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Speaking Our Minds
Gain exceptional insight into the world of the person with Alzheimer's through this enlightening collection of first-hand accounts. Speaking Our Minds provides an unparalleled view into the day-to-day experience of Alzheimer's through the reflections of seven diverse individuals with the disease. By interweaving each person's responses from in-depth interviews with her own thoughtful interpretation, dementia expert Lisa Snyder explores the many dimensions of the Alzheimer's experience. As a result, this rich text offers professionals, family caregivers, students, and people who have dementia the opportunity to learn more about The uniqueness of each person's experience and symptoms Coping strategies people use to face the changes and losses in their lives The changes that are experienced as the disease progresses Barriers to living full and dignified lives How to identify with and listen to persons with Alzheimer's Distinct issues for young-onset persons with dementia This book is ideal for people with early-stage Alzheimer's and related dementias as well as for anyone who interacts with that person, including professional or family caregivers, friends, and relatives. Discussion questions provide thoughtful material for use in coursework in aging and dementia, support groups, or book groups. The variety of backgrounds and perspectives of each featured person means that you will likely find similarities between the people in this book and your own personal experience. Whether this is your first introduction to Alzheimer's or you have an extensive knowledge of the disease, you are sure to learn from some or all of the brave and honest people who are featured. This book will transform the way you look at Alzheimer's and how you interact with those who have it.
200 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 9, 2012
After years of thinking, reading, writing, and speaking about Alzheimer's, I'm convinced that the best way to understand what it feels like to have Alzheimer's disease is to listen to the true experts people with Alzheimer's. In Speaking Our Minds . . . their stories are moving, insightful, inspiring, and above all, memorable.--Lisa Genova
July 30, 2022
This isn't my book cover, Grrr! There isn't one like mine.
My husband was recently diagnosed with early on-set dementia. He is only 57! We went to the library, upon his request to seek out a book or two from the view point of the person with dementia. What a fantastic idea! Can you imagine to our surprise and the librarian's who was helping us, that it was so difficult to find?! There are so many books about the disease and for the caregiver, so why not for the person who has been diagnosed with it?! There is a need for this! The person who has been diagnosed wants to know how others feel, what they are going through, what's to come from others like them. Upon coming up with nothing for him, the librarian told us she'll look more into it.
Later that afternoon she sent me an email about a book, this book, Speaking Our Minds (plus a whole bunch of different websites etc to educate and help me/us - what a wonderful person!). We picked up the book. Now, my husband isn't a reader, never has been. I was reading another library book about being a caregiver. Speaking Our Minds is kinda not what we were thinking it would be. The author interviewed 7 people. Each person has a chapter of their own. There is a little quote at the top of each chapter. That is what my husband read thinking he was done. It wasn't until I picked up the book for myself that I told him, the person's words are in the bold throughout the chapters. I've now read the book, got a lot out of it, and suggested he try picking it up again.
As I said, each person's words are in the bold, then the author writes about it. I would had liked to have seen more of the person talking than the author. Other from that, I liked how he interview 7 different people with different types of dementia and at different stages.
It's definitely a book to be read for both the person diagnosed with dementia, for the caregiver and for the person who knows someone with dementia.
My husband was recently diagnosed with early on-set dementia. He is only 57! We went to the library, upon his request to seek out a book or two from the view point of the person with dementia. What a fantastic idea! Can you imagine to our surprise and the librarian's who was helping us, that it was so difficult to find?! There are so many books about the disease and for the caregiver, so why not for the person who has been diagnosed with it?! There is a need for this! The person who has been diagnosed wants to know how others feel, what they are going through, what's to come from others like them. Upon coming up with nothing for him, the librarian told us she'll look more into it.
Later that afternoon she sent me an email about a book, this book, Speaking Our Minds (plus a whole bunch of different websites etc to educate and help me/us - what a wonderful person!). We picked up the book. Now, my husband isn't a reader, never has been. I was reading another library book about being a caregiver. Speaking Our Minds is kinda not what we were thinking it would be. The author interviewed 7 people. Each person has a chapter of their own. There is a little quote at the top of each chapter. That is what my husband read thinking he was done. It wasn't until I picked up the book for myself that I told him, the person's words are in the bold throughout the chapters. I've now read the book, got a lot out of it, and suggested he try picking it up again.
As I said, each person's words are in the bold, then the author writes about it. I would had liked to have seen more of the person talking than the author. Other from that, I liked how he interview 7 different people with different types of dementia and at different stages.
It's definitely a book to be read for both the person diagnosed with dementia, for the caregiver and for the person who knows someone with dementia.
March 3, 2014
Could have had less of the author's POV and more from the person diagnosed but regardless, a very interesting take on the disease/a side not usually shown. Not my typical type of book but was more than readable.
November 2, 2018
This book offers a wonderful introduction to the diversity of ways that dementia can alter life and perception. It helped me tune in to the aspects of my Dad's personality that persisted despite the curious habits and blank spaces that dementia had created for him.
May 5, 2013
Great read that helps you to understand how different people are affected by this disease. Also, makes you see them as people not the disease.
July 16, 2013
Very informative book about a very misunderstood disease. I would only recommend reading this if you know or are close to some one with this horrible disease.
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September 6, 2014insightful quick read. learned a lot about how to be most respectful of the needs of persons with Alzheimer's
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews