Reader Notes
This book features content related to Alzheimer's and the death of a parent. It can be read either prior to or after a death.
Recommended Audience
This book is recommended reading for adults 30-65.
Review
Mom's Gone Missing is a recommended read for anyone facing the heartbreaking reality of managing a busy life and a parent (or parents) with rapid onset of Alzheimer's. The author, Susan Marshall, lays out a timeline that takes the reader through her mother's journey from the early stages of the disease to her end of life. Along the way, Susan delivers an honest narrative expressing what she faced while managing the complicated care of her loved one, battling counter points of view within the family, and her personal feelings of grief, frustration, and guilt. Before her mother's passing, the author also faces her father's dementia and death and must manage the details of a memorial, questions of cremation in the eyes of the Catholic faith, and a stand-off with her siblings trying to honor her father's wishes. This book is a loving tribute to her family, an author's search for purpose and meaning, and a guide for others who may face a similar path.
Discussion Prompts
- Is there something in your life you would change after reading this book?
- Does this book bring up any feelings you have been afraid to express?
- How do the author's feelings and behaviors compare to your own when it comes to managing the care of a loved one?
- How has your attitude toward end of life changed since reading this book?
- Do you have unanswered questions about burial, cremation, or memorialization of a loved one?
About the Reviewer
Michelle McGrew is the former Director of Marketing for the National Funeral Directors Association in Brookfield, WI and is a personal acquaintance of Susan Marshall.