H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey: Help, Organization, Preparation, and Education for the Road Ahead is caregiver friendly because it is written from one caregiver to another. Carol Amos and her two brothers were caregivers for their mother, Elizabeth Boyd, who lived with Alzheimer’s disease for over 11 years. They noticed her memory decline and worked relentlessly with doctors to receive an Alzheimer’s diagnosis (three attempts).
As caregivers from a distance, they established a support system for their mother. They made the difficult decision to move her from her home of 22 years into assisted living in her area. A year later they made another difficult decision to uproot Mrs. Boyd from Cleveland and move her to memory care near Carol (8 hours away). H.O.P.E. enlightens caregivers on many issues that confront all caregivers, not just Alzheimer’s caregivers.
H.O.P.E. provides tips, tools, advice, information, and inspiration for caregivers. Each chapter begins with a personal reflection and ends with a checklist. Original family emails throughout tell their story, share information, convey the siblings’ emotions, and share their deliberations. H.O.P.E. also introduces The Caregiving Principle®, a framework that provides a deeper understanding of a person with Alzheimer’s disease. H.O.P.E provides hope to caregivers.