Still Me - by Sabina Brennan (Paperback)

About the Book

The most comprehensive and up-to-date guide for both caregivers and those living with dementia.

Book Synopsis

AN IRISH TIMES BESTSELLER

'What everybody needs to read... a deep and powerful understanding of what the person who has dementia is going through' - Davina McCall

'A beautifully written, personal, empathetic and immensely practical book' - Dr Harry Barry, GP, author and mental health advocate

The essential toolkit to navigating dementia, supporting loved ones and caring for yourself

Dementia is devastating. Almost a million people are currently living with the disease in the UK alone and this is set to triple by 2050. With family members often providing care, navigating treatment can be overwhelming. But there is life after diagnosis.

Still Me reframes the job of caring for someone with dementia as a partnership. Both you and your loved one deserve respect, support and the latest research to help you on your journey.

Top neuroscientist and bestselling author Dr Sabina Brennan combines her professional knowledge with her personal experience of caring for her mother with dementia. With a human-rights approach that validates everyone's experience and dignity, she offers:
- A self-care plan for care partners to cope with demands and optimise the caregiving experience
- Practical advice on how to manage challenging symptoms, stimulate cognitive function and encourage a brain-healthy lifestyle
- Evidence-based therapies to improve both you and your relative's quality of life.

Dementia can steal many things, but it doesn't have to take away the simple pleasures of life. Shifting the focus from the disease to the person, Still Me reminds you that your relative is still there and that you, as a care partner, are just as important.

Review Quotes

"A wonderful resource for any family affected by dementia ... Dr Brennan's professional experience of dementia, along with her academic knowledge and her family experience of dementia, gives her a unique perspective and this is clear from the nuggets of advice and information on every page ... realistic yet hopeful." --Judy Williams, Advocacy, Engagement and Participation Officer at The Alzheimer Society of Ireland

"What everybody needs to read... a deep and powerful understanding of what the person who has dementia is going through. When you are in this situation of caring for somebody you just need tools... and this is full of them." --Davina McCall, Begin Again podcast

"This is an essential and much-needed guide for both those living with dementia and their caregivers. Sabina understands how important the partnership is between caregiver and dementia patient, and draws on the most up-to-date and innovative research to show how to both optimise the caregiving experience and boost wellbeing and brain health for both. A long-overdue resource." --Kimberly Tully, Chief Executive of Engaging Dementia

"Still Me speaks directly to what matters to people like me - living with dementia but still very much here. It echoes our truths, respects our voices and reminds the world that we are still living, still growing and still ourselves." --Helen-Rochford Brennan, Global Dementia Ambassador

"Indispensable. The practical information is presented in such a positive manner despite the complex and potentially heavy subject matter at hand ... Dr Sabina Brennan's compassionate approach and deep level of understanding of the care partner's lived experience gives us back our sense of self, gives us solace, and it fills us with hope for the journey ahead." --Helena Quaid, Chair, Dementia Carers Campaign Network

"A beautifully written, warm, personal, empathetic but immensely practical book ... Sabina illuminates the path in front of us, wherever we are on this journey. Drawing on cutting edge research combined with her own personal experience, she strongly advocates the importance of self-care, both physical and emotional; how to truly communicate with the one we love battling this illness, remembering at all times, that the person we know is 'still there', hidden underneath the complex layers which make up this condition; and finally the importance of both care-partners trying to live as well as possible, with the time they have together, and how to achieve this goal." --Dr Harry Barry, GP, author and mental health advocate

"A compassionate and insightful guide for anyone supporting a loved one with dementia. It offers a wealth of practical advice and thoughtful strategies to support both the care partner and the person living with dementia. Sabina's professional and personal experience shines through, with clear, digestible explanations of the neurological changes involved, which helps demystify the condition.

What truly sets this book apart is its positive and encouraging tone. Sabina deeply understands the emotional and physical demands on care partners and emphasizes the importance of self-care and support. It's filled with actionable, real-world tips that can make a genuine difference in day-to-day life.

An invaluable resource-scientifically grounded, emotionally supportive, and incredibly practical. A must-read for anyone on the dementia journey as a care partner." --Catherine O'Keeffe aka the Wellness Warrior

"It's fantastic to see this comprehensive resource for care-givers. The dementia journey takes everyone with it. It can be hugely challenging, but also hugely rewarding. It places significant mental and physical pressures on care-givers so self-care is essential for all parties. It's great to see these simple tips laid out here for readers to adopt in their own lives." --Dr Julia Jones, neuroscientist

"A vital handbook to those who are caring for someone with dementia, to help them navigate the stormy waters and live the best life they can together" --Good Health, the Irish Daily Mail

"Straight to the point" --Evoke

"A labour of love... really fascinating" --Ireland AM

"A compassionate guide to dementia care. Anyone with a loved one living with dementia is likely to identify with the experiences expressed in the pages of Still Me" --Irish Examiner

"Timely... there is a lot of very useful, practical advice" --Irish Independent

"Amazing" --Making the Cut Podcast

"Leading neuroscientist Dr Sabina Brennan has outlined three simple lifestyle changes that can delay or even prevent the onset of the terrifying condition" --The Daily Express

"A roadmap of what might be ahead of you and how to look after yourself." --Brendan O'Connor RTE

"The book is magnificent ... a book that will last the ages and one that is so badly needed" --Gerry Kelly, LMFM Radio

"Brennan captures dozens of vignettes of others affected by dementia. These offer a well-focused lens on what dementia looks and feels like ... She has been where I have been, where you may be; her book on caring for a loved one with dementia speaks to her experience of caring for her mother, as well as dozens of others." --Anthea Rowan, The Mail on Sunday

"Powerful... stuffed with practical tips" --The Mail on Sunday Scotland

"[Brennan] urges readers to live well in the face of dementia" --The Daily Mail

"Meticulously researched and presented, it will equip the care partner to understand what is ahead and how they can prepare their person and protect themselves ... the knowledge will carry you through the challenges and rewards ahead. " --Retta Blaney, Writer/editor, Alzheimer's Foundation of America

About the Author

Dr Sabina Brennan is a chartered health psychologist, neuroscientist, award-winning science communicator and the host of the successful Super Brain podcast. She is a national representative on the Medical and Scientific Advisory Panel for the global organisation Alzheimer's Disease International and has advised the Irish Government on brain health and dementia risk reduction. Her previous books 100 Days to a Younger Brain and Beating Brain Fog were both Irish Times number one bestsellers.