Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey

The beloved best seller has been revised and expanded for the fifth edition. Jolene Brackey has a vision: that we will soon look beyond the challenges of Alzheimer's disease to focus more of our energies on creating moments of joy. When people have short-term memory loss, their lives are made up of moments. We are not able to create perfectly wonderful days for people with dementia or Alzheimer's, but we can create perfectly wonderful moments, moments that put a smile on their faces and a twinkle in their eyes. Five minutes later, they will not remember what we did or said, but the feeling that we left them with will linger. The new edition of Creating Moments of Joy is filled with more practical advice sprinkled with hope, encouragement, new stories, and generous helpings of humor. In this volume, Brackey reveals that our greatest teacher is having cared for and loved someone with Alzheimer's and that often what we have most to learn about is ourselves.

The beloved best seller has been revised and expanded for the fifth edition. Jolene Brackey has a vision: that we will soon look beyond the challenges of Alzheimer's disease to focus more of our energies on creating moments of joy. When people have short-term memory loss, their lives are made up of moments. We are not able to create perfectly wonderful days for people with dementia or Alzheimer's, but we can create perfectly wonderful moments, moments that put a smile on their faces and a twinkle in their eyes. Five minutes later, they will not remember what we did or said, but the feeling that we left them with will linger. The new edition ofCreating Moments of Joy is filled with more practical advice sprinkled with hope, encouragement, new stories, and generous helpings of humor. In this volume, Brackey reveals that our greatest teacher is having cared for and loved someone with Alzheimer's and that often what we have most to learn about is ourselves.

Acknowledgments
How to Use This Book
Prelude
Defining Moments
Signs
Get a Diagnosis
Early Stages
Understanding the Person
Family Moments
I Promised
“I Can’t Leave ’Em”
Love: Noun or Verb
Taking Care of Yourself
“They Look Great!”
Helping Hands
“I’m Here to Take Care of You!”
“You Can’t Drive”
Finances
Funerals (Should we take them?)
Outings with Less Stress
Holidays ‘n’ Family Reunions
People Stop Visiting
Not Forgotten
“Who Are You?”
What Do You Love?
What Does This Person Love?
You’ve Got Mail!
Challenging Moments
Development Level
Live Their Truth
“I Want to Go Home
Stop Correcting Them
You Are Wrong … They Are Right
Blame It on Something Else
Your Mood Affects Their Mood
Illusion of Choice
“My Mom Never …”
Swearing
Vomited On
The Facts Are All Off
“See” Authority
Everything Gets Lost
Replace, Replace, Replace
Glasses Dentures Hearing Aids
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Nonsense!
The “Spin”
Saturate Their Obsessions
Kick-Starting
Joy
Look Good, Feel Good, Play Good
Honey, Dearie, Sweetie
Men … Being Gentle-men
Socially Engaged
Moments of Discomfort
Hallucinations
Sundowning
Wandering, Hoarding, Combative
Age Appropriate
Confidentiality
Let’s Talk about Sex
Traumatic Moments
Violent Moments
Basic Right to Live
Taking Them to the Doctor?
Medication
Transitioning Moments
When Is It Time to Move?
Choosing a Care Community
What to Expect
Creating a Safe Haven
“Where’s My Room?”
Playing Favorites
Remember Their Greatness
Habits of a Lifetime
Personal Questionnaire
How Did They Love You?
Memory Box
Life Reflection
Music Does Wonders
A Commercial about TV
Ring, Ring, Ring
This Is Not Your Room!
It’s Saturday Night!
Where’s the Outhouse?
Suppertime!!!!!
Get Your Zzz’s
Enhanced Moments
So You Wanna Visit?
Let’s Talk Communication
Quality Connections
Yes ‘n’ No Questions
“How Are You?”
When In Doubt … Laugh
Share Your Life
Magic Words
Saying Goodbye
Sparking Moments
Child ‘n’ Pet Therapy
Art vs Crafts
“Help Me”
Drink Up
Walking, Walking, Walking
Quiet as a Church Mouse
Breaking of Bread
Final Moments
Windows in the Brain
Late Stages
Power of Touch
Final Moments
Be Gentle
Just Breathe
Be Like a Duck
Be Like the Sun
Spiritual Strength
The Beginning
Consider
Create a Moment
About the Author