Nine Ways to Crazy
Surviving My Mom’s Dementia
by
Book Details
About the Book
Deborah J. Taranto thought when her mother joined her in New York, she’d finally be able to help her maintain her health.
What she hadn’t considered was how she’d maintain her own health: Her mother’s deteriorating mind and constant demands made it almost impossible to get anything done.
In this memoir, which includes numerous journal entries, she relives the guilt of struggling to take care of an elderly parent with Alzheimer’s who managed to raise a house full of children without complaints.
From the classic behavior symptoms of dementia to her mother’s hilarious outbursts, she faces her mother’s mortality—as well as her own—head on, weaving symptoms into vignettes that highlight everyday challenges.
Her account reveals the daily struggle of what it’s like to care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s and how the experience can affect family members long after a loved one has died.
If you’re a caregiver or family member struggling to help someone navigate their final years with dignity, you’ll be inspired by the humorous and poignant tales in Nine Ways to Crazy.
About the Author
Deborah J. Taranto is a native New Yorker. She earned a Master of Science degree from Wagner College, joined St. John’s University faculty in 2002 as an assistant adjunct professor teaching English literature, and teaches English literature at a private high school on Staten Island. She is also the author of a work of fantasy fiction: The Land of Crystals.