Iris: Rediscovering a Mother's Love Through the Stages of Dementia

Life doesn't end because of dementia; it changes.

What if this wasn't the end? Dementia can feel scary, intense, and futile. Sometimes it can make you think the person you knew is gone. But what if you could still share love and laughter and appreciate your loved one until the end?

Like many of us, I believed that putting my mother in a care facility was the best thing I could do for her once she could no longer live on her own, but I was wrong.

This book is about my mother Iris' life before and after dementia. It shows who she was, who she remained, and how our relationship managed to thrive after I decided to care for her at home. As a mother of four kids who fought for her freedom by becoming a nurse despite an abusive husband's attempts to stop her, she deserved as much liberty as I could give her. Knowing my mother's story helped me navigate her life after dementia.

Please let her story open your heart to your family member with dementia. When you respect them as an individual, you can create the best environment for both of you. Through humor and acceptance, caring for them at home becomes a blessing, not a chore.

At the end of this book, you'll also find a self-assessment to help you and your loved one thrive at this new stage of your lives.

Even when the memories' path becomes blurry, love is never lost.