Keeping Love Alive as Memories Fade

"This is the "5 Love Languages" applied to folks with Alzheimer's. This is particularly interesting to me as my ex-mother-in-law was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and survived for 12-13 years afterwards. It was sad as we watched her condition deteriorate as the days went on. Also, there seems to be more prevalence of this condition nowadays since people are living longer. It's amazing how much love is extended by family members through the years even through the non-response of the person afflicted with Alzheimer's. As one of the authors states - even though a person is incapable of giving love, he believes that they are still capable of receiving love. He notes that many of those caregivers have a strong faith in God and that enables them to extend God's love to their family members with Alzheimer's. It also helps to have a church family to support them emotionally and spiritually. One of the other authors speaks of his personal journey with his wife experiencing Alzheimer's. It's truly heart-breaking that the love of your life can, one day, look at you and say, "I have no idea who you are". Then he details the progression of his wife's Alzheimer's - getting lost, driving to the store and dinging the car, eventually losing the ability to drive at all, needing around-the-clock care. Love that is not driven by infatuation or obsession, but by choice, is "real love""

Reviewed by Herbert on NetGalley, Nov 23, 2016