The 36-Hour Day : A Family Guide to Caring for Persons With Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life

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Summary: Hope Exists
Review: One of the most heart-wrenching experiences that adult children have to face is the knowledge that mom or dad is mentally whithering away bit by bit right in front of their eyes. When this happens, these children often do not know where to turn for help or guidance. In THE THIRTY-SIX HOUR DAY by Mace and Rabins, what can be done and what must be done is clearly outlined. It is tragic that the majority of readers of this book are the ones who now find themselves in that unhappy circumstance. Mace and Rabins explain exactly what typically happens to senior parents whose mental and physical faculties erode with the passing of time. The most common culprits are Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Mace and Rabins explain the nature of these and other similar crippling diseases. When senior parents are affected, not only their lives are turned upside-down. All too frequently, the lives of their children are affected too, sometimes ruinously. A secondary tragedy is that this time of decline need not be as ruinous as first perceived. Mace and Rabins set up a step-by-step plan to insure that this pain of decline is minimized and attempts to maintain basic human dignity for those affected are maximized. The authors suggest that the children of those affected reach out to available community services to include health care workers, insurance aids, nursing homes, and public and private resources. They emphasize that the families of those who are undergoing mental decline need not necessarily face financial and emotional collapse. There are definitely many courses of action that nearly every family can take, even those families of modest financial resources. Last week, I helped to put my father who suffers from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases into a quality nursing home in Fort Lauderdale. Thanks to this wonderful book, what could have been a major tragedy for my family became instead another obstacle that was successfully surmounted and one more confused old man regained a semblance of the dignity that he felt sure was long gone.

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Summary: Knowing is Half the Battle for Caregivers
Review: Sometimes we prefer surprises in life. When it comes to caring for loved ones with dementia, surprises are generally not welcomed. In the 36-Hour Day, caregivers receive so much information about symptoms, progression of the disease, and behavioral changes to expect that readers often comment "I'm sure this book was written about my family!" In the last several years, I seldom do a workshop on Elder topics that this book is not mentioned and highly recommended by caregivers. Knowing what to expect is half the battle especially since caring for someone with dementia/Alzheimer's easily can lend itself to burnout and untold family conflict. I highly recommend this book both to formal and informal caregivers of those with dementia

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Summary: A Caregiver's book
Review: The 36-Hour Day touches on topics that will become the stuff your life is made of if you are a caregiver. The book discusses the stages of the disease, behavioral issues and prescriptive advise for caregivers. It is essential reading for those who care for someone with Alzheimer's disease.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for entire family system, especially the caregiver
Review: The book is informative, explicit for people who know nothing about mental health and diseases of the mind. Good for the lay person, the afflicted person, all of the family. Gives insight and helps with understanding care of the patient, and the grief involved for those around the patient. Good reference--I will be using it in a church group setting also.

Rating:
Summary: So disappointed!
Review: The print is too small! I ordered this book, sight unseen, for my elderly sister, who is the care-giver for her blind, Alzheimer-ish husband. Who would have thought that the publishers would have selected an inappropriate font size? Carol Clivio

Rating:
Summary: Essential for families experiencing Alzheimer's
Review: The small type notwithstanding, this book has been so helpful to us in understanding how to deal with our family member and her spouse. Each experience we have had seems to be covered; I wish we had bought this when we first noticed symptoms, long before she was diagnosed, and long before her spouse would admit there was a problem. However, we did find that when we gave it to the (elderly) spouse, he did not read it and found the large amount of material daunting. I don't think a smaller type face would have helped, as the other reviewers indicated, because it would have then been even a longer, larger book. What he finally *would* read was only a brochure from the doctor, which was very basic.

Rating:
Summary: A "Must Have" for anyone dealing with Alzheimer's
Review: This book covers every aspect of the disease, and will be dog eared and reread as things progress. It helps the reader understand what is happening, how to deal with a person's deterioration more effectively, useful strategies, and preparation for the next phase of the disease. You will feel that you are not alone, and the book provides a sense of comfort and empowerment in dealing with this catastrophic illness. It was by the bedside table on each member of the family, during the entire 7 and a half year decline of a loved one. An essential resource.

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Summary: The "CADILLAC" of books on Alzheimer's 5 stars *****
Review: This book, the 36 Hour Day, not only tells you ABOUT Alzheimer's, but it EXPLAINS how it affects the person with the disease, but also the family and the caregiver. If anyone you know is dealing with the terrible truths of this disease, recommend that they READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!! Nicole

Rating:
Summary: The number one book about Alzheimer's disease
Review: This is the most recommended book about Alzheimer's Disease. It is required reading for every caregiver. The first Alzheimer's Association chapter I contacted sent me a copy of it the first time I called them, and for that I will always be grateful. Not until I had read this book did I better understand Alzheimer's and what it was doing to my mother. Read every book you can find on Alzheimer's, but you'll probably want to read this one first.

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Summary: This is an old edition! - latest published in 1999
Review: This review is not about the quatity of the book. So far I find it to be full of excellent advise and information.

THIS IS AN OLD EDITION! I was shocked to discover a third edition in a book store last night. The latest edition contains updated information about current treatments, the latest financial information and nursing home legislation.

So buy the book but get the third edition. It is paperback and has different cover.