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Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat [Hardcover]
This book is written by a physician and geriatrician.  It is about a cat that lives on the Steere House Nursing and Rehab. Center in Providence, Rhode Island.  Oscar lives in the wing that houses those in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia.  The thing about him is that he senses the end of life and is unfailingly there for dying and their families.
If you have experienced the heartbreak of caring for someone with dementia, or, if you have experienced evidence  for the souls of animals, you will not get through this beautiful story with dry eyes.

You can read about the ten signs of dementia in contrast to "normal" lapses in memory here.
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Comments

  1. LindaApril 11, 2011 at 4:10 PM

    I'll check this book out immediately. Finding a new book to read was next on my list so this takes care of that.

    I've had personal experience with a cat knowing the end of life stage. They really know.

    ReplyDelete
  2. BettyApril 11, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    Thanks for the information. Apparently, my memory loss is normal. So far, so good.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Auntie sezzzzzz...April 11, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    I think I have heard of this cat. This must be a bitter/sweet read.

    Gentle hugs,
    .♥.

    ReplyDelete
  4. JuneApril 11, 2011 at 6:38 PM

    I think there are many cats (and probably other animals) who can sense when The Time is near. I don't know how they know, but they do, and so often, they will stay close as if to be of comfort.
    There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Arkansas PattiApril 11, 2011 at 7:02 PM

    I too have heard of this cat. What a blessing he is to give comfort to the dying.
    I was nervous about clicking on "here" but went anyway and think I just might be normal. Phew.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sally WesselyApril 11, 2011 at 7:13 PM

    This book sound great.

    I guess I have a few things to worry about when it comes to memory, but then I remember that I taught the present progressive tense in my class this morning and did ok with that. My students even seemed to understand. If I can remember all this after retirement, I guess I must not be too advanced in my memory loss. Since I haven't thought about this tense since I retired, my memory must still work.

    ReplyDelete
  7. marciamayoApril 12, 2011 at 4:46 AM

    Thanks for adding the link about whether or not I have dementia. I can't remember if I have it or not.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kimberly KayeApril 13, 2011 at 4:43 AM

    I knew long before this list that I was demented. But I'm happy to now have a place to refer friends and family so they know I'm not just being dramatic.

    JUST being dramatic...

    ReplyDelete

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