FOR IMMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Amy Perkins, Marketing Manager
Phone: 410-337-9585
Fax: 410-337-8539
E-mail: aperkins@healthpropress.com

"WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES": PSYCHOLOGIST EXPOSES LIFE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

BALTIMORE, MD – "I race up and down the corridors of my mind, frantically seeking to make sense of what’s going on around me. Sometimes this process makes me even more lost, and I become lost about why I am lost!" describes Richard Taylor. Unlike ever before, an opportunity exists to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes and gain insight into a poorly understood reality. Typically, the ravages of Alzheimer’s, a degenerative brain disease, make it almost impossible for affected individuals to express their feelings and experiences. Now, one remarkable man has the background and mental capability to tell his story in vivid, gripping, and sometimes humorous ways, revealing an existence the rest of us can only imagine.

Diagnosed 5 years ago at age 58, Richard Taylor discusses his co-existence with the mind-robbing disease in the newly released book Alzheimer’s from the Inside Out (Health Professions Press, 2007). With sometimes searing honesty, he shares thoughts, fears, frustrations, and questions that give readers the rare ability to travel alongside him on the disease’s unpredictable journey. Not so much a memoir as a meditation on what it means to be human, the book’s 82 evocative essays address complex issues faced by those with this disease––loss of independence, struggles to communicate, changing relationships with loved ones, and never-ending uncertainty about the future. "Putting my thoughts in writing has helped me cope with this life-changing diagnosis," says Taylor . "And now I’m sharing my essays to increase understanding about the disease. I have an obligation to myself and others to speak up and speak out about my experience, feelings, and concerns. If I don’t, who will know what it’s like to have Alzheimer’s disease?"

The community at large, including family members, friends, service agencies, and medical professionals, will gain valuable understanding and compassion from the first-hand perspective imparted by Alzheimer’s from the Inside Out. "I thought I understood what life was like for my Alzheimer’s-affected parents—until Richard’s story enlightened me with insight into an unimaginable world," says Jacqueline Marcell, former Alzheimer’s caregiver and author of the book Elder Rage. Taylor ' s essays will also comfort others in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, helping them realize that they are not alone in their struggle against this devastating disease.

A retired psychologist from Houston , Texas , Taylor has dedicated his remaining years to advocating for improved Alzheimer’s care. He has been actively involved with the Houston and Southeast Texas chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, as well as the national headquarters. He has started over 50 online support groups for people with Alzheimer’s and is a frequent speaker to family members and professional caregivers about his experiences.

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Jesus, Albert, Alzheimer’s, and Richard
They are Glad They Caught It Early, Am I?
"We Have a Pill, Alzheimer's Can Be Treated!"
My Last Six Words
I Wish I Were a Nude Mouse
The Chase for Yesterday
What's the Up Side to Having Alzheimer’s Disease?
And the Name of the 3,000-Pound Elephant is "Fear"
It's On the Tip of My Tongue
Am I Half Empty or Half Full?
A Stranger in a Strange Land
Once Again, My Children Believe They Know More Than I Do
Give Me Your Money, Your Car, and …
Am I to Be My Spouse's Son?
There is Something (More) Wrong with Dad
From My Heart to My M.D.'s Ears
Act Up! Act Out! Act Now!

Review copies of Alzheimer’s from the Inside Out are available upon request. For more information, contact Amy Perkins (Phone: 410-337-9585, Fax: 410-337-8539, aperkins@healthpropress.com).

About Health Professions Press

Founded in 1990, Health Professions Press is a publisher of high-quality educational resources for professionals in the fields of aging, long-term care, and health services administration. An independent company, Health Professions Press is located in Baltimore , Maryland . Please visit www.healthpropress.com for more information.