Education Materials

Hospice of the Valley has available a variety of materials that can help you as you proceed down the path of providing care to a loved one or family member with dementia. These include books, videos and workshops. Many are free or are downloads from this site, others are provided at cost by HOV, and others are recommendations generally found at a library or bookstore.

  • Experiencing the Moment in Dementia
    A workshop for family and friends of loved ones with dementia. This workshop is offered quarterly, and we ask that you reserve your space in the program by contacting the Dementia Program, either by email or phone, at (602) 636-6363.

The following books are available at most libraries and can be loaned out by Hospice of the Valley:


  • A Dignified Life: The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care
    by Virginia Bell & David Troxel
    Target Audience: Family Caregivers
    Illustrated through real, heartfelt stories, A Dignified Life shows how the Best Friends method can bring dignity to the lives of both those who have Alzheimer's disease and those who care for them. With an emphasis on family impact, the book describes how families can work together to create effective communication and meaningful activities for the person with dementia. This optimistic book is an indispensable resource for all family members and friends caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease.
  • Alzheimer's from the Inside Out
    by Richard Taylor, Ph D
    Target Audience: Persons with Dementia, Family and Professional Caregivers
    This is an insightful collection of essays written by Dr. Richard Taylor about his personal experiences living with early onset Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Taylor skillfully shares his perspectives on life and relationships redefined by a dementia diagnosis. It is a remarkable account illuminating one wise, determined and courageous man's journey through the changes and challenges of Alzheimer's disease.
  • Navigating the Alzheimer's Journey: A Compass for Caregiving
    by Carol Bowlby Sifton
    Target Audience: Family and Professional Caregivers
    Aptly titled, this is an excellent roadmap with straightforward advice on how to care for persons with dementia in a manner that upholds dignity and enhances quality of life.
  • Creating Moments of Joy
    by Jolene Brackey
    Target Audience: Family Caregivers
    This book brings quick and practical assistance to caregivers to help them discover new ways to understand what the person with dementia is trying to communicate through actions and words. The author presents many new ways of looking at common situations that are often viewed in a negative context. She provides many new and creative strategies to take a negative situation and make it better. Each chapter is only a few pages in length, allowing the overwhelmed caregiver to take in a few new ideas each day. Caregivers are encouraged to use this book as their own personal journal to write ideas and then share the book with another caregiver once their journey has ended.
  • Understanding Difficult Behaviors
    by Anne Robinson, Beth Spencer & Laurie White
    Target Audience: Family & Professional Caregivers
    This book was written specifically for caregivers of persons with dementia. It is intended to help caregivers understand the many possible explanations for why challenging behaviors may occur. Practical coping strategies for responding to challenging situations such as agitation, wandering, incontinence, and resistance to care also are offered. These suggestions have been compiled from family caregivers, the Alzheimer's Association newsletters, books and journal articles. Pages of this book can be copied and given to caregivers to expand their ideas on how to intervene with specific behavioral problems.
  • Sometimes Ya Gotta Laugh
    by Karen Stobbe
    Target Audience: Family Caregivers
    This book was written by a former caregiver and reflects basic facts and insights on the topic of Alzheimer's disease. More importantly, the author utilizes stories and jokes in order to find the humor in successful caregiving. Ms. Stobbe writes, "Sometimes life is hard. Caring for another person is not easy. But everyone I spoke with - no matter what kind of caregiving they do - all agreed you have to find your sense of humor and that sometimes...ya gotta laugh."
  • The Art of Dementia Care
    by Daniel Kuhn and Jane Verity
    Target Audience: Family and Professional Caregivers
    The Art of Dementia Care inspires and empowers caregivers by illuminating the limitless possibilities that truly exist when we choose the relationship model of care. Kuhn and Verity clearly illustrate how everyday challenges in caregiving can evolve into opportunities that celebrate residual abilities, and honor and uphold the dignity of persons with dementia. Through simple, practical and thoughtful examples, the Art of Dementia Care awakens its readers to the powerful realization "that you hold the key to the quality of someone else's life".
  • Inside Alzheimer's: How to Hear and Honor Connections with a Person who has Dementia
    by Nancy Pierce
    Target Audience: Family and Professional Caregivers
    Inside Alzheimer's celebrates the hidden potential discovered when we consciously focus on the person's remaining abilities instead of his/her deficits. Through simple steps and inspiring case studies, Nancy demonstrates how we can all help persons with dementia transcend the seeming boundaries of the disease to experience profound moments of beauty, meaning, dignity, laughter and love.

Dementia Digest

The Dementia Digest is a newsletter created by the Dementia Program that discusses various topics in advanced dementia care. Please click on the links below to view issues of the Dementia Digest: