A Walk Back Through Time

A Walk Back Through Time is one woman's story of the nine years she spent caring for her mother who had been inflicted with Alzheimer's, and her eventual involvement in the growth of their local Alzheimer's support system. Paula J. Bateman gently walks us through her experiences as she shares her journey toward understanding this devastating disease that affects too many. She leads us through the shock, dismay, grief, and even the guilt that many feel as they try to cope with the effects of memory loss on those they care for as well as the caregivers themselves. Ms. Bateman has included stories of other caregivers who became a part of her support system, as well as ideas and practices that she found helpful in her work as a caregiver for her mother and a facilitator of the Alzheimer's support group that she led for 18 years.

PAULA BATEMAN is a mother, grandmother, writer, and dedicated musician. She teaches music by ear to children and adults, plays and sings with different types of music groups, is a traveler, and has lived on farms and in the mountains for many years. Paula is an avid gardener, loves horses and water skiing, and has many other interests. Paula was trained by the National Alzheimer’s Association and facilitated her county’s Alzheimer’s Support Group for eighteen years. Her mother was diagnosed with the disease at the age of eighty-two years old, and in the nine years of caring for her, Paula came to understand many of life’s challenges of being a caregiver for a close family member who is ill. She shares some of her experiences here, along with some of her knowledge and expertise gained through many years of leading the support group. Paula’s philosophy of life is this: ＂Take each day as it comes, do the best that you can do to serve others, yet don’t forget to love yourself. Make quiet time to hear your inner voice. You will find a profound sense of peace that comes from knowing you have done the best that you can do.＂