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Book group: A Family Guide to Living Well with Dementia

When someone close to you is diagnosed with dementia, you might feel unsure about how best to support them. This book’s name neatly sums up its aim. 

A Family Guide to Living Well with Dementia focuses on giving you the information you need to enable a relative with dementia to live the life they want. 

It’s written by Liz Leach Murphy, who has a 25-year career in health and social care, with help from journalist and writer Jayna Patel. 

Dementia affects everyone differently

For reviewer Jo, empowerment is front and centre in the book. 

‘It’s very respectful to the needs of the person with dementia, and a reminder that they are still a person with their own feelings and thoughts. 

‘It focuses your mind to understand their perspective, preferences and choices, and for the person to remain empowered for as long as they can as opposed to making decisions on their behalf without consultation. 

It highlights the complexities of dementia, but equally how different it can be for everyone. 

Another Jo, in Surrey, says this meant it was a comforting read. 

‘It was quite a revelation to discover that things I had instinctively been doing, such as setting up a supportive network for my father, were recognised by health and social care professionals as being important.’ 

A reader in Birmingham applauds the theme of personalised care and support that runs through the book. 

‘It frames each new topic, stressing the importance of giving people with dementia – and their carers – full choice and control over support and care. 

‘Not only that, it goes into detail about what resources are available to facilitate personalised care.’ 

Clear and accessible advice

Although it might look a bit like a textbook, A Family Guide to Living Well with Dementia is still warm and accessible, says our Birmingham reviewer. 

‘The book is extremely well written, with clear and easy-to-understand language that never feels overly technical, despite some of the more complicated topics covered.’ 

Jo in Surrey adds, ‘Clear headings and well-spaced text make for easy reading. The glossary of abbreviations at the start is useful, and other terms and concepts are well defined and explained.’ 

Diagrams and illustrations are used to break things up, and they’re very effective, adds our other Jo. 

‘There are some great suggestions which I hadn’t thought about.  

The communication map of day-to-day activities with the drawings was an excellent idea.

Detailed information

All our reviewers were struck by how comprehensive the book is, both in terms of topics covered and different perspectives included. 

‘It’s a precise book and such a big undertaking by the authors,’ says John Pops Hyde in North Somerset.

‘It’s mainly aimed at people and families that already have a dementia diagnosis.

But I’m certain there will be huge numbers of people pre-diagnosis who would find its information truly invaluable and helpful before they properly start their journey.

Jo in Surrey was also impressed by the scale of the book. 

‘It’s not just focused on the person who has dementia and has a multitude of information about issues, such as the provision of care and support, ways to plan that care and support, and financial planning.’

Stages of dementia

The downside of so much practical information, however, is that the book can feel overwhelming at times. Our reviewers recommend reading it in chunks and homing in on what’s most useful to you. 

‘Initially I found it very helpful. However, after a few days it became a bit overwhelming and I had to take a break from reading, as there is so much content to absorb,’ says Jo in Surrey. 

‘While family carers may be prepared to invest time in reading the book, friends or paid carers may be more reluctant.’ 

With so much information to absorb, the other Jo says the chapters on the stages of dementia were most interesting to her. 

‘Chapters one to three are very informative and laid out well, but I felt the explanations of terminology could have been placed at the end of the book. 

‘Chapter three starts off the journey of dementia, which was the right starting point for me.’ 

Our reader in Birmingham also found the information on the stages of dementia engaging. 

Where the book really excels is in the practical advice it gives for each stage of the dementia journey. 

‘Also worth mentioning is the chapter about ways to plan – it provides a whole range of different planning tools that can be used to map out how a person’s care will look, keeping them at the centre of the conversation throughout.’ 

Throughout this wealth of information, the book’s empathetic approach remains strong. 

‘It details how to navigate each stage in a way that keeps the focus on the person with dementia and understanding their experiences from their perspective,’ adds our Birmingham reader. 

A Family Guide to Living Well with Dementia, by Liz Leach Murphy and Jayna Patel (Critical 2023), 204 pages, £18.99 (prices vary), ISBN 9781915713063. Also available as an ebook.