Don't Rain On My Parade: Living a Full Life with Alzheimer's and Dementia

Don’t Rain On My Parade addresses a crucial question in an aging world with over 20 million people globally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia each year. If you have dementia, how can you plan to “live a full life” as an independent, adult being—a life that is complete and filled will thousands of positive moments? The book is a “how to” based on research, psychology and the stories of many heroes living fully with dementia and shouting out their experiences and needs in books and blogs. It offers a positive, person-centered approach to Alzheimer’s written directly to people in the early and mid-stages (and their associated family/friends/caregivers). It offers communication, living with hope, dealing with anger, humor, preserving a personal history and many more ideas to support living intentionally, independently and happily. What is unique about this book is that it was written for people with dementia. Brian LeBlanc, living with early-onset Alzheimer’s, writes in the Foreword: Richard Fenker’s book speaks to everyone living with dementia. You see, Alzheimer’s really doesn’t have me. I don’t like when people say I suffer from Alzheimer’s or I am an Alzheimer’s patient. I am simply “living with Alzheimer’s” and, although every day is a challenge, I live it fully. The magic of Fenker’s book is that it is all about me and people like me. Everyone living with Alzheimer’s has to make a crucial choice --- whether or not to show up the next day and decide to live fully. When you make this choice, it opens a whole world of possibilities for you that offer joy, humor, the gift of communication, hope, and much more. The core message of the book is that, with some help, you can live a full life as an independent adult with dementia, a life filled with thousands of joyful moments. It is the first, significant, practical guide that speaks directly to this population and their care partners. As Chapter 1 describes, living fully depends on “Making a Choice” to not let the negativity that surrounds society’s view of dementia become your reality. Chapters on happiness, rethinking aging, embracing your personal history and communication support living positively. The use of today’s technology to support your life with dementia and to create smart, supportive environments also helps. Read more