Title: A Caregiver’s Tips: My Wife Had Alzheimer’s Disease
Author: Fred Buse
Publisher: Author’s Tranquility Press
ISBN: 978-1966088356
Pages: 64
Genre: Non-Fiction / Self-help
Reviewer: Lily Amanda
Hollywood Book Reviews
A Caregiver’s Tips: My Wife Had Alzheimer’s Disease by Fred Buse is a personal, emotional, and practical book where Buse shares what it was like to care for his wife, Dot, during her nine-year struggle with Alzheimer’s. With the help of co-author Marie Mayer, Fred tells his story honestly, while also giving tons of useful advice for anyone going through something similar.
The book follows Fred’s journey from the moment Dot was diagnosed all the way to the end of her life. Along the way, he gives 134 tips on everything from handling medications and doctor visits to dealing with the heartbreak of watching a loved one change. He also talks about keeping your own mental health in check, which is something many caregivers forget about. Fred doesn’t hold back when describing how tough, confusing, and sad it was at times – but he also shows just how much love and strength can come through in hard moments.
This book is expertly grounded and has a solid feeling of realism. Fred doesn’t sound like a doctor but like someone sitting down to share their story over coffee. The tips are easy to understand and cover things you might not think about, like how to help someone eat when they forget how, or how to make your home safer. He has also integrated intelligent themes such as the significance of taking breaks and finding joy in simple times like going for ice cream or listening to old music.
One of the best parts is that Fred reminds readers that it’s okay to feel sad, frustrated, or overwhelmed. He’s notably open about how hard it was, but also about how he found help and kept going. While his experience is unique, a lot of what he shares can apply to anyone caring for a family member, whether it’s Alzheimer’s or another illness.
The simplicity of this book, which reflects its emotional honesty and makes it accessible to a broader audience, avoids literary flourishing and lyrical stances. Its strength is neither found in suspense nor in thrilling action, but in the calm accumulation of everyday events, challenges, and quest for much-needed solutions.
Overall, Fred Buse’s A Caregiver’s Tips: My Wife Had Alzheimer’s Disease is emotional, timely, and incredibly uplifting. It is not only a handbook for adults, but it may also provide teens with insight into caregiving – how it feels emotionally for the caregiver, as well as the financial and physical burden it places on them. Additionally, it clearly conveys the message that “You may not have signed up to be a caregiver, but you show up every day with love – and that makes all the difference.”
When Alzheimer’s strikes, caregivers often feel lost and overwhelmed. In A Caregiver’s Tips, Fred Buse offers down-to-earth advice based on his own experience caring for his wife. This book is a lifeline for families facing Alzheimer’s—filled with real-world tips and encouragement.