Alzheimer's - Finding the Words: A Communication Guide for Those Who Care [Paperback]

Harriet Hodgson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 24, 1995 | ISBN-10: 0471346578 | ISBN-13: 978-0471346579 | Edition: 1

Former president Ronald Reagan's disclosure of his Alzheimer's disease has helped show the country that Alzheimer's is nothing to be ashamed of and getting it is no one's fault. Alzheimer's is a common condition that currently afflicts 4 million Americans and touches another 20 million family members who care for them.

From the point of view of someone who's been there, Alzheimer's: Finding the Words shows family members how the disease affects speech -- and how to communicate with a faltering mind.

This helpful communication guide also includes a short-term memory questionnaire, the latest research findings, and insightful interviews with physicians, caregivers, family members, and patients.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (May 24, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471346578
• ISBN-13: 978-0471346579
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Harriet Hodgson has been writing for 30+ years, is the author of 28 books, and hundreds of print and Internet articles. She has written about a variety of topics, including child nutrition, sexual harassment, Alzheimer's disease, aging, and caregiving.

All of her writing comes from experience and Hodgson's recent work focuses on loss, grief and recovery. She is the author of Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief, written with Lois Krahn, MD. Hodgson is also the autor of Writing to Recover: The Journey from Loss and Grief to a New Life and the Writing to Recover Journal, which contains 100 journaling jump-starts.

A popular speaker, Hodgson has given presentations at nutrition, Alzheimer's, hospice and grief conferences. She has appeared on more than 160 radio talk shows and dozens of television stations, including CNN. When she was in the CNN studio in Chicago, a small fire broke out in the studio one minute before air time. Though it was smothered, Hodgson was still nervous when the program began.

Hodgson is a contributing writer for the Open to Hope Foundation website and a columnist for Caregiving in America magazine. Her work is cited in Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who in America, World Who's Who of Women, and Contemporary Authors. She is a GRG -- grandparent raising grandchildren -- and lives in Rochester, MN with her husband and twin grandchildren.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars not one of the best, March 27, 2002

By 

sacamed again "eisde" (Grand Junction, Co United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alzheimer's - Finding the Words: A Communication Guide for Those Who Care (Paperback)

I may have read too many books on Alzheimer's but this book was not as encouraging or as informative and many of the others I have read.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For patients in the advanced stages, March 29, 2003

By 

Ann M. Williams (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alzheimer's - Finding the Words: A Communication Guide for Those Who Care (Paperback)

This book will probably be helpful to me later, but because it deals more with patients in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, it's not helpful in my situation. Perhaps the problem is with the description or title of the book as I couldn't tell the content until I'd bought it. I gave it 3 stars because it is probably good for latter-stage patient care-givers.

5.0 out of 5 stars informative rather than depressing, March 30, 2011

By 

Sequence Master (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alzheimer's - Finding the Words: A Communication Guide for Those Who Care (Paperback)

I put off reading books on Alzheimer's thinking that my Mother's condition was already depressing enough as it progressed. But I was wrong, I read this book trying to find better ways to act and react with her and it was uplifting to find new keys to her conciousness. She is now in as assited care facility that is wonderful, I see her every day, and have learned new ways to reach her with joy. Thanks Harriet for sharing your pain and knowledge to help others.