MEMORY CARE
Book Highlight: The Sunshine on My Face—A Two-Lap Book®
By Debbie Reslock S
earching for a way to connect with her mother who had Alzheimer’s, author Lydia Burdick created the
Two-Lap Book®. Not only is it designed to be read aloud side-by-side, it provides a way for caregivers or family members to interact on a level they might have thought was no longer possible. Burdick wanted to share a book with
her mom after watching her flip through a magazine. Although unsure if she was able to read or understand, she knew a newspa- per or magazine was too dense. But when looking in a bookstore, their recommenda- tion was the children’s section. “I wanted something my mom could relate to. She was a kindergarten teacher, and even though she didn’t speak much at the time, I knew if she could she would ask why I’d given her a child’s book to read,” she says. So Burdick created “The Sunshine on
y ace,” the first in a series of three books developed for those with mid-to-late stage Alzheimer’s. Most caregivers aren’t sure if the person is still able to read, Burdick says, so she asked gently and encouragingly if her mother would read to her. “The third time I asked, she read the sentence and she smiled at me. And then I asked her how the sun felt on her face and she said warm.” Not knowing how to communicate is a common challenge for many caregivers, but the book’s simple text and colorful images helped Burdick engage with her mother and actually bring a smile to both of their faces. “It helped her become alive and herself again, even if only for a short time,” says Burdick. “It was like having my mom back.” Each page has a conversation prompt
that relates to the picture. In the newly re- leased edition, there are questions and song suggestions included that can be used to fur-
44 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE / ISSUE 3 2017
ther connect. “It can be hard for people to know what to talk about when visiting someone with dementia and this can give them ideas. This book is actually a guide on how to interact gently with people,” Burdick says. Sharing a book across laps also gives the
caregiver some respite. “It’s a break because you have to sit down and relax to read,” Burdick says. Filled with images similar to themselves, another bonus is that this is a book children can read to their grandparents. The 10th anniversary edition of “The
Sunshine on My Face” was released last year and the book has twice received the National Health Information Award. Along
with the other books in the series, “Happy New Year to You!” and “Wishing On a Star,” all three help caregivers not only interact and engage, but maybe share a few words or a smile. Burdick also notes that the books make great gifts for birthdays or holidays. “People never know what’s an appropriate gift for those with dementia or their caregivers, but this is something they can really share and it also supports the caregiver.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
