Catch a Falling Star: Living With Alzheimer's [Paperback]

Betty Baker Spohr (Author), Jean Valens Bullard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1995

Catch a Falling Star will deepen, for both patient and caregiver, understanding of day-to-day living with Alzheimer's disease. Based on Betty Baker Spohr's personal journals, written as she cared for her husband Hank, this book records their experiences as they met the challenge of Hank's inevitable decline. A story of love, courage, and truth that will comfort, inspire, and inform those who come in contact with Alzheimer's sufferers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A brave, helpful and even humorous account of 'the long goodbye,' written with love for the person lost and compassion for the caregivers who face this most cruel of all diseases. A valuable, practical addition to the limited but growing library of Alzheimer's literature." -- Tim Ryan, CBS Sports, whose wife suffers from Alzheimer's. An article about Tim and Lee appeared in the New York Times on Nov. 29,1997.

"A great book chronicling Alzheimer's disease. . . A humorous and informative story of the day-to-day life for spouses, relatives, friends and caregivers." -- Feminist Bookstore News

"A moving and tender account of a woman's 11-year struggle of caring and coping during her husband's Alzheimer's disease. . . . also includes practical tips for. . . Alzheimer's caregivers." -- National Alzheimer's Assn. Newsletter

Catch A Falling Star: Living With Alzehimer's is an inspirational book by Betty Baker Spohr, whose husband developed Alzheimer's disease at the outset of their retirement. Almost overwhelmed by passions that rebelled against her husband's unavoidable decline, Betty took time to chronicle and sketch her struggle and the uninvited challenge it brought them. Despite its tragic dimension, Betty's "picture" story is also amply laced with humor. Catch A Falling Star is accessible to the general reader because of its easy-to-=read journal entries and pencil drawings. Over half of the book is made up of sketches by Betty, a professional artist and designer. Catch A Falling Star is a much needed resource for spouses, children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends of Alzheimer's sufferers. It is a practical and timely resource with a "Points to Remember" section at the end of every chapter listing helpful suggestions for caregivers who continuously face new and often surprising difficulties. -- Midwest Book Review

About the Author

After graduating from Skidmore College with a fine arts degree, Betty Baker worked in freelance card and package design, mannequin making and retail window design in New York City and New Jersey where she grew up. Her marriage to engineer Hank Spohr took her around the world and perfected her skills in fashion design and block printing. At retirement, Betty received the shattering diagnosis of Hank's Alzheimer's disease. Catch a Falling Star is her story of ten years spent coping with and caring for Hank at home.

Product Details

• Paperback: 215 pages
• Publisher: Storm Peak Pr (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096413571X
• ISBN-13: 978-0964135710
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,414,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unblinking look at the disease's impact on victim & family, July 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Catch a Falling Star: Living With Alzheimer's (Paperback)

Betty Spohr's frank first-hand observations about a devasting disease help those who follow her solid path as a care giver to her husband.. Her overriding love for her husband powers her to use her considerable creative resources to shepherd him (and herself) as the effects of the disease accellerate. If readers dread plunging into a book about one of the most feared downsides of the increased life span phenomenon, this book has a surprisingly light-handed touch.

5.0 out of 5 stars Help for Caretakers, August 17, 2009

By 

Dancing Eagle "I AM" (Aspen, CO) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Catch a Falling Star: Living With Alzheimer's (Paperback)

This book became our resource. My brother and I taking care of our Father and Mother. We could relate to "we are on Page 27" and know exactly what we meant without discussing the details in front of them. A MUST HAVE for any child taking care of their elderly parent! And for PARENTS... please have the discussion with your children and let them know your wishes for help and care ...it is not a taboo topic.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Catch a Falling Star, July 26, 2008

By 

Carole J. Dyck "Grandma Bunda" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Catch a Falling Star: Living With Alzheimer's (Paperback)

I didn't care for this book at all. I bought it to help me understand family member with dementia. It really didn't help. There were others that were better in my opinion.