‘There’s lots of things you can do, and they can still give you joy – you can still enjoy your life’

p343; A person with dementia (all are anonymous in the book).

Where can I get Demystifying Dementia?
Your local library should have a copy; you can request it if not. BookHub lists the copies for sale held by some independent bookshops in NZ. Or Google the title to find where other copies are available in Aotearoa.

Overview
Demystifying Dementia has fourteen chapters, with clear titles that make the book easy to dip into – for example, common myths about dementia, communication, physical environment, and care for the carers. Rose Capp runs a weekly choir in a residential home, and in the book, she uses examples from choir members to illustrate her key messages. The lived experience of people living with dementia is shared throughout the book, and Kapp refers to them as the experts she learns from.

At the end of Demystifying Dementia, there is a ‘keen to explore more’ section, which lists books, YouTube videos, and films for each chapter. This book is based on Capp’s thirty years of research and her own lived experience. Capp is currently a policy advisor with Dementia Australia.

Who Would Find Demystifying Dementia Helpful?
Anyone impacted by dementia.

People living with dementia would find Demystifying Dementia interesting to read, as it would allow them to see how their experience compares with that of the people in the book. Demystifying Dementia would be a great resource to work through as part of professional development for those working with people with dementia in the community, Aged Residential care, and in other settings.

My Reflections
For me, Demystifying Dementia is up there with Contented Dementia by Oliver James. Its approach is practical, compassionate and person-centred; there’s a perfect balance of theory and lived experience in every chapter.

I found the experience of the couple who lived in a small town particularly poignant. When the wife had a diagnosis of breast cancer, there were constant visitors, meals provided and offers of help. A few years later, when her husband was diagnosed with dementia, the wife expected a similar response from the community. What happened, in fact, was that many friends withdrew, and the couple found themselves increasingly isolated.

Rose Capp’s book makes it very clear that a dementia diagnosis does not mean the end of living with meaning and enjoyment. My hope is that Demystifying Dementia will become a go-to book for carers, health professionals and people living with dementia.