Alzheimer's Families - Emotional and Spiritual Tools for Coping - Paperback

by Michele Brand Medwin Dmin (Author)

Receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia can be overwhelming. Having a family member with the disease affects the entire family. In addition to memory loss, there are many more symptoms that go along with the disease including changes in personality, lack of motivation, apathy, changes in sleep patterns, lack of social filters, and wandering. Many of these symptoms are invisible to the outside world so family members often suffer in silence. This book was written to educate family members, their friends, clergy, mental health counselors and psychotherapists, and others that deal with Alzheimer's family members or Alzheimer's patients. It offers emotional and spiritual tools to help families cope.

Author Biography

Rabbi Michele Brand Medwin grew up on Long Island in Elmont, NY. She graduated from Cornell University in 1976 with a B.S. and Honors in Human Nutrition. She then went to Pennsylvania College of Optometry where she graduated in 1980 with a Doctor of Optometry degree. Michele was in private practice as an Optometrist for thirteen years when she was inspired by a women rabbi in her congregation to pursue her dream of becoming a rabbi. In 1993 she sold `her practice, and took her family with her to Israel where she completed her first year of rabbinical school. Michele was ordained in 1997 at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, New York City. She has been a congregational rabbi since her ordination. She is currently the rabbi of Temple Sholom in Monticello, NY. In 2016 she received a D.Min. Degree in Clinical and Pastoral Counseling, also at Hebrew Union College. Because of her family's experience having a father with Alzheimer's disease, for her senior D.Min. project she concentrated on finding ways to help family members of loved ones with Alzheimers. This book is based on her D.Min. project. Rabbi Medwin has always had an interest in theology and spirituality. She is the author of two books: A Spiritual Travel Guide to the World of God - Part I: Packing for the Journey, and Part II - God Questions on the Journey, available through Amazon.com. She also had two articles published in Reform Judaism Magazine. The first is called, "Alzheimer's and the Soul," which later became a chapter in the book, Broken Fragments: Jewish Experiences of Alzheimer's Disease through Diagnosis, Adaptation, and Moving On. The second article was called, "Glimpses into the Afterlife" which compared Near Death Experiences to the Talmudic and Kabbalistic ideas of the afterlife. In addition she wrote "Mi Sheberach Prayer for Chronic Illness" that was published in Mishkan R'fuah: Where Healing Resides. On a personal note, Michele met her husband Steve when they were students at Cornell University. They were married right after graduation in 1976. Michele is the proud mother of Dan and Rachel, mother-in-law of Lydia and Michael, and Savta to her grandchildren, Zimra, Gavi, Jasmine, Teddy, and Julian.