First edition published Jule 2009; Cover design by Hannes Thiart; layout and design by Barbara Mueller; Printing by MegaDigital, Cape Town.

About the Book:

Z – ALZHEIMER’S – A SHARED JOURNEY

Z is the true story of the descent of a top, award-winning financial editor and investigative journalist into the mysterious world of Alzheimer’s. This dreaded illness strikes not only the afflicted but the partner and both families where normality disappears and a new “logic” takes over. It is widely described as a “living bereavement”.

Above all, it is a rare story of love in the face of adversity – a story for all those who work in the field: practitioners, carers and the families of those who are so cruelly affected.

The Carer is pivotal in the multi-dimensional partnerships that surround their charge; among them domestics, nurses, allied health professionals, Non-Profit Organisations, law-makers, doctors, researchers and the pharmaceutical industry. The harmonious co-ordination of these vectors (or more often, lack of) poses many problems, some of which are more easily corrected than many others. A root-cause as expected is the issue of money and the fact that mental health remains the Cinderella of the National Health budget.

This book provides a timely insight into some of the complexities and stresses that surround caregivers. Caregivers are afflicted by a 50% depression rate compared with 18% in their non-carer counterparts, and have twice the hospital admission rates. Then too, they not infrequently pre-decease their loved ones. Bernard Gosschalk conveys the reasons for this poignantly.

For those who thought the grass to be greener in the United Kingdom, Gosschalks’ exposé makes one think again. If he achieves one objective in his journey, it is the re-awakening and appreciation of the support available to us, especially from those dynamic, selfless volunteers that form the heartbeat of support organizations such as Dementia SA. It is they that provide us with that curious mix of emotional support tempered by reflective reality.

Dr. Felix CV Potocnik
Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Head of Psychogeriatric Unit, Tygerberg and Stikland Hospitals, Cape Town
Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch
April 2009

About the Author:

Bernard Gosschalk was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in 1925 and was educated at Grey High School. He commenced a degree in Architecture at the University of Cape Town in 1943 but volunteered to serve in the 6th South African Armoured Division, 4/22 Field Artillery, in Italy in 1944 and 1945.

He completed the degree in Architecture in 1949 and obtained a Diploma in Town Planning at London University in 1954.
On his return to Cape Town he married Ruth. They had four children. After practising architecture there until 1966, he and his family left for Manchester where he taught at the University Department of Architecture and took an MA.

Ruth died of leukaemia in 1994. He married Zelda in 1996. She returned to a Cape Town home with Alzheimer’s in 2005. Bernard spends four months each year with her.

The total proceeds from its sale will go to DementiaSA to assist in its work across all communities in South Africa.

BOOK REVIEWS:

Dear Bernard,

Congratulations! Z is instructive, informative, creative and above all very moving! You, and therefore we, your readers, range through the whole gamut of feelings - joy, love, confusion, pain sorrow, anger, frustration,hurt and despair and even hope. And the whole has your inimitable voice with its excursions into memory of previous lives and experiences, its imagery, its philosophising and reflections; its rootedness in Capetown and Table Mountain. It 'tracks' in that it is all of a piece experientially! I can imagine - or think I can- how harrowing it was to write as it is even harrowing to read, at least in part.

The appendices were also interesting and yes, some of the ethos of care for the elderly chimes with the Social work code of practice but some important areas of the latter are missing!  I am proud of you too!

The book is a considerable achievement and I am sure Ruth and Zelda would be proud of you! I hope it has the success it deserves by reaching a wide readership.

Lots of love, helle

Helle Mittler
hellemittler@gmail.com

Hi Dad,

Read your book last night till 12.00 as I couldn't put it down. It's brilliant and gives such a good insight into Alzheimers. It's so easy to read - you have a real talent for it. I'm so proud of you and all that you've done in your life. Ian was saying the same thing to our friends over the weekend.

Love you Dad. Take care,

Sue xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

DEMENTIA SA offers various services to families, carers, professionals and facilities caring for people living with dementia.

• SUPPORT – through support groups, partnerships with organisations in the older persons sector and networking with professionals in the field of memory care
• COUNSELING – telephonic, face-to-face and family counseling via SKYPE (by prior arrangement)
• AWARENESS and EDUCATION to families, carers, communities and professionals
• ADVOCACY for the rights of those living with dementia
• RESOURCE CENTRE that provides reference books, videos and DVD’s for members of Dementia SA
• TRAINING – in association with for dementia in the UK, training is suitable for carers at facilities or family carers using the latest global standards in dementia care
• Special MEDIC ALERT bracelet exclusive to Dementia SA especially for people living with dementia

A nominal annual membership fee includes an informative quarterly newsletter and access to our services

Find us at: 3rd FLOOR, STATE HOUSE, 3 ROSE STREET, CAPE TOWN
Mail to: PO Box 16421,Vlaeberg 8018

Telephone: (021) 421-0077 / 78 or (021) 418-5888
Fax : (021) 418-2772

e-mail: director@dementiasa.org • www.dementiasa.org
Facebook: DementiaSA • SKYPE – dementia.sa - by arrangement

Donations are tax deductible and are gratefully accepted
Bequests – please contact us should you wish to make a lasting and valuable contribution to our organisation in your will

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