The 36-Hour Day

I first saw the book The 36-Hour Day when my Dad first borrowed it from the library, probably about a year ago. It labels itself as “A family guide to caring for persons with Alzheimer Disease, related dementing illnesses, and memory loss in later life.” At the time I had flipped through the book, skimmed various parts, felt I ought to read it, and in the end didn’t make time. The book again cropped up in my life when after I took Grandpa to the doctor’s the last time a nurse called afterward and suggested the book. I didn’t want to offend her so I agreed to check it out of the library, and figured I might make the time to read the book now that I was in the middle of dealing with Alzheimer’s.

I did take another look at the book but after a short glance I decided I wasn’t going to read the book. It is a good book to familiarize someone with Alzheimer’s and I would recommend that any of my readers interested in a more systematic and through detailing of the effects and issues surrounding the disease and care should read the book. I would say the book is of particular use to those who will not be directly involved in the care and need an understanding of what is going on.

If you are the one actually providing the care the value of the book will vary depending on your personality. Myself, after having cared for Grandpa now for over six months I look at the book and find nothing helpful. Having lived intimately with the disease for six months, everything in the book only says what I can already see, only tells me what I already know. After six months it all reads to me like shallow superficial obvious points. Some of what they say I already see in Grandpa, some of it I know doesn’t apply to Grandpa, and I already know where his problems are leading. Flipping through the book, I could see it would add nothing to my knowledge.

But not everyone is like me. When I brought the book home from the library Grandma read portions of the book and found them enlightening. So I guess if you have a hard time understanding why an Alzheimer patient acts as they do the book might help. Ironically, I see Grandma doing some of the very things The 36-Hour Day tells the care providers to not do. And Grandma still has a hard time understanding and accepting many of the things Grandpa does. She seemed surprised to learn some things from the book (things I thought were obvious) and she still can’t stand it when Grandpa moves around the kitchen chairs, carries around the couch cushions, and messes with the magazines.

So the book will give an observer a better understanding, and will help some caregivers, but not everyone.