Murrysville woman writes a book about grandmothers with Alzheimer's
In her professional career, Doreen Coulson Putnam noticed when grandchildren were separated from their grandparents who had Alzheimer’s and dementia.
A certified dementia practitioner, Putnam sought to create an educational resource for families to help them understand memory loss and how to include children. The Murrysville resident wrote “Sometimes Grandmamma Doesn’t Know Me.” The book was published by Word Association Publishers in Tarentum.
It tells the tale of Megan and her best friend Emmalia who both have grandmothers with Alzheimer’s, a progressive, terminal disease where individuals continue to lose skills and abilities and affects one’s short-term memory, language, mobility and logic.
The book discusses the emotions and concerns of the girls. Illustrated by Felix Eddy, the images represent moments with the grandmother in tears and Megan hugging her grandmother. Emmalia comes to visit Megan for a sleepover. Megan’s grandmother doesn’t remember Emmalia’s name. And the grandmother forgets what she’s cooking for dinner and gets lost after dropping the girls off to swim. She wears the same clothes two days in a row.
Megan worries what her best friend will think about grandmother’s forgetfulness. What Megan discovers is both have grandmothers with Alzheimer’s. The girls make a pinky-finger pact that they can always share their secret with each other.
Putnam compared memory loss to a filing cabinet filled with memories in folders. The folders are removed. Some, a few at a time, and then more are taken out in larger quantities. The files are never returned, which leaves gaps.
Putnam dedicated the book to her children. She included her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the book.
“This situation is complicated,” said Putnam. “There is denial and disbelief and a sense of fear. It is important to know what to look for. One thing to remember is the love will always be there.”
Receive a complimentary copy of “Sometimes Grandmamma Doesn’t Know Me” at dcputnamconsulting.com or doreen@dcputnamconsulting.com (limited copies available).
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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