What My Grandchildren Taught Me about Alzheimer's Disease

Dana Olivia Dunn Territo has always shared a passion and love for the older generation, particularly those affected with Alzheimer's disease. For over 30 years she has worked and advocated for this population. She was on the committee that started the first Alzheimer's Walk Fundraiser in Baton Rouge and the original Activity Director in the first Alzheimer's secured unit in a nursing home in the city. She later served as an advisor to build Louisiana's first Alzheimer's Social Model Day Respite Center, a center of which she subsequently worked as director and one that was later nationally recognized. She has served on local, state, and national organizations promoting quality care for those affected by Alzheimer's disease.

FOREWORD
PREFACE
Chapter 1: A Year of Learning Everything; Years of Losing Everything Learned
Chapter 2: “I Know EVERYTHING, NoNo!”
Getting Educated about the Alzheimer's Disease Journey
Chapter 3: “It's Not A Hamburger Without a Bun”
Getting the Correct Alzheimer's Diagnosis
Chapter 4: “I'm Pretty Good” - The Practice of Caregiving
Chapter 5: “Is That a Horsie in Your Hand?”
Communication and Listening Skills
Chapter 6: “LIAR, LIAR!”
When What They Say Hurts
Chapter 7: “The Polar Bear Poops on the Rug”
Paranoia and Hallucinations
Chapter 8: “You Gotta Sleep With Your Friend”
Alzheimer's Sleep, Sundowning and Wandering Patterns
Chapter 9: “I Don’t Take a Bottle”
Agitation and Aggression & Person-centered Alzheimer's Care
Chapter 10: “Let's Dance, YaYa!”
The Importance of Activities for Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease
Chapter 11: “It’s Their Business" - Dignity and Respect and the Dining Experience
Chapter 12: And Then There's Collin's little sister, Brynn
The Decision for Long-Term Care
Chapter 13: “You Should Be Spending More Time with Me”
Overcoming Guilt (and other emotions of caregiving
Chapter 14: “Needing a Little Something More”
Respite Care and Alzheimer's
Chapter 15: “Did the Horses Do Something Wrong?” Environment Matters in Alzheimer's Care
Chapter 16: “God Never Prays Back”
Spirituality: God IS "Praying back" with the Individual with Alzheimer's
Chapter 17: “Mommy Will be Back!”
Necessary Attachments and Detaching
Chapter 18: “It Doesn't Work That Way”
There’s a Fixer in all of us!
Chapter 19: “There's More to Alabama than Football!”
Looking at the Person with Alzheimer's Disease
Chapter 20: “After Everything I've Done for You...”
A thank-less job
Chapter 21: “A Funeral is a Really Sad Party!”
The dual experiences of Alzheimer's disease and death
Chapter 22: “THIS IS ME!” - The Greatest Showmen are
Individuals & Caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s Disease
Chapter 23: “You Gotta Use Your Brain!”
Reducing the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
Chapter 24: “Life is Unfair!” - The Injustices of Alzheimer’s disease
Chapter 25: “What's Next, Daddy?”
The Future of Alzheimer's disease
Epilogue