Pensacola Entrepreneur's Personal Experience Helps Dementia Patients

Registered nurse turned author, Mary Beth Sloan, just wanted to create a useful gift for her mother-in-law, Ada Sloan, who struggled with the devastating effects of dementia. Compassionate and caring, Sloan wanted to stimulate conversation and social interaction with Ada. Aware of the struggle with the complexity of carrying on a verbal conversation, Sloan realized she needed a better way to stimulate communication. "I realized that she needed visually vivid, stimulating photos and simple text," says Sloan, "so I created a photographic journal, a handmade book and brought it for my next visit." The result; Sloan experienced a more interactive and enjoyable visit with her mother-in-law and she knew she was on to something.

Picture Book Becomes Caregiver Tool for Dementia Patients

The picture book she created eventually led to three books, Reminiscence, I Remember, and Caregiver's Tools: Bridging Memories published by Books As Bridges, Inc. These books are used by family members, friends, attendants, nurses aids and other professional health care providers to generate conversation and make the life of a dementia patient feel less lonely and isolated.

Dementia translates to "deprived of mind." It is an irreversible, serious cognitive impairment that affects memory, attention, language and problem solving beyond the effects of normal aging.

The Mayo Clinic says, "Dementia isn't a specific disease. Instead, dementia describes a group of symptoms affecting intellectual and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning."

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. The Alzheimer's Association's 2011 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report states that 5.4 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer's Disease; about 1 out of every 8 older Americans. That number is expected to climb.

Severn Year Journey for Reluctant Entrepreneur

Sloan just wanted to help her mother-in-law. A reluctant entrepreneur, she had no idea how many people her book would help, and how many caregivers would appreciate the simple tools to help improve the quality of life for a dementia patient. The journey from caring daughter-in-law to author and entrepreneur took about seven years. Motivated first, just to help her mother-in-law, Sloan discovered more motivation to expand and publish her book from her writers group.

Write On! Pensacola - Writer's Group Provides Motivation

Sloan and fellow writer, Kathleen Logan, author of Second Blooming for Women: Growing a Life That Matters After 50, founded Write On! Pensacola in 2001. Write On! Pensacola is a traveling writers group, meeting monthly in various locations in the Pensacola area, and boasts a large membership of fiction and non-fiction writers. "My fellow writers helped me perfect my idea and encouraged me to stick with it and get the books published," says Sloan. "My fellow writers were an amazing support and motivation for me."

With the support of her writers group, Sloan began pitching her book idea to publishers, and although she received several rejection letters, many of them included a personal message telling her that it was an exceptional idea and that she shouldn't give up. She kept plugging away, motivated to help "the most ignored people on earth; people with memory loss."

Collaboration Leads To Books & Workshops To Help Dementia Caregivers

Sloan decided to take a team approach and joined forces with photographer and co-author Derek Ferebee, author of children's book Dodger Goes West, and Laura Levitan, a licensed clinical social worker with expertise in working with memory disorder patients. Levitan served as the catalyst that pulled things together with her conceptual design. The three collaborated to create Caretaker Tools: Bridging Memories. Sloan and Ferebee then created a workshop based on the book. The Art of Reminiscing Workshop helps caregivers better connect and reinforce bonds with dementia patients. Sloan and Ferebee co-present the Art of Reminiscing Workshop.

The series of books are valuable tools for caregivers at every level to enhance the communication and care of a dementia patient. "Every senior residence facility in America is going to want these books," said Kathleen Koch, Director of Community Relations, Sunrise Fox Chapel, PA.

Working To Help Victims of TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury

The soft-spoken Sloan may be a reluctant entrepreneur, but her commitment to helping those with memory problems drives her forward. In addition to Alzheimer's-related dementia patients there's a host of others to help; accident victims, stroke patients, and the growing number of wounded warriors suffering traumatic brain injuries . Books as Bridges, Inc. realizes that anyone with traumatic brain injury will benefit from the specialized visual journals. "There is so much more to do," says Sloan.

Sources:
Interview with Mary Beth Sloan, R.N. - Co-author of Caregivers Tools
http://www.booksasbridgesinc.com
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dementia/DS01131
http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp
http://writeonpensacola.wordpress.com/about/
http://www.secondbloomingforwomen.com/
http://www.sempermax.com/113.html