Books About LBD Care Partnering

This week’s blog is about the books about LBD care partnering. Pat Snyder offers several in her video. The titles below are links to each of the books she recommends along with a few comments.

Here is Pat's video.

Books that Pat recommended (except for ours):

• Treasures in the Darkness by Pat Snyder. Pat’s story is a must read, especially for those just starting out on their LBD journey.
• Facing LBD Together by the LBDA. This free booklet presents the basics and comes with Medical Alert Wallet Card.
• Dementia Care Partners Workshop by Dr. A good way to learn the basics about dementia care partnering.
• Keeping Love Alive as Memories Fade by Deborah Barr. Practical suggestions for using aspects of your loved one’s past to help them function better in the present.
• The 36-Hour Day by Nancy L Mace and Dr. Peter V Rabins. This is the first book Jim read when he started on this journey over 20 years ago. Of course, it has been updated many times since them.

These are the Christian daily devotional or meditation books recommended by Pat. If you want to find something more specific to your own spiritual beliefs check with your spiritual leader, but as Pat says, don't neglect this part of your journey--a healthy spirit makes the other parts of the journey easier.

• Creating Moment of Joy by Jolene Brackley.
• Grace for the Unexpected Journey by Deborah Barr
• Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.
• Jesus Always by Sarah Young.

Pat also recommends two of our books. Links to these books are as always, at the bottom of this blog entry.

• Managing Cognitive Issues. This book explores the early symptoms and diseases such as Parkinson’s that often progress into LBD and helps you know what to look for and how to deal with it. It also has a huge section on alternative therapies and how to use them.
• Responsive Dementia Care. Pat said this is her favorite of all our books and yes, it is mine too. Dealing with dementia-related behaviors is often the most difficult job for a LBD care partner. Add to this the fact that drugs can often make the situation worse instead of better. This book explains how these dementia changes the brain and offers a variety of methods, both with and without drugs, for dealing with the resulting behaviors.

There are a couple of our books that Pat didn’t mention because she doesn’t have them in her library. (We’ll have to change that!)

• A Caregiver’s Guide to Lewy Body Dementia. Published in late 2010, this was the primary book for LBD caregivers for several years. Even today, with many other books out there, it continues to be a favorite of LBD support group members.
• Lewy Body Dementia, A Manual for Staff. Written for staff, this book includes the same basic information as the Guide does. However, it also includes a condensed version of the behavior management information in our Responsive Dementia Care book. We priced it reasonably so that care partners could give it to their helpers as gifts.

For more recommendations, you can visit LBDA.org and check out their books page.

For more information about Lewy body disorders, read our books:
A Caregiver’s Guide to Lewy Body Dementia.
Managing Cognitive Issues in Parkinson's and Lewy Body Dementia
Responsive Dementia Care: Fewer Behaviors Fewer Drugs
Lewy Body Dementia, A Manual for Staff

Helen and James Whitworth are not doctors, lawyers or social workers. As informed caregivers, they share the information here for educational purposes only. It should never be used instead of a professional's advice.