1994, ISBN: 9781555663216

In 1994 Marilyn Mitchell was hired to create adventures for David Touff, an 89-year-old man who, it turned out, was in the early stages of Alzheimer's or Alzheimer's-like dementia. Seven … Plus…

In 1994 Marilyn Mitchell was hired to create adventures for David Touff, an 89-year-old man who, it turned out, was in the early stages of Alzheimer's or Alzheimer's-like dementia. Seven years later, she still finds herself in a close and caring relationship with this friend, even as his condition has grown progressively and devastatingly worse.Dementia -- Alzheimer's disease or similar conditions -- is an epidemic in the United States, with up to five million sufferers today, at a cost to the economy of $100 billion. If no cure is found, the epidemic has the potential to explode as baby boomers age, afflicting some fifteen million Americans by 2050. And the toll extends far beyond the disease itself; immense responsibilities fall on caregivers -- mostly family -- with some experts reporting as many as fifty percent of these caregivers suffer from clinical depression. Professional caregivers, meanwhile, burn out rapidly from the overwhelmingly difficult job for very low pay.Yet Marilyn Mitchell discovered that even though we may lose many important moorings and trappings of identity, our core humanity remains, and new relationships can be forged and fostered. David is kind, intelligent, and generous, and these qualities stay with him even as all memory fades away. In Dancing on Quicksand, she tells the story of her developing friendship with David, and the many lessons he taught her without ever intending to. Their relationship demonstrates that in an atmosphere of respect, trust and acceptance, adversity is no obstacle to joy and friendship. In sharing these poignant discoveries, her book offers many valuable insights for those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's orAlzheimer's-like dementia, helping to make a desperate situation slightly less desperate. Media > Book<