Workbook

Seeing a member of the family or a good friend receive a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease impacts
the health and well-being of not only the patient but also the caregiver(s). You want to take
action – not just stand idly on the sidelines and wait to see what happens.

It is important to take steps to learn about the changes you will be facing in your role as a
caregiver and steps that you can take to help yourself and be more effective in administering care.
You want to engage in activities and actions that can improve the situation. You want to feel
empowered with the knowledge that persons with early stage dementia can take charge of their own health and, with guidance and support, take steps to live their best life.

The book “Truth, Lies and Alzheimer’s: Its Secret Faces” by Lisa Skinner and Douglas W. Collins
provides a helpful guideline for caregivers and family members of such patients in diagnosing the
condition in time and coping with it.

The Workbook provides real life stories regarding how the family members can notice changes in
loved ones, upcoming challenges, and a variety of ways to cope with them. At some point in our
life, almost all of us are likely to come across scenarios like this. This Workbook provides an excellent
guideline to deal with the emerging challenges caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

This workbook is based on the core strategy that we should not let our own limitations interfere
with what we can accomplish.

People learn in different ways – either by reading, listening, writing or talking to others.

This Workbook provides a useful way to educate yourself and your family and friends about
Alzheimer’s and Dementia. It can be used as a way to begin conversations about changes you are
experiencing as a caregiver.

In each chapter, you will read a true story. Then you will benefit from some further thoughts and
analysis which will provide you with direction. Then you will be asked to provide
some written statements of self-reflection.

Writing down important ideas and information is a helpful memory aid. Written information can also
be easily shared with others. You may experience new and different feelings associated with the
diagnosis. This book may help you to identify and share those feelings with who mean the most to
you.

This Workbook can be used alone or with family members or friends. It mirrors the chapters of the
book “Truth, Lies and Alzheimer’s: Its Secret Faces” and addresses the common concerns of memory
loss. Additionally, the Workbook includes educational information and perspectives of people
living with memory loss.

Congratulations on making the decision to be proactive, learn about the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and
memory loss, take action and become a better caregiver.

For those of us not suffering from this disease, what is the first step to build a bridge to your
loved ones?