This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Frank was born and raised in St. Louis, and he graduated from Washington University in his hometown. He flew for three years in the Air Force, during which time he and his wife had two of their three children. Then he spent a career in marketing and education with IBM.
When his wife, June, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, he took an early retirement and cared for her at home. He experimented with many solutions and analyzed their results. This knowledge allowed him to cope successfully. Since June retained her excellent physical health, the National Institutes of Health used her in research over a period of fourteen years and Frank gained even more knowledge. The experiences during all the phases of the disease included a vast range of treatment and care.
After June died, Frank worked full-time to prevent development of the headwaters of a Potomac River tributary. He is now a prize-winning writer and poet and lives in the mid-Atlantic area near three of his five grandchildren, one of whom he home-schooled for two years.
Reviewed by Karen Pirnot for Readers' Favorite
For seventeen years, author Frank Fuerst cared for his wife after a diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's Disease. In this book Alzheimer's Care with Dignity, Mr. Fuerst gives practical and realistic advice, as well as information regarding the care of the Alzheimer's patient in various stages of dementia and physical abilities. The reader is taken through early warning signs and the importance of an accurate diagnosis as the hallmark to proper treatment interventions. Mr. Fuerst discusses legal and ethical concerns which are relevant both to the patient and to the patient's family and caretakers. He discusses the pros and cons of medications as well as dental and medical concerns that likely accompany most persons diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.
On the practical side, the author discusses topics such as eating, bathing and dressing, issues of incontinence and behaviors which might appear threatening to others. He then has a wonderful chapter about advice he was given, and he rates it as either good or bad advice (as it applied to the care of his own wife). While the book is applicable to those specifically diagnosed with the early onset dementia, there are many tips which will also apply to those with later onset Alzheimer's, as well.
This is a practical and readable book which will give support and reinforcement to most any caretaker who struggles with the tremendous task of providing dignity and quality of life to the Alzheimer's patient. It neither whitewashes nor ignores the trials and tribulations of the caretaker. It was written with courage and conviction and is a must for the reference library of those compassionate persons dealing with Alzheimer's Disease.
