I’m
normally a romance writer. I like knowing there are Happy Endings ahead. I like
watching characters learn more about themselves as their relationships develop.
I like seeing them grow stronger and learn to love themselves as they learn to
love their partner as well.
A
nonfiction book is very different from contemporary romance. But, surprisingly,
this one is just as focused on love.
Romantic
Love
My dad
died more than 20 years ago. Mom found new love again with a man who loved
music as much as she did. He played, she danced (thus the title). Many of the
titles in the book share titles with songs and their love shines through in
some of the stories.
Family
Love
This is
probably the most obvious in the book. We’re a small immigrant family and have
always been close. Making sure Mom knows/remembers she is loved despite the
dementia clouding her brain and her memories is our #1 priority. It shows up in
the mantra we needed for a while: Safe First, Happy Second.
Friendship
Love
Mom has
always been a good friend to others. She continues this in the nursing home. At
first she even performed official Volunteer duties in the home and had the
badge and hat to prove it!
Chocolate
Love
Over the
past few years, favourite foods have helped us help Mom through some extremely
difficult times. Even now, Mom can get sad when we leave the nursing home. Having
a treat for her (dark chocolate is her favourite!) as we leave lets us leave
her with a smile on her face.
In
Dancing With Dementia, you’ll see all these kinds of love throughout the
stories in the book. You’ll see our family members learn more about each other
and grow stronger and closer as the disease progresses.
So,
while dementia doesn’t have the same kind of happy ending as the romance
stories I write, it’s still filled with the most important ingredient in life.
Love.
****
Dementia and Alzheimer’s touch the
lives of millions around the world, but so much is still unknown.
As first-generation Canadians, we didn’t
recognize the early warning signs. We didn’t know the differences between
regular aging and the early stages of dementia. We’ve made mistakes but we’ve
learned a lot.
DANCING WITH DEMENTIA will help you:
• Identify
those early warning signs
• Use
visuals to improve communication
• Choose
your words wisely
• Redirect
and reassure
• Stay
calm and cope with your own emotions
• Consider
nursing home options
• Improve
caregiver self-care
We’ve learned to dance the early steps
of the disease with our love and laughter intact. If you are looking for help
recognizing early signposts along with practical ways to cope with early
Dementia and Alzheimer’s, this book is for you.
Dancing With Dementia is available
now!
***
Jemi Fraser writes both fiction and
nonfiction. Her nonfiction work focuses on the ways that dementia has impacted
her family. Her fiction work varies from contemporary romance to suspense and
flash fiction. Years as a teacher have taught Jemi that life is short and that
happy endings are a must.
Jemi lives in Northern Ontario, Canada
where snow is always a topic of conversation and the autumn leaves make
everything better.
Thanks so much for hosting Dancing With Dementia! I appreciate your support!!! :)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Jemi. I don't know when Blogger changed the settings and started holding the comments for moderation. Anyway, I fiddled around and hopefully all comments would show now.
DeleteThanks - that definitely makes it easier! :) Gotta love when blogger has a mind of its own :)
DeleteI hope you and yours are safe.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
Thanks :)
DeleteSounds like it touches on a lot of emotional themes. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachel - it was extremely emotional to write!! :)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, this book sounds great and to address this topic is such a good thing. I hope that you are having a good day!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cindy - we knew nothing about dementia when it slammed into our family. We hope this book can help others!
DeleteHi Nas and Jemi - I love this post ... such a wonderful brief explanation of how love can be ... especially as people age and particularly here as you've shown with your mother's dementia. It will I'm sure help many others ... all the best - and give you many positive thoughts of the difficult times, as well as with your life of happiness with your mother and family. Congratulations - take care - Hilary
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilary! Mom has always been full of joy and love so it's great to see that isn't always affected by dementia!
DeleteThanks for the interesting post!
ReplyDeleteThanks Meliane!
DeleteThat does sound like an important read, especially for anyone who knows someone with dementia or suspects someone they know has it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Suzanne - I hope it helps others!!
DeleteSuch an interesting post and great books. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteNew Post - https://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com/2020/04/nikel-eye-cream-with-chestnut_10.html
Thank you :)
Deletehp deskjet 2652 driver
ReplyDeletehp deskjet 2652 driver
There are all types of love. I'm glad that this book has got out there. I recently had a LYFT client who works with memory patients and she was only 21 and struggling a lot and I bet she was glad that she had a job and taking care of people who needed her.
ReplyDeleteLove really surrounds us in its many forms! Good for your friend - it's not an easy job!
DeleteHappy Easter
ReplyDeleteThank you! Same to you and yours!
DeleteI love the focus on love! This sounds like a great tool, but emotional nonetheless, as one tries to navigate living with the challenges of Dementia.
ReplyDeleteLindy@ A Bookish Escape
Thanks :) It certainly is emotional, Lindy!
DeleteDancing with Dementia sounds like an interesting and helpful book. Thanks.
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com