Visiting Mom : An Unexpected Gift [Paperback]

Sherry M. Bell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2000

An inspiring healing narrative as seen through the eyes of a caregiver and her mother who has Alzheimer's Disease. After ten years of in-home caregiving, the author, Sherry M. Bell, Ph.D. was forced to more her mother into a nursing home. Despite their close relationship, she immediately discovered that knowing how-to-visit did not come naturally. Sherry urgently sought new and different ways to improve communications with her mother. Her search led to numerous insights and heart-rending stories based on first-hand experience and current research.

The concepts in Visiting Mom are universal–family members of all ages can learn new and better ways to visit and communicate with leders in their own home, in senior apartments, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, hospitals or in a hospice. The opportunity to visit mom is best understood as a gift.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...story of a mother and daughter who continue to relate in a dignified way, long past when other give up." -- The Arizona Republic Newspaper

"We no longer need to be at a loss for things to talk about and do when we visit..." -- Northern Arizona Alzheimer's Council

From the Publisher

Sherry has written the only book that focuses on the "visiting experience" as it relates to elders. She goes beyond her personal experience by asking the reader to examine their own relationship with aging family members and then she suggests creative things to do and say during a visit. Early readers have all commented on the easy-to-read style, humor and insight throughout the book.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Elder Pr Inc; 2nd Edition edition (July 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967708109
• ISBN-13: 978-0967708102
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,101,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The personal vignettes touched me deeply, August 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Visiting Mom : An Unexpected Gift (Paperback)

Throughout the book Sherry Bell shares personal heartache and laughter in the personal vignettes. I looked forward to these as I read. They provided a most effective way of 'showing' someone who has not had a family member or friend with Alzheimer's, glimpses of life dealing with this condition. My heart was right with her all the way to the last page of the book.

This is a valuable read for everyone.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable, practical guide to caring for Alzheimer's parent, October 31, 2000

By 

Vicki Sullivan (Ocean City, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Visiting Mom : An Unexpected Gift (Paperback)

Sherry Bell's Visiting Mom is a practical guide to caring for a person with Alzheimer's, including coping with the difficult decision to institutionalize a parent. Sherry's concern for her mother's well-being and happiness is evident throughout the book, and she offers some very specific suggestions for making the visit more productive and more pleasant for all members of the family. Her agonizing over the ultimate decision to put her mother in a nursing home is a reminder that this action induces guilt in everyone, no matter how hard they have worked to maintain a good quality of life and to look out for the parent's best interests.

The suggestion to create a Memory Book was a particularly strong one, one that would give the patient something to focus on, and would help the caregiver direct the conversation toward topics that give the patient pleasure. I also liked the suggestion that tapes of music be used to calm the patient and help them reminisce about happy times in their life.

I wish this book had been available when one of my family was first diagnosed with Alzheimer's several years ago. This disease was new to us, and we expected some general confusion and slowing down, but did not know other symptoms that characterized the disease - the paranoia, the sense that people are stealing from them, the hiding of objects. This book is a fully realistic look at the progression of the disease, and would be extremely helpful for people caring for newly diagnosed patients. I recommend it highly.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great ideas to help the visiting-challenged among us!, August 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Visiting Mom : An Unexpected Gift (Paperback)

I loved this book--I was able to put these strategies to use immediately and make my life less stressful! It was so helpful in providing me with ways to make my visits to the nursing home meaningful and positive. I've also used the advice in this book with hospitalized friends and family, and visiting the elderly who don't have Alzheimers.

The author writes in such an engaging, sharing way. I found the book to be thoughtful and uplifting, while full of information to benefit both the visitor and visitee. Highly recommended!