Choosing Joy

Understandably, most stories from caregivers of Alzheimer’s sufferers are tragic and filled with despair. But CHOOSING JOY by Helene Berger is a book of hope, a personal journey from a woman who was determined to stay positive in the face of her husband’s diagnosis, and an inspiration to other caregivers. 

Helene Berger began this book unwittingly, pieced together from a journal she began keeping after her husband Ady’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s. It describes her real life experiences – the mistakes and the successes that allowed the couple to build the best life possible in the face of this terrible illness. When Helen consciously chose to seek joy every day, both for herself and her husband, Ady began to experience a remarkable and unprecedented regeneration. During the last two years of his illness, he did what is often considered impossible:  played Mozart on the piano, solved Sudoku puzzles, drew pictures, and wrote nightly love letters to his wife. Without downplaying the negative effects of Alzheimer’s, Helen writes about how she was able to craft a truly beautiful life for both of them. In addition to chronicling her individual journey, she offers the unthinkable to an Alzheimer’s caregiver – hope. She imparts strategies and advice for other caregivers to help make the final years of life together as positive as they can be. Ranging from to tips for avoiding confrontation to dealing with inappropriate behavior, these techniques serve to make life as an Alzheimer’s caregiver not only more bearable, but truly joyous.