SHE'S STILL MY MOM

Doan, a professor of early childhood education at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, presents a guide for those who care for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

The author draws from her professional experience as an early childhood educator and her personal experience as a caregiver in this book. Specifically, she shares lessons that she learned while caring for her mother, who struggled with Alzheimer’s disease for six years before her death. Doan explores the range of reactions people have to a dementia diagnosis, including denial, anger, frustration, depression, and even suicidality. A supportive community is crucial in these early stages, she says. She also shares how early childhood education techniques, such as observation, documentation, and a strength-based approach, can be incorporated into Alzheimer’s care. Establishing healthy boundaries and learning not to take things personally are key skills for caregivers, she notes, and she highlights the power of sharing stories, music, and nature walks as positive ways to connect. Pets and props, such as baby dolls or stuffed animals, may also comfort and engage loved ones, she writes. She offers tips on assisting patients with mouth care, feeding, and navigating transitions to higher levels of care. Practicing gratitude is offered as a strategy to deal with grief. The book concludes by urging caregivers to “put what you have learned into action” with Alzheimer’s-related organizations and other people in similar situations. Doan gracefully guides readers with real-life anecdotes, early childhood education insights, and actionable tips. Some readers may find that some of the author’s specific experience and advice doesn’t always easily apply to patients with more severe behavioral challenges, or to families with financial or other constraints that limit one-on-one caregiving. Still, the book deftly tackles a range of sensitive subjects, such as how family dynamics change after a diagnosis and how a loved one’s behavior may have caregivers “feeling awkward, embarrassed, or uncomfortable.”

An empathetic approach to Alzheimer’s care that prioritizes personal experience over clinical perspectives.