Connecting the Dots

Half the five million people in America with Alzheimer's disease are in the middle to late stages. The accepted notion of the medical establishment is that it is impossible to communicate with these individuals, and family members and friends should give up hope of being able to salvage a real relationship with their loved ones with Alzheimer's. By working with Alzheimer's patients and their families for more than sixteen years, author Judith London has learned that this is false, and, in fact, people can learn how to connect the dots of scattered information offered by people with Alzheimer's and maintain a sense of connection with their loved ones. Connecting the Dots shows readers how to reach the minds and hearts of people with middle to late stage Alzheimer's who may no longer initiate conversation. Compelling and inspiring anecdotes from the author's work reveal the depth of feeling and insight still present in advanced Alzheimer's patients. After each anecdote, the author explains the technique she used to draw meaning from the Alzheimer's patient's communication, then shows readers how to use it with their loved ones. The book also includes chapters of pertinent, accessible information on Alzheimer's that will help readers understand how the brain is affected by the disease.

About the Author :
Judith L. London, PhD, is a psychologist licensed in New York and California who has treated people with Alzheimer's and other dementias in public long-term care facilities for more than sixteen years. She has been adjunct professor at New York University, a stress management trainer and workshop leader, and a featured columnist on addictions. London conducts seminars on Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and maintaining brain health. Foreword writer Jane E. Brody writes the Personal Health column for The New York Times and is author of several books, including Jane Brody's Guide to the Great Beyond, Jane Brody's Good Food Book, Jane Brody's Nutrition Book, and Jane Brody's Good Seafood Book.

Review :
"We all know the difficult decisions and anguish that we go through as loved ones of people with Alzheimer's. Judith London has distilled her years of experience and organized the information in a way that is easy to understand, constructive, and even positive. My mother has been very slowly losing her memory, and through London, I have come to understand that much of my mother's communication difficulties are not only due to her poor memory, but also to her need to receive reassurance that her concerns have been addressed. On Thanksgiving, I instructed my children not to slough off my mother's concerns, but rather to engage her in a conversation about them, answering her questions lovingly and patiently. What a difference this made in enabling my mother to let go of her worries. I highly recommend this guidebook to anyone facing the travails of Alzheimer's. London's guide will be a priceless gift to yourself and you deserve to have it." --Karen Salzer, Ph.D.