No One Tells You This
True Stories of Caring for a Loved One with Dementia
by Beth Oakley

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Even with today’s medical advancements, family and friends are taking on the role of caregiver for their loved ones more than ever. When her mother was diagnosed with dementia, author Beth Oakley, along with her mother’s partner, made the same choice out of love. Yet, this decision came with unexpected challenges. As Beth learned more about the disease—and heard stories like her own—she increasingly realized these challenges didn’t have to be so unexpected. Her family’s journey was at times isolating, as the COVID-19 pandemic raged on. So, Beth began writing her own story. She interviewed others caring for a family member or friend battling dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. No One Tells You This: True Stories of Caring for a Loved One with Dementia is a collection of stories based on these interviews and the author’s own experiences. They offer insights into each stage of caregiving, from the first signs, to accepting the diagnosis and learning how to give support, to navigating family dynamics and the Canadian healthcare system. Informative and compassionate, these stories offer a realistic perspective on the challenges of this incurable disease. As the disease presents itself in a myriad of ways, so too do these voices and their experiences. The joys and struggles, the losses and blessings—No One Tells You This shares them all. Because, as much as caregiving is a journey on a road of uncertainty, no one has to do it alone.

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A retired university educator, Beth Oakley spent thirty-two years supporting students through various programs and services. She has a degree in English Language and Literature, another in teaching, and a Master of Education. Beth is the author of I Wouldn’t Have Missed It! (Walkerville Publishing, 2024), a memoir about the life of James D. O’Neill, her father. She also contributed a chapter, titled “First Year Students in Transition: What Institutions Do to Help,” in Teaching, Learning, Assessing (Mosaic Press, 2007). These professional experiences, along with her personal experience caregiving for her mother, helped Beth compose her second book, No One Tells You This: True Stories of Caring for a Loved One with Dementia. When she’s not writing, Beth embraces lifelong learning and staying active. Throughout her personal and professional life, she has been an advocate for persons with disabilities. Beth lives in Colchester, (Harrow), Ontario, Canada along the shores of Lake Erie, with her husband of thirty-nine years. She has two adult daughters, a son-in-law, and a grandson.

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Contributors

Author

Beth Oakley