I'm excited to announce that author Marysue Moses is joining us for a blog tour of her non-fiction book, Looking Past Dementia: Learning from Those Who Live With It. This book is perfect for anyone who has a friend, neighbor, or family member living with dementia, or anyone working in long-term care. Join us as we celebrate the launch of her book and interview her about her writing journey. You'll also have the chance to win a copy for yourself.
Before we get to that, here's more about her book:
In Looking Past Dementia, dementia educator Marysue Moses shares the powerful insights she has gained from more than twenty years working alongside individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Through deeply human stories, she challenges readers to look beyond symptoms and diagnoses to recognize the strengths, emotions, and humanity that remain.
Publisher: Emerald Lake Books
ISBN-10: 1945847964
ISBN-13: 978-1945847967
ASIN: B0HDS1FWBL
Print length: 202 pages
Purchase a copy of Looking Past Dementia on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop. Be sure to add it to your reading list on GoodReads.
About the Author, Marysue Moses
Marysue Moses is a dementia educator, consultant and former memory care coordinator who teaches practical, creative approaches to dementia care. Drawing on both professional experience and her family's journey with dementia, she helps caregivers foster meaningful connection and engagement.
You can follow the author at:
---- Interview by Nicole Pyles
WOW: Congrats on your book, Looking Past Dementia. What inspired you to write this book?
Marysue: Thank you! I was inspired to write the book by the memories that were still rattling around in my mind related to my mother’s journey with dementia, and to my earliest years in dementia care, when I was an Activities Coordinator and Memory Care Coordinator. I absolutely loved working with and learning from these individuals. And it was so much fun.
WOW: I think it's incredible that your experience with your mom inspired you to write this book and change your career. I know you go into greater detail about this in your book, but how did your career path change when your mom was diagnosed with dementia?
Marysue: When Mom was diagnosed, I knew next to nothing about dementia. I started reading about it, and when I visited her in her first Memory Care Community, I was appalled to see that she had basically nothing to do. She introduced me to her friend Josephine, who had been a professional actress. I mentioned to Josephine that I loved Shakespeare and she lit into “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players”…she delivered that whole speech from the play As You Like It, letter perfect.
In that moment, I vowed to do something about the lack of activity in Mom’s community. I ended up creating Tales from a Trunk, an interactive storytelling activity that I brought with me on the plane each time I visited Mom in Denver over the next few years. My favorite program was called Shakespearience, which I created in honor of Josephine.
I started doing Tales from a Trunk presentations at memory cares in Minneapolis/Saint Paul too, and I realized that I really loved interacting with people living with dementia. From there, I sought and found a position as an Activities Coordinator.
WOW: What a life-changing experience, both for you and the patients! How did working with and helping those with dementia change your perspective on the disease?
Marysue: Back then, the tragedy narrative surrounding Alzheimer’s disease in particular was in full force. It’s still hovering around, unfortunately, but there is a lot more pushback now from organizations like the Dementia Action Alliance. There are many people out there now living very well with dementia, which is fantastic. When I was working with people living with dementia, their humanity was so visible. They showed delightful personalities; they had strengths, skills, talents, creativity, and the ability to give and receive love. They were just people! And they had a lot to teach me! Sure, they had challenges, but I learned it’s more helpful to focus on what remains. We must remember that those living with dementia are doing the very best they can with the brain they’ve got. We shouldn’t give up on them just because they have brain changes.
WOW: What an incredible perspective! Who is this book for and why?
Marysue: This book is for anyone who cares for or about someone living with dementia, professionals, family members, friends, neighbors…anyone who wants to learn more about what some of the challenges are that may come up with dementia and what works and what doesn’t work in terms of responding to them. Each individual living with dementia is unique—no two people living with dementia will act and respond in the very same way. This makes working the field complicating, as well as fascinating. There’s so much to learn from different individuals!
As for the Why…There are a lot of dementia books out there, and many are informative, but rather dry and frankly, depressing. I wanted to write something that would be an easy, enjoyable read, and not too long. Caregivers don’t have time for that! I wanted it to feel more like a like an interesting and pleasant conversation filled with true stories, not a textbook.
WOW: I'm so glad you did! It's a one-of-a-kind book. How did your experiences in theater prepare you for where you are today?
Marysue: My theatre background was a huge help. You have to really communicate to the person living with dementia that you get them, you understand their concerns, and you’re willing to help even if you haven’t a clue as to what to do in the moment. We use facial expressions, tone of voice, and our emotions to do this – but you don’t have to be an actor to be effective - we generally do this all the time with closest friends and family members. We rail alongside them, we celebrate their successes, we share losses and grief. So, this shouldn’t feel like big mystery. We do have to mean what we say when we communicate with someone living with dementia, and an acting background is helpful there, but simply being a human being who knows a bit about developing friendship is also excellent training.
WOW: Beautifully said. What have you learned through your experiences with dementia that you hope resonates with people with your book the most?
Marysue: People living with dementia are fully human. They are full-fledged adults, even though they may be responding to the world differently from what you might expect. They have strengths and skills we can build upon.
Validation—crossing to their side of the street and letting them know what you see when you look at things from their perspective—is an invaluable tool.
Find out what’s fun for them, and give them lots of it.
Remind them of their accomplishments. Let them know you are grateful for who they are and what they have done in their life that they are proud of.
Find ways to adapt the activities that they used to do.
Engagement is critical. Expose them to new things. New experiences stimulate the brain.
Set them up to listen to their favorite music every day for half an hour.
Especially in the later stages, put things into their hands that they can touch, smell, or taste.
Expect to be surprised and to learn!
If you happen to take care of me someday when I am living with dementia, as much as possible, read me Shakespeare, take me to the movies, and get me to live theatre!
WOW:Thank you so much for talking with me today and sharing your book with the world. You are such an inspiring author!
--- Blog Tour Calendar
August 31 @ The Muffin
Join us at the Muffin as we celebrate the launch of Looking Past Dementia: Learning from Those Who Live With It by Marysue Moses. We interview the author and give you a chance to win a copy of the book.
August 31 @ Just Katherine
Katherine shares excerpts from Looking Past Dementia: Learning from Those Who Live With It by Marysue Moses.
September 2 @ Freeing the Butterfly
Stop by Michelle's blog for her review of Looking Past Dementia: Learning from Those Who Live With It by Marysue Moses.
September 5 @ A Wonderful World of Words
Stop by Joy's blog for a guest post by Marysue Moses on good grief.
September 8 @ CC King's blog
Join Caitrin's blog for a guest post by Marysue Moses on how she found a Shakespeare quote for every chapter in her book.
September 9 @ Words by Webb
Stop by Jodi's blog for her review of Looking Past Dementia: Learning from Those Who Live With It by Marysue Moses.
September 12 @ What Is That Book About
Stop by Michelle's blog for a spotlight of Looking Past Dementia: Learning from Those Who Live With It by Marysue Moses.
September 14 @ Lisa's Reading
Stop by Lisa's blog for an excerpt from Looking Past Dementia: Learning from Those Who Live With It by Marysue Moses.
September 15 @ Balance and Joy
Stop by Sheri's blog for her review of Looking Past Dementia: Learning from Those Who Live With It by Marysue Moses.
September 16 @ Create Write Now
Stop by Mari's blog for a spotlight of Looking Past Dementia: Learning from Those Who Live With It by Marysue Moses.
September 19 @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion
Stop by Linda's blog for an interview with Marysue Moses about her book Looking Past Dementia: Learning from Those Who Live With It.
September 20 @ A Storybook World
Join Deirdre for a guest post by Marysue Moses on how her high school friends shaped her life.
September 25 @ World of My Imagination
Stop by Nicole's blog for her review of Looking Past Dementia: Learning from Those Who Live With It by Marysue Moses.
September 27 @ Boys' Mom Reads
Stop by Karen's blog for her review of Looking Past Dementia: Learning from Those Who Live With It by Marysue Moses.
September 27 @ Nikki's Book and Movie Reviews
Stop by Nikki's blog for her review of Looking Past Dementia: Learning from Those Who Live With It by Marysue Moses.
Podcast Appearances
Who We Become
Crossing the Pond
***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****
Enter to win Looking Past Dementia by Marysue Moses. Fill out the form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends September 13th at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day and follow up via email. Good luck!
Thanks so much to WOW! Women On Writing for featuring my book, Looking Past Dementia, on your site today!
ReplyDeleteSo very helpful & inspiring
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance to win a copy
ReplyDelete