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Dancing with Rose: Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer’s Audiobook
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(4.03) - 224 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
An acclaimed biographer, Lauren Kessler immerses herself in her work to construct compelling portraits of her subjects. In Dancing with Rose, she recounts her time at a West Coast Alzheimer's facility. Working as an unskilled resident assistant, Kessler learns important lessons about humanity while conducting interviews with patients in various stages of the disease.
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"A must read for anyone who is dealing with a family member with Alzheimer's. Kessler's experiences humanise the sufferers of the disease and make their experiences understandable for the rest of us. After reading it, I went to visit my mother-in-law in her nursing home and saw her and the other residents with new eyes, much better able to relate to her in a meaningful way for both of us. It is also a strong condemnation of the pitfalls of for-profit elder care, particularly in the U.S., where personal care assistants: those who do the dirtiest and most difficult work, are paid only minimum wage and have absolutely no rights or job benefits. I don't think that they are as poorly treated here in Canada, but this is still considered an unskilled job--an incredibly callous description of caregiving--and therefore not nearly adequately remunerated. As Kessler says, if we Baby Boomers want better care when we reach our latter years, we'd better start organising for it NOW!"
— Cathy (4 out of 5 stars)
Dancing with Rose Listener Reviews
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" I put off reading this book because of the uncomfortable topic of Alzheimer's disease, and a fear many people in my age group have of someday experiencing its ravages. I'm very glad that I did read it. Not only did Lauren Kessler give a personal face to the victims of this disease, she also found within each person dignity and hopefulness. She was able to enter their world and relate to them in ways they could respond, which changed the quality of their relationship. I have no personal experience with caring for a relative with Alzheimer's, but I found this an important book--and made me think about what I would want if I ever needed full time care. "
— Mary, 2/18/2014 -
" Wonderful book--the author is dealing with alzheimer's people in a care home as a way of dealing with her remorse over handling her own mother's alzheimer's poorly. Such empathy! "
— Mike, 2/10/2014 -
" Other than the author's sometimes romanticizing Alzheimer's, I really enjoyed this book about the people with the disease and the underpaid and overworked persons who care for them. Sometimes reading made me cry thinking about a friend of mine who has the disease. Losing your memories, losing your ability to think, seems just so incredibly sad. "
— Elaine, 1/19/2014 -
" This book is a very real account of a lady's journey in dealing with her mother's death from a devastating disease, Alzheimer's disease. I loved reading this book because it takes you through the in's and out's of nursing home life and what it is like to work as a CNA, which, i'm very familiar with. "
— Alexis, 1/18/2014 -
" I worked for a time as an activity aide in the dementia unit of a nursing home. My daily overarching struggle was to convince certain of my co-workers of the enduring humanity in each of the individuals on the unit. I wish I had this book to give them at the time. Lauren Kessler takes a job at a residence specializing in dementia care. For her, this is a temporary assignment; a chance to gather materials for a reporting assignment. She takes on the difficult and often thankless work of daily caregiving for a group of residents and in this book, manages to convey a little of the injustices of the job situations for such caregivers, and a lot of the humanity of her charges. She, like many people who work with dementia clients, learns to redefine ideas like "individuality," "intention," and "personality." It is a tale told with love and heartache: the love for her charges at the residence, and the heartache for the memories of how she handled her own mother's decline. "
— Rebecca, 1/16/2014 -
" And outstanding book. A little anecdotal, but damn good. It's an intimate look at alzheimer's. "
— Paul, 1/14/2014 -
" An author chooses to work as a resident assistant at an Alzheimer's facility to gather information for an article. Her story is engrossing...I actually wanted to read this book late into the night to see what happened. I liked her honest voice. "
— Jeri, 12/12/2013 -
" This was a very enlightening informative and touching book. "
— Bobbi, 12/2/2013 -
" I HIGHLY recommend this book! It will really help the reader to relate to the elderly person's perspective - even if your loved one doesn't have Alzheimer's. "
— Maggie, 11/10/2013 -
" very interesting book. It isn't a how-to, it was more of a life choice. True story and I was impressed by the way the author decided to do something, gave it her all and learned from it. Good discussion book "
— Tracyd, 8/26/2013 -
" I learned a lot about elder care and alzheimer's. I enjoyed the story of how Lauren came to terms with her mother's alzheimer's through her care for others with the disease. "
— Denise, 5/24/2013 -
" This is a great tool for people who want to have a better understanding of how Alzheimer's affects everyone. The book is especially handy for those who don't have the patience for reading technical books. The story keeps your interest. But I did find the narrator to be a bit monotone. I found the book better to read than listen to. I've had to experience the heartbreak of a few family members with Alzheimer's and this book definitely aids in the overall dealings/coping with the disease. I definitely recommend this book for all who want to learn how to empathize with those involved with the disease. Whether you are the one with the disease or you are a family member, friend, or caregiver of someone afflicted with it. "
— Janice, 4/7/2013 -
" Wow, opened my eyes to so much. Just the little things about the person that still really matter, even if they aren't aware of anything. "
— Rebekah, 5/20/2012 -
" Great book if anyone you know are experiencing this dreadful desease. "
— Robert, 12/12/2011 -
" This book is SO GOOD . It's really lovely and sad but hopeful as well. If you know someone with Alzheimer's, this really humanizes the people with the disease. The author worked in a care-giving facility for almost a year, and her stories are so well written and touching. "
— Laila, 6/6/2011 -
" I really enjoyed the honest way she told her story about her relationship with her mother and then to be open to change her heart/feelings <br/>about how she views Alzheimer's. "
— Judy, 5/21/2011 -
" This book is a good insight into the changes that occur with people that have Alzheimer. "
— Alycia, 4/21/2011 -
" And outstanding book. A little anecdotal, but damn good. It's an intimate look at alzheimer's. "
— Paul, 11/29/2010 -
" An author chooses to work as a resident assistant at an Alzheimer's facility to gather information for an article. Her story is engrossing...I actually wanted to read this book late into the night to see what happened. I liked her honest voice. "
— Jeri, 7/19/2010 -
" I HIGHLY recommend this book! It will really help the reader to relate to the elderly person's perspective - even if your loved one doesn't have Alzheimer's. "
— Maggie, 6/14/2010 -
" This was a very enlightening informative and touching book. "
— Bobbi, 4/9/2010 -
" Non-fiction; at times hard to read, but ultimately inspirational. "
— Laurie, 3/14/2010
About Lauren Kessler
Lauren Kessler is the author of several works of narrative nonfiction, including the Washington Post bestseller Clever Girl and the Los Angeles Times bestseller The Happy Bottom Riding Club. Her journalism has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Los Angeles Times Magazine, O magazine, and The Nation. She directs the graduate program in literary nonfiction at the University of Oregon.
About Ruth Ann Phimister
Ruth Ann Phimister has appeared off Broadway and in numerous regional productions, including Life with Father with Robert Reed. She has also worked in television, film, and commercial voice-over.