Lucy Whitman is a writer, editor and trainer, and a former teacher in further education. She cared for her mother who had dementia, which inspired her first anthology, Telling Tales About Dementia: Experiences of Caring, also published by JKP. Lucy has worked extensively with family carers, and writes regularly for the Journal of Dementia Care. She lives in London, UK.
Foreword. Preface. Acknowledgements. Introduction.; Section 1: Living with Loss.; 1. A Big Enough Supply of Love. Maria Jastrzebska.; 2. We Don't Know What is Going Through Her Mind. Jennifer Davies.; 3. The Departing Light. Jim Swift.; 4. Walking on Thin Ice. Rachael Dixey.; 5. The Most Difficult Decision of My Life. Debbie Jackson.; 6. We Learn to Enter Her World. U Hla Htay.; 7. Half a World Away. Anna Young.; 8. Have You Seen My Pat? Pat Hill.; 9. Feisty Love. Maria Smith.; 10. Glimpses of Glory on a Long Dark Road. Helen Robinson.; 11. Our Mum Had To Be The Man of The House. The Malik Family.; 12. On The Contrary. Lucy Whitman.; 13. Family Matters. Ian McQueen.; 14. Back and Forth. Geraldine McCarthy.; 15. A Very Important Moustache. Steve Jeffery.; Section 2: Despatches from the Battlefield.; 16. This Has Gone Beyond My Mother. Marylyn Duncan.; 17. Rage, Rage. Jenny Thomas.; 18. Forever in My Thoughts. Rosie Smith.; 19. A Sister's Story. Peggy Fray.; 20. Surely the World has Changed. Roger Newman.; 21. Look Back in Anger. Shirley Nurock.; 22. Cracks in the System. Pat Brown.; 23. Strained to the Limit. Andra Houchen.; 24. Break on Through to the Other Side. Louisa Houchen.; 25. Rocking the Boat. Sheena Sanderson.; 26. The Significant Other. Brain Baylis.; 27. An Instruction Manual for Keeping Your Mind. Gail Chester.; Section 3: Keeping In Touch, Letting Go.; 28. When Words Fail. Barbara Pointon.; 29. The End of The Story. Tim Dartington.; 30. State of Grace. Rosemary Clarke. Glossary. Recommended Reading. Helpful Organisations. The Contributors. What is for dementia?
On reading a book like this one learns to brace oneself for raw accounts of the losses which go along with dementia, the hugely difficult and complex situations people have to deal with, and painful examples of lamentably poor care or even abuse. There is a great deal of honesty and directness here, and the very real pain, anger and guilt which those close to the person with dementia experience as a result comes through loud and clear. But there are also examples of highly sensitive and loving interventions, as well as precious and sustaining moments of shared joy, humour and gratitude. These remind us that dementia does not have to be all about deterioration and grief, and there are many opportunities to learn and grow.
