Alzheimer's Daughter

The Story

Alzheimer’s Daughter introduces the reader to my healthy parents, Ed and Ibby, years before their diagnosis, then recounts painful details as our roles reversed and I became my parents’ parent.


Their disease started as translucent, confused thoughts and ended in a locked memory care unit after a near decade of descent into the opaque world of Alzheimer's.

I began writing Alzheimer’s Daughter one week after my mother's death––when I was stunned, realizing Dad had no memory of her or their 66-year marriage.

I write to pay tribute to the undying spirit at Ed and Ibby's core, and with the hope that the story of their parallel decline might be helpful to others.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Meet Barbra Cohn, author of Calmer Waters


I spent a decade caring for my husband Morris, who died from younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease in August 2010. Afterward, I was compelled to write “Calmer Waters: The Caregiver’s Journey Through Alzheimer’s and Dementia” to help other caregivers feel happier, have more energy and time for themselves, sleep better, feel more relaxed and confident, and experience inner peace . . . because I had become an expert caregiver. I felt that if I didn’t reach out to help others my experience would have been for naught. 

I was in a unique position to write “Calmer Waters” because I’ve been a professional writer for the past 36 years and writing is the easiest way for me to express myself. Since I write for manufacturers of nutritional supplements, I am continuously researching the latest and greatest “silver bullets” to improve health, prevent disease and illness, and support cognitive function. 

Writing “Calmer Waters” was based on both my personal experience as a caregiver and my professional experience as a writer/researcher. 

How is “Calmer Waters” different? 

“Calmer Waters” is different from other books for the Alzheimer’s and dementia community. It includes my life story, inspirational essays and rituals from spiritual leaders, stories from family caregivers, and twenty healing modalities from renowned experts that can be practically incorporated into a daily regimen. An added bonus is that both care partners —the caregiver and memory-impaired individual—can use most of the healing modalities, allowing for a stronger connection between the two. 

Response to my book: 

The feedback I’ve received has been very positive. Readers have reported that the book is an excellent resource for all caregivers, regardless of the health issue they are dealing with. Non-caregivers are also enjoying “Calmer Waters” and are using it to improve their general health. 

Support for caregivers 

Personal accounts of the journeys that nine caregivers embarked on with their loved ones illustrate the challenging medical, financial, emotional, and social roadblocks that accompany coping with Alzheimer’s and dementia. 

A rare blend of storytelling and practical and spiritual advice, “Calmer Waters: The Caregiver’s Journey Through Alzheimer’s and Dementia” offers an uplifting account of the strength of the human spirit and a testament to the love and dedication of the 15 million Americans caring for a memory-impaired relative or friend. 

Author’s bio 

Barbra Cohn holds a Master’s degree in professional writing, a BA in English, a BA in Religious Studies, and a Certificate in Nutrition from the Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts. As a nutrition educator, she offers nutritional support to caregivers, guiding them to make healthy food and lifestyle choices. Barbra has been a professional writer for 36 years, and has written hundreds of health and travel articles for national, regional, and local publications. She lives in Boulder, Colorado where she and her late husband raised their two children. She is a devoted grandmother to three grandchildren and will soon welcome a granddaughter into the world. In her spare, time Barbra enjoys hiking in the Rocky Mountains, and dancing salsa, tango and Israeli folkdance. 

Social media links: 

@healthwriter1 (twitter) 

Barbracohn.com (thehealthcaregiverblog) 



“Calmer Waters: The Caregiver’s Journey Through Alzheimer’s and Dementia” (Blue River Press, 2016, ISBN 978-1-68157-014-3-51699, $16.99, http://cardinalpub.com/?product=calmer-waters) 

Amazon author’s page: 

https://www.amazon.com/Barbra-Cohn/e/B01FX3RK74/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

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