Do you have someone in your life who has dementia or Alzheimers? The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer’s Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss can be a lifeline. This book has been in print for over forty years and has sold more than four million copies.

Cole Library has had this title in our library for many years, but I am highlighting it now because the eighth edition has recently been published. It contains updated information on prevention through diet, exercise, and controlling high blood pressure, and new diagnostic methods as well as the many forms of dementia that exist. It also includes new online resources for the reader to explore and discussions on normal brain function and forgetfulness compared to dementia. Having a parent with dementia doesn’t mean you are destined to get it.

This book is primarily designed for caregivers. When my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, this book was a lifesaver. One aspect that I found very helpful was the description of real-life experiences of caregivers. The book walks you, the reader, through ways to approach these challenging situations and gives suggestions that help in conversations with your family, the doctors and care team, along with your friends, neighbors and others who are wondering how to support you and the dementia patient. But most importantly it helps you to have conversations with the person who is suffering from dementia and to interact in the most positive ways possible as they decline.