Product Description

Christine Bryden was a top civil servant and single mother of three children when she was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 46. Since then she has gone on to challenge almost every stereotype of people with dementia by campaigning for self-advocacy, writing articles and speaking at national conferences. This book is a vivid account of the author's experiences of living with dementia, exploring the effects of memory problems, loss of independence, difficulties in communication and the exhaustion of coping with simple tasks. She describes how, with the support of her husband Paul, she continues to lead an active life nevertheless, and explains how professionals and carers can help. Christine Bryden makes an outspoken attempt to change prevailing attitudes and misconceptions about the disease. Arguing for greater empowerment and respect for people with dementia as individuals, she also reflects on the importance of spirituality in her life and how it has helped her better understand who she is and who she is becoming.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27992 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 200 pages

About the Author
Christine Bryden has worked in the pharmaceutical industry and as a senior executive in the Australian Prime Minister's Department. Following her diagnosis with Alzheimer's Disease in 1995, she has been instrumental in setting up local support groups for people with dementia and has addressed national and international conferences. In 2003 she was the first person with dementia to be elected to the Board of Alzheimer's Disease International. Her first book Who will I be when I die? was published in 1998 and has been translated into several languages. She lives in Brisbane, Australia.

Excerpted from Dancing with Dementia: My Story of Living Positively with Dementia by Christine Bryden. Copyright © 2005. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
"Dementia is often thought of as death by small steps. But I believe that people with dementia are making an important journey from cognition, through emotion, into spirit. I’ve begun to realize that what really remains throughout this journey is what is really important, and what disappears is what is not important. I think that if society could appreciate this, then people with dementia would be respected."

Customer Reviews

Inspirational
Reading Dancing with Dementia is a must for any person who has been diagnosed with Dementia, Professional or Carer. The book is truly inspirational and Christine is so positive about her journey. As a professional, I found that it helped confirm where we had got it right and thus continue to carry on and move forward but it also highlights the road that we still need to travel if we are to deliver a truly person centred approach.
The book took me 4 hours to read - I couldn't put it down!

Incredible
This book is written by a frontal lobal dementia sufferer which makes it more remarkable. It gives an insight into the sufferer's point of view which is invaluable in giving advice in how to respect all individual's suffering.