Connecting in the Land of Dementia: Creative Activities to Explore Together

Special Praise for Connecting in the Land of Dementia

“A ‘must read’ for every care partner because it really helps you to look at things differently! This book is very special in the way it provides you with hundreds of suggestions on how to be a good care partner for someone with dementia and enjoy this yourself as well. Deborah inspired me by bringing together so many positive examples of using creativity to engage with people with dementia.”--Marc Wortmann, Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Disease International

“‘Making the most of the moment’ is the essence of Deborah Shouse’s new book, Connecting in the Land of Dementia. Her creative and imaginative ideas on ways to engage your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease are meant to channel frustration into fulfillment and lift the human spirit.”--Meryl Comer, President, Geoffrey Beene Foundation Alzheimer’s Initiative and Author of New York Times best seller Slow Dancing with a Stranger: Lost and Found in the Age of Alzheimer’s

“A thoughtful and positive guide to the very thing I find myself constantly advocating to doctors, caregivers, and family members—social stimulation and creative arts will limit the need for psychiatric medication and improve the quality of life for those with dementia more than anything else.”--Doug Wornell, MD, Life Solutions Group for Geriatric and Neurological Psychiatry

“With interesting, delightful, specific detail, the reader is shown how to keep the person living with dementia a part of life. Whether it is through art or gardening or storytelling or dancing or music, a life can go on. Bravo to Deborah Shouse for showing us how to ‘connect in the land of dementia.’”--Trish Vradenburg, Cofounder, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s and WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s

“Connecting in the Land of Dementia is a lively and essential guide for any dementia care partner who wants to help a loved one feel joy and purpose through simple, fun activities. It’s also a rare collection of wisdom from dozens of experts worldwide who specialize in creative dementia care. Even if we know little about painting, poetry, dance, chickens, or llamas, we can turn to any chapter and be inspired.”--Martha Stettinius, Author of Inside the Dementia Epidemic: A Daughter’s Memoir

“Deborah Shouse’s inspiring book provides caregivers with tools from which to create meaningful, life-enhancing activities that can strengthen their connections. Buy the book, read it, highlight what inspires you. As you make notes and bend pages to personalize this guide, you are creating a family treasure.”--Carol Bradley Bursack, Founder of Minding Our Elders

“Connecting in the Land of Dementia is an inspiring and creative compilation of activities for dementia caregivers. Longtime healthcare professionals will find innovative new projects to add to their routines. We should thank Shouse for her lovingly prepared collection that will be indispensible to so many of us.”--Sandra Stimson CADDCT CALA, AC-BC, ADC, CDP, CDCM, CFR-DT, CEO, National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners

“Deborah Shouse provides a great public service by shining light on the numerous creative activities that can meaningfully engage the minds and spirits of persons living with Dementia. From personalized music to storytelling, Shouse makes it easy for caregivers to understand the various options they have to help their loved ones navigate through their everyday lives.”--Dan Cohen, MSW, Founding Executive Director, Music & Memory, Inc.

“Once again, Deborah Shouse delivers a book that softens our hearts and opens our minds to find fun ways to connect to the soul. No matter what our situation in life, no matter what our ability is to communicate, we all crave and need to be connected to one another.”--Lori La Bey, Founder of Alzheimersspeaks website

“Connecting in the Land of Dementia simply shines as a beacon of hope for persons living with dementia and their care partners. The innovative approaches and fresh ideas Deborah has curated will help families impacted by this disease continue to connect with one another at every stage. There’s at least one great idea on every page. I highly recommend it.”--Mara Botonis, Author of When Caring Takes Courage

“Deborah has created an assuring, light of heart and deep in wisdom weaving of the great thinkers and practitioners in the field of dementia care. Here you will find bite-sized, inspirational approaches to being in company with someone with memory loss. From music to food, from painting to storytelling, she invites family members to move past resistance (and understandable grieving) to open themselves to a world of connection through creativity.”--Anne Basting
Professor of Theatre, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee & President, TimeSlips Creative Storytelling

“Deborah uses her experience as a caregiver and years of her own research to create a fun and imaginative guide for caregivers that draws on progress in the arts, physical exercise, and mental stimulation. At its root is the premise that life can still be rich with feeling and meaning even when living with dementia.”--Jeffrey M. Burns, MD, Codirector of the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center

“This uplifting book is really a ‘can-do guide’ that gives you permission to relax and allow a bit of room for the creative process to begin. The author has a gift for bringing light and love to her writing without minimizing or sugarcoating the realities of dementia and caregiving. Deborah understands from a first-hand perspective that a care partner has plenty of duties already, so this book doesn’t give the reader the sense that ‘there is yet more to add to my to-do list.’ Instead, the overall spirit of the book is about the infinite possibilities and opportunities to connect, create, and imagine together.”--Carmen Mendieta, MPA, Brookdale National Group Respite Program

“Connecting in the Land of Dementia is a wonderful compilation of shared experiences that remind and challenge us to think about reaching out to individuals with Alzheimer’s and other cognitive challenges in new ways. Deborah’s hopeful spirit comes dancing through in every chapter, with so many wonderful projects and innovators as her partner. All I can say is this: Listen to her.”--Michelle Niedens, LSCSW, Director of Education, Programs and Public Policy, Alzheimer’s Association, Heart of America Chapter

“This book shares stories of compassion and understanding. I found new ways to focus on ensuring quality of life at any level of cognition. It is a must read if you work in elder care settings.”--Alisa Tagg, BA, ACC/EDU, AC-BC, CDP,
President, National Association of Activity Professionals

“Encouraging, new suggestions for merging caregivers’ activities with their loved one’s realities of living with dementia.”--Leisa Easom, PhD, RN, Exective Director, Pope Eminent Scholar, Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving

“This book inspires people to be creatively engaged. There are many moments to interact play-Full-y.”--Jolene Brackey, Author of Creating Moments of Joy

“Connecting in the Land of Dementia allows the opportunity to see, in one comprehensive space, the numerous activities and opportunities individuals can have with their loved ones through the course of their dementia. Deborah Shouse and the experts she calls upon provide concrete steps to ensure individuals living with dementia and their caregivers will remain able to live a meaningful life."--Molly Fogel, LCSW, Director of Educational and Social Services, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

“The opportunity to connect through music, dancing, poetry, card playing, and more can lift the hopes of all who want to maintain relationships with those they love late into dementia.”--Alicia Ann Clair, PhD, Music Therapist-Board Certified, Professor Emeritus, The University of Kansas, Lawrence

Special Praise for Connecting in the Land of Dementia

“A ‘must read’ for every care partner because it really helps you to look at things differently! This book is very special in the way it provides you with hundreds of suggestions on how to be a good care partner for someone with dementia and enjoy this yourself as well. Deborah inspired me by bringing together so many positive examples of using creativity to engage with people with dementia.”--Marc Wortmann, Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Disease International

“‘Making the most of the moment’ is the essence of Deborah Shouse’s new book, Connecting in the Land of Dementia. Her creative and imaginative ideas on ways to engage your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease are meant to channel frustration into fulfillment and lift the human spirit.”--Meryl Comer, President, Geoffrey Beene Foundation Alzheimer’s Initiative and Author of New York Times best seller Slow Dancing with a Stranger: Lost and Found in the Age of Alzheimer’s

“A thoughtful and positive guide to the very thing I find myself constantly advocating to doctors, caregivers, and family members―social stimulation and creative arts will limit the need for psychiatric medication and improve the quality of life for those with dementia more than anything else.”--Doug Wornell, MD, Life Solutions Group for Geriatric and Neurological Psychiatry

“With interesting, delightful, specific detail, the reader is shown how to keep the person living with dementia a part of life. Whether it is through art or gardening or storytelling or dancing or music, a life can go on. Bravo to Deborah Shouse for showing us how to ‘connect in the land of dementia.’”--Trish Vradenburg, Cofounder, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s and WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s

“Connecting in the Land of Dementia is a lively and essential guide for any dementia care partner who wants to help a loved one feel joy and purpose through simple, fun activities. It’s also a rare collection of wisdom from dozens of experts worldwide who specialize in creative dementia care. Even if we know little about painting, poetry, dance, chickens, or llamas, we can turn to any chapter and be inspired.”--Martha Stettinius, Author of Inside the Dementia Epidemic: A Daughter’s Memoir

“Deborah Shouse’s inspiring book provides caregivers with tools from which to create meaningful, life-enhancing activities that can strengthen their connections. Buy the book, read it, highlight what inspires you. As you make notes and bend pages to personalize this guide, you are creating a family treasure.”--Carol Bradley Bursack, Founder of Minding Our Elders

“Connecting in the Land of Dementia is an inspiring and creative compilation of activities for dementia caregivers. Longtime healthcare professionals will find innovative new projects to add to their routines. We should thank Shouse for her lovingly prepared collection that will be indispensible to so many of us.”--Sandra Stimson CADDCT CALA, AC-BC, ADC, CDP, CDCM, CFR-DT, CEO, National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners

“Deborah Shouse provides a great public service by shining light on the numerous creative activities that can meaningfully engage the minds and spirits of persons living with Dementia. From personalized music to storytelling, Shouse makes it easy for caregivers to understand the various options they have to help their loved ones navigate through their everyday lives.”--Dan Cohen, MSW, Founding Executive Director, Music & Memory, Inc.

“Once again, Deborah Shouse delivers a book that softens our hearts and opens our minds to find fun ways to connect to the soul. No matter what our situation in life, no matter what our ability is to communicate, we all crave and need to be connected to one another.”--Lori La Bey, Founder of Alzheimersspeaks website

“Connecting in the Land of Dementia simply shines as a beacon of hope for persons living with dementia and their care partners. The innovative approaches and fresh ideas Deborah has curated will help families impacted by this disease continue to connect with one another at every stage. There’s at least one great idea on every page. I highly recommend it.”--Mara Botonis, Author of When Caring Takes Courage

“Deborah has created an assuring, light of heart and deep in wisdom weaving of the great thinkers and practitioners in the field of dementia care. Here you will find bite-sized, inspirational approaches to being in company with someone with memory loss. From music to food, from painting to storytelling, she invites family members to move past resistance (and understandable grieving) to open themselves to a world of connection through creativity.”--Anne Basting
Professor of Theatre, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee & President, TimeSlips Creative Storytelling

“Deborah uses her experience as a caregiver and years of her own research to create a fun and imaginative guide for caregivers that draws on progress in the arts, physical exercise, and mental stimulation. At its root is the premise that life can still be rich with feeling and meaning even when living with dementia.”--Jeffrey M. Burns, MD, Codirector of the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center

“This uplifting book is really a ‘can-do guide’ that gives you permission to relax and allow a bit of room for the creative process to begin. The author has a gift for bringing light and love to her writing without minimizing or sugarcoating the realities of dementia and caregiving. Deborah understands from a first-hand perspective that a care partner has plenty of duties already, so this book doesn’t give the reader the sense that ‘there is yet more to add to my to-do list.’ Instead, the overall spirit of the book is about the infinite possibilities and opportunities to connect, create, and imagine together.”--Carmen Mendieta, MPA, Brookdale National Group Respite Program

“Connecting in the Land of Dementia is a wonderful compilation of shared experiences that remind and challenge us to think about reaching out to individuals with Alzheimer’s and other cognitive challenges in new ways. Deborah’s hopeful spirit comes dancing through in every chapter, with so many wonderful projects and innovators as her partner. All I can say is this: Listen to her.”--Michelle Niedens, LSCSW, Director of Education, Programs and Public Policy, Alzheimer’s Association, Heart of America Chapter

“This book shares stories of compassion and understanding. I found new ways to focus on ensuring quality of life at any level of cognition. It is a must read if you work in elder care settings.”--Alisa Tagg, BA, ACC/EDU, AC-BC, CDP,
President, National Association of Activity Professionals

“Encouraging, new suggestions for merging caregivers’ activities with their loved one’s realities of living with dementia.”--Leisa Easom, PhD, RN, Exective Director, Pope Eminent Scholar, Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving

“This book inspires people to be creatively engaged. There are many moments to interact play-Full-y.”--Jolene Brackey, Author of Creating Moments of Joy

“Connecting in the Land of Dementia allows the opportunity to see, in one comprehensive space, the numerous activities and opportunities individuals can have with their loved ones through the course of their dementia. Deborah Shouse and the experts she calls upon provide concrete steps to ensure individuals living with dementia and their caregivers will remain able to live a meaningful life."--Molly Fogel, LCSW, Director of Educational and Social Services, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

“The opportunity to connect through music, dancing, poetry, card playing, and more can lift the hopes of all who want to maintain relationships with those they love late into dementia.”--Alicia Ann Clair, PhD, Music Therapist-Board Certified, Professor Emeritus, The University of Kansas, Lawrence