Dear Caregiver,

When my wife, Barbara, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, I didn't know much about the disease or the impact it would have on our lives. What I did know was that Alzheimer's was not going to destroy our love for life. Our family came together and decided to focus on what we did have instead of what we didn't have. We chose to celebrate our "todays" and our memories, and to make each day the best, with no regrets. Like so many families who are touched my Alzheimer's, we experienced our share of heartbreaks. We also experienced happy times, and those we will remember forever.

The information in this book is organized a lot like a coach's playbook. That's because I approached Alzheimer's disease much like I would an opponent on the filed, with a solid game plan and a dedicated team.

I had many questions and spent a lot of time looking for answers before I could put together my game plan. This is what I learned. In the middle and late stages of Alzheimer's, it is important to keep your loved one in "her world" to help maintain her dignity. You need to know that when she is in "our world", she is lost, frightened and insecure – and irrational behavior is the result. Doing things that are familiar, and being familiar places, will make her feel safe. Feeling safe is the key to keeping her in a "happy place" as much as possible. This "Playbook for Alzheimer's Caregivers" is a social model, not a medical model (doing things with her, not for her). It was written to give you practical tips to help guide you in taking care of your loved one with Alzheimer's disease.

There is a saying that I've carried with me in my career as a coach, and again in my passion to create this Playbook: "Most coaches get things done right. The winners get the right things done." I hope this Playbook is an example of a winner getting the right things done, and that you find it useful. It is my gift to you in the hope that you can benefit from my experience.

My best advice to you is to treasure each day and live it to the fullest. Cherish the time you spend together, and perhaps most important, love each other. I hope you find peace in knowing that it is still possible to live and love when someone you love is living with Alzheimer's disease.

Sincerely,
Frank Broyles
University of Arkansas, Razorback Athletic Director

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