. This includes tips for finding resources in your area and knowing/accepting if the time is right to either bring caregivers into the home or to move your loved into a facility. Tips for identifying the right type of placement for your loved one are included which I think is particularly useful.

I'll end my review with a quote from the book that I found particularly powerful:

"Stephanie Howard, a dear friend and dementia care director, has crafted what she calls “The Dementia Serenity Prayer.” It goes like this: What “was,” was. (In other words, you can’t go back to the time before dementia entered your family life.) What “is,” is. (Dementia is the new reality. It is what it is.) There is nothing wrong with making the “is,” the best “is” it ever was. (The dementia can’t be changed, but you can make life with dementia as good as it can be.)"

-Living in the Moment: A Guide to Overcoming Challenges and Finding Moments of Joy in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
569 reviews14 followers
May 27, 2022
Elizabeth Landsverk's LIVING IN THE MOMENT is possibly the most clear-eyed and compassionate guide I've ever read about caring for a person with dementia. Her focus on quality of life and care for all individuals involved is unique and ultimately why her guidance is so helpful for those baffled by and overwhelmed with complex financial, health, and legal issues while doing their best to care for a beloved. It is hands-on, feet-on-the-ground practical and also mindful of the joy to be found during a dark, strange journey. I received an early copy of the book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.
Profile Image for Sienna.
970 reviews13 followers
January 4, 2023
Very clear, compassionate, & applicable. Only a little bit scary, with pointers on how to help as well as to get help.

My mom doesn't have a big team, only me, so I'm pretty intimidated by the amount of care needed. The author does assume that you are up to a huge task & have support for it. It's a lot. I read it only when I was in a comfortable mood & stopped if it felt overwhelming (all the medications!). Short resource list at the end is very helpful, & not so much that I don't know where to start.

Won in a giveaway so it feels important to share that this book is helpful & worth reading.
126 reviews2 followers
July 3, 2022
The advice this book offers is not unique. There are several books available with similar information but the format is what makes the text easier to understand and apply. The author presents the facts of a particular situation and then explains how Alzheimer's is involved. Her advice is actually good for all of us, slow down, enjoy the present. This text is worthy of our attention.
Profile Image for M.A..
513 reviews5 followers
August 28, 2022
Excellent advice for caregivers of elders from a geriatrician.
Profile Image for Sheila Garry.
896 reviews10 followers
May 18, 2023
Written in 2022 the author has many observations about folks with dementia and their care. Timely advice on drugs, coping strategies and a great resource guide.
Profile Image for Jaime.
1,808 reviews310 followers
July 20, 2024
Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk has written a compelling book that guides the reader in a workable manner towards understanding, navigating, accepting, and surviving the challenges of having a loved one diagnosed with dementia. Although others have written books such as this Landsverk’s is unique as it also includes what a person with dementia will likely experience - not only the family.

As a provider who diagnoses and treats hundreds of patients with dementia (Alzheimer’s Disease, frontotemporal dementia, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body Disease, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, and mixed dementia) I can tell you that diagnosing a patient with dementia can be very challenging and there is often significant pushback from patients and family members. Until recently with the development of medication such as Lecanemab and the newly approved donanemab there were no actual treatment options - all we had are the Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors to slow down disease progression and the NMDA receptor antagonist memantine. Even with the two new medications there are limitations to which patient can receive them as they both focus on the “mild” disease stage. Not having viable treatment options for all patients with dementia is very hard to explain to patients and even harder for them to accept.

As an expert in her field, Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk, founder of ElderConsult Geriatric Medicine, has led thousands of patients through a brain disease diagnosis, equipping them with knowledge, tools, and support to help them live happy and engaged lives. She shares her expertise in this practical reference that offers helpful explanations, advice, and guidance through an often confusing and challenging new landscape. Dr. Landsverk’s advice covers understanding the disease itself to managing a patient’s aggression and paranoia, from protecting against elder abuse to creating a long-range plan for patients and caregivers that includes home care, assisted living, and hospice care. LIVING IN THE MOMENT promises a plan that will minimize medication, treat pain, and relieve agitation, without falling back on standard medical approaches.

I will be recommending this book to all of my patients with dementia!

📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this #book from the author/publisher via #Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher/author for allowing me the opportunity to review. 🦄
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Profile Image for Karen.
30 reviews12 followers
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August 27, 2025
This book provides an overview of activities and strategies a care-giver can use to care for and show love for their loved one who has Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. Taking care of a person who has memory loss is difficult in the best of circumstances and this book gives you lots of ideas to help you in that care. I myself was diagnosed with Alzheimer's about six years ago and I endorse the content of the book to help you think of a new or different way to help your loved one who has dementia.
1 review
May 24, 2022
My Mom suffers from dementia. I found this book to be a valuable tool to work out a plan to manage my mother and her disease. More importantly the book also reminded me to live in the moment, enjoy the mom I have and forget the rest. You can only move forward in life and Mom and I shall! Great read.
Profile Image for Debbie Vaughan.
166 reviews1 follower
October 2, 2024
I thought this was a good book with a lot of practical information. It bothered me that she kept referring to people with dementia or Alzheimer’s as elders. My husband was diagnosed at 60- I do not consider 60 years old elderly. I think a better term would be patient. I think it’s a great book especially for those new to the disease.
Profile Image for Susan Krutzler.
824 reviews9 followers
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August 17, 2024
Some good information and tips. Well worth reading. Good for early and basic care and tips.
87 reviews2 followers
October 30, 2025
A solid resource

Well thought out and written. A lot of good, practical information. I especially liked the real life examples the author used.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews