In Episode 15 of Alz in the Fam, the four Fair siblings each share a book that has helped them in the Alzheimer’s caregiving journey. These books, while all different, all have helped the Fair siblings grapple with the topic of Alzheimer’s.
First up, Boni shared a book called Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey, a fiction book that shares the story of Maud, an aging grandmother, and her family as she descends into Alzheimer’s. For Boni, Maud has many similarities to their mom, Carmen, and the book is both relatable and moving. Maud and Carmen are both strong willed, independent women who are aware of peoples’ moods around them, even as their memories fade.
Trissi discussed her book next – How to Talk So Kids Can Learn by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. While its originally written for kids, Trissi has found many tips that are incredibly helpful to interacting with and respecting the emotions of Carmen, such as ‘indulge in their fantasies’ and ‘make it feel like their decision’.
For Allan’s choice, he shared The Urban Monk by Pedram Shojai – a book that taught him how to find satisfaction with stillness and create habits that increase his overall wellbeing. This book helped him grapple with the guilt and frustration he felt due to the distance from his mom and her Alzheimer’s progression.
Lastly, Poli brought Brain Food by Dr. Lisa Mosconi as her book of choice. Dr. Mosconi is both a neuroscientist and a certified integrative nutritionist and in this book, she shares what food our bodies require to best benefit our brains. She has even recreated the typical food pyramid to showcase what we should really be eating. Poli has taken a lot of her tips into practice, as the right diet can help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s.
Funny enough, all four siblings discovered that they eat the same breakfast every day – a meal full of the foods that Dr. Lisa Mosconi encourages us to eat.
All of these books are available on Amazon! While the Fair siblings are no experts, the authors that they shared here are. These books have really helped the Fair family in their caregiving process and encourage anyone in a similar situation to check them out, whether they are on their own mental health journey or that of a loved one.
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