Rating: 
Summary: A Trip into the Dementia Zone
Review: As I read this book I was captivated! This could be my dad Jacqueline Marcell was writing about. The book made me feel like I wasn't dealing with the unknown, and had a LOT of insight and helpful hints to direct me to where I needed to go to get my dad the help he needs. Plus I feel that as time goes on, many many people will get the bennifit from this book. I hope, pray, beg and plead with professionals to READ THIS BOOK. Sometimes the doctors DON'T know everything about the situation, and they need to listen to family memebers that are having to deal with it. With better understanding the persons affected can get better care. Kudos for Jacqueline Marcell for sharing her personal experience with the rest us AND giving us the hope we need in a seemingly hopeless situation.
Rating:
Summary: Been there, done that
Review: What a wonderful book! Reading the book brought smiles as well as tears, especially for someone experiencing a similar situation. This book is highly recommended for caregivers/family seeing the initial signs of dementia, whether it be from Alzheimer's disease, multi-infarct,or and other cause. Reading of Jackie's tough times will ease the burden of caregivers when questioning "what do I do?" I wish I had this information 10 years ago when I began my journey with mom and dad. Wonderful, wonderful book!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Elder Rage
Review: This is a book all practicing physicians should be required to read and a book all sons and daughters of individuals over the age of 70 should read. The subject should be a core course in medical school. The author provides, not only the incredible story of her caregiving experience, but excellent resource information. I could have done without all the "funny" comments but the basic information provided is well worth the price of this book. Aging is a part of life. Some age better than others. However, most of us are going to provide caregiving activities to our parents/spouse/close friend at some time in our lives. This book provides a map on how to do it and retain your sanity.
Rating:
Summary: Lessons and laughs
Review: In addition to all the positive comments in earlier reviews about how helpful Jacqueline's book is in helping us understand what our aging parents and their children/caregivers may be experiencing, three other points caught my attention: 1)YOU have to be the patient advocate and really push through the medical beaurocracy, ignorance, apathy etc. Even the good physicians may have such overloaded schedules that they don't spot the key signs of early dementia. 2) Likewise YOU have to be well aware and acquainted with THE SYSTEM, be it law enforcement, Medicaire, Adult Protective Services etc., even if you don't have a raging parent. 3) Give this book to your children. We are all aging and likely to have some form of dementia if we live long enough. It might even help you modify current unpleasant behaviours in yourself or your partner that will otherwise escalate in severity over time.
Rating:
Summary: Hey....you baby boomers out there........
Review: ....I have become a parent for the first, and only, time to my parents. The journey toward their eventual departure has been very difficult; however, ElderRage helped me understand what was happening to my father and gave me some of the tools to cope with and help him, as well as my mother. For ANY child caring for a parent, this is a down to earth, warm, humorous 'manual' to get you thru one of the most difficult transitions you will ever encounter...
Rating:
Summary: Rage, Rage against the Dying of the Light
Review: "Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."Dylan Thomas may not have been waxing poetic of the type rage exhibitted by Jacqueline Marcell's father, Jake. A life-long control freak, Jake's proclivity to rage was exacerbated by old age dementia and Alzheimer's. He was not a good candidate to be his own caretaker, let alone to have caretaking responsibility for his ailing wife. Having driven away his son years ago, Jacqueline is, basically, an only child dealing with co-dependent aging parents. This reader is a die-hard Cub fan , and so is familiar with the major tenets (no not pennants - we haven't had one of those since 1945!) of martyrdom, but Holy Cow! This woman put up with more [stuff](literally and figuratively) than I would or could. Of course, most of us could not abandon our own lives for 9+ months in physical residence - and then the daily myriad phone calls (& concomitant bills) thereafter with the live-in caretaker, the "Amazing Ariana" - should we be so fortunate as to actually be blessed with such a Saint. The book, which could be gloomier that a bleak Russian novel, is rescued by Jackie's sense of humour. She intimately shares her trials and triumphs with the reader, who becomes engrossed in the saga (continued on the author's website.) The story is compelling and the insights and references indispensable. For instance - fear and frustration at transient loss of memory and orientation often trigger an outburst. ("Rage, rage against the dying of the light!") The calm reassurance that the parent is just having a fleeting bout of the dementia, will often stave off a full-scale blowout. If you are of an age where you know the words to the original uncut version of InnaGoddaDivida, you probably either already need this book to understand a relative or you're going to need it soon. This book is an essential guide to the journey. Get it now, before you forget!
Rating: 
Summary: Been there & done that!
Review: As one caring for a mother with dementia, I've not put up with all this author did--I immediately fired Mom's Dr. & called the Alzheimer's Association, and I found the help I needed. Indeed, many physicians prefer to treat the clinical aliments of old age (heart problems, blood pressure, diabetes, flu, UTI, etc.) and simply won't address the mental decline whatsoever. If the reader searches the Internet or lives in a major metropolitan area, it is very possible that the resources available will address the education, legal, and advocacy issues associated with dementia in a more helpful manner. As Ms. Marcell describes, the presentation of a person with dementia in social situations (including Doctor's visits) very often appears to be higher functioning than it is in the home environment. Geriatric dementia oriented medical professionals are highly educated on this aspect of dementia and are able to look for the presence of dementia in ways other than how the patient relates to them when in the office. Some of what I read angered me, and I noticed there was no mention of joining a local support group--a most valuable resource for up-to-date information and networking with others in your area for honest discussions on who/what works & doesn't. Ms. Marcell realistically describes her ordeal of finding a full-time caregiver, and her ability to be so truthful regarding this subject can be helpful to those contemplating this type of in-home care. I found the insights revealed and the lessons learned in the last chapter (before the Q & A section) to be the most relevant information in the book. The book is a fast read although some sections and chapters were either way too trying, vague, or convoluted to be of much value.
Rating:
Summary: Very Helpful
Review: This book was amazingly helpful and very easy reading. The reader gets involved in the lives of Mariel & Jake and picks up many helpful hints on elder care from their daughter the author. This book helped me understand how frustrated my mother feels dealing with dementia and that my feelings as a caregiver are natural. There are tips ranging from safety to finding the right treatment and keeping elders interested in life. These are all relayed in the true life adventures of Mariel & Jake. I highly recommend this book to anyone dealing with an elder with dementia.
Rating:
Summary: Elder Rage
Review: Ms. Marcells books was very helpful. Not only was it entertaining and funny, but insightful. Having to care for older parents myself, I realized that there are other people dealing with the same issues. She helped me to realize that I was not alone, and also that I was not not coming unglued. I have to say that the information that she provided has helped me to understand and deal with the absolutly most difficult time in my life.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Disappointing. Unless you have a LO who suffers from rage as well as a dementing disease I don't think you will find much here. Most caretakers deal with more mundane things, the repeated questions, wandering, our LO trying to sort out who is who and other basic activities. I would venture that Ms. Marcell's experiences, while interesting, are not entirely typical of one with ONLY a dementing illness. Her father had problems that LONG preceded his dementia.
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