Surfing the Waves of Alzheimer's: Principles of Caregiving That Kept Me Upright

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A compassionate memoir detailing the journey of younger-onset Alzheimer's disease, this work provides thoughtful guidelines for caregivers. In 2009, during a family vacation, Dr. Renée Brown Harmon sensed something was amiss with her husband, Harvey, a highly intelligent physician and devoted father, who struggled with simple tasks. The reality of his condition was confirmed nine months later when he was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer's at age fifty. This diagnosis forced Harmon to inform the state medical board that it was unsafe for him to continue seeing patients in their shared practice. Suddenly managing both family and business, she relied on friends, family, and faith to navigate the challenges of Harvey's illness. Blending personal narrative with caregiver guidance, the memoir serves as an essential resource for those facing the difficulties of caring for a loved one with memory loss. Each chapter concludes with caregiving principles and best practices to help maintain balance in the caregiver's role. Drawing from her experiences and nearly thirty years as a family practice doctor, Harmon provides a clear-eyed account of the disease's impact while expressing her feelings of loss and heartbreak with honesty, grit, and grace.