Strangers Doing Alzheimer's

When J.P. Ripple's mother began forgetting things, she assured her son nothing was wrong. Memory loss was normal for people her age, she told him.

But there was nothing normal about finding her walking to a neighbor's yard in below-freezing temperatures. He wasn't surprised when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

What did surprise him, however, was how often caregivers asked him for proof of guardianship. They even challenged him when he tried to do what was best for his mother. In this memoir, he explores: Alzheimer's first four stages and how to cope with their symptoms; day-to-day problems associated with early-stage Alzheimer's; and meddling by caregivers who are ill informed. Ripple ultimately had to file almost sixty complaints against ambulance drivers, emergency room doctors, emergency medical technicians, neighbors, social workers, abuse advocates, and others who seemed to be doing their best to make bad decisions on behalf of his mother.

If you have a loved one with Alzheimer's or if you provide care to someone with the disease, you'll want to read the cautionary tale of Strangers Doing Alzheimer's.