Courage to Care: A Caregiver's Guide Through Each Stage of Alzheimer's [Paperback]

Joanne Parrent (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2001

Alzheimer's disease is often referred to as a family disease because of the constant emotional strain it places on family members as they watch their loved ones slowly slip away. But for those left with caring for their loved ones, the emotional, physical, and financial toll can be enormous-so much so that most caregivers fail to take care of themselves and become depressed, ill and unable to continue their role as caregiver. Courage to Care: A Caregiver's Companion Through the Stages of Alzheimer's helps to ease the burden of those who have accepted this labor of love by providing them with knowledge and coping strategies to make it through each stage of this progressive and complicated disease. The book focuses not only on how to deal with the emotional issues associated with the disease, but provides specific advice on how to make life easier and more enjoyable for both the loved one and the caregiver.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Courage to Carehelps ease the burden of those who have accepted this labor of love by providing them with knowledge and coping strategies to make it through each stage of this progressive and complicated disease. The book focuses not only on how to deal with the emotional issues associated with the disease, but offers advice on how to make life easier and more enjoyable for both the loved one and the caregiver. Each chapter includes a real-life caregiver's story related to the content of the chapter, to remind readers that they are not alone.

About the Author

A successful author and screenwriter, Joanne Parrent majored in American Culture at the University of Michigan and received her degree in Communications from UCLA. She began her career in the film industry, writing, producing, and directing documentary films. Among her credits in the documentary field is The Healing Force, a feature-length documentary released in theaters, about Norman Cousins' remarkable recovery from a life-threatening illness. Parrent has written dramatic screenplays for Walt Disney Productions and Bette Midler's All Girl Productions, mini-series for PBS, and series television, including the CBS hit Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Parrent is the author of four nonfiction books and has edited several other published books. Among her books are Life After Johnnie Cochran (HarperCollins, 1995), Once More with Feeling (Dove Books, 1997), and You'll Never Make Love in This Town Again (Dove Books, 1996). The latter was on The New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists for over four months. In the late 1970s, Parrent was an editor of Chrysalis, a women's art and literary magazine. At that time she also served on the board of The Woman's Building, a space for women artists and writers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 1st edition (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028642023
• ISBN-13: 978-0028642024
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #846,212 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone eventually might well need this book., October 31, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Courage to Care: A Caregiver's Guide Through Each Stage of Alzheimer's (Paperback)

Joanne Parrent, in her COURAGE TO CARE, gives hope to anyone with an elderly parent or other loved one. ... Parrent's carefully thought through, detailed discussion of what to expect and how to handle each eventuality made my own life much easier and less guilt-ridden. I could be in the moment with my mother and stop worrying about whether she would remember what we'd done the minute before. Parrent also made me feel better about employing skilled home workers who lovingly, not only cared for my mother, but also sat with her, talking and playing music. I learned from Parrent's book that we had to live each minute at a time. ...THE COURAGE TO CARE was invaluable to me, as I know it will be for everyone who reads it. In fact, I wish I'd read this important book sooner so that I could have prepared myself for the inevitable. The crash course of reading the book, nonetheless, worked for me, as I know it will for others with loved ones who are losing their mental faculties. Parrent deserves a huge commendation for getting all this material into one book and making it readable, indeed engrossing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for caregivers of Alzheimer sufferers., September 13, 2007

By 

C. Speert (Parlin NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Courage to Care: A Caregiver's Guide Through Each Stage of Alzheimer's (Paperback)

I am enjoying reading this book because it is easy to read & understand the various stages of Alzheimers. I find the personal statements helpful as well.

I think it is easier to relate to what is happening to my Mom since I have started reading it.

5.0 out of 5 stars It's great!!, May 19, 2011

By 

Jacqueline J Cross (NEW ORLEANS, LA, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Courage to Care: A Caregiver's Guide Through Each Stage of Alzheimer's (Paperback)

This book is for anyone trying to care for a loved one with Dementia/Alzheimers. We have learned so much about what changes we were seeing in our Dad and what to look for in the future. After reading this book, we feel better equiped to make decisions regarding his current care and what we need to prepare for in his future, also when we can no longer care for him at home.