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Fractured Memories: Because Demented People Need Love, Too
In 2009, Emily Page’s father was diagnosed at the age of 65 with frontotemporal dementia, a form of dementia that strikes earlier and progresses more quickly than Alzheimer’s, and for which there is no treatment to slow the progression of the disease. Being so young, Page hadn’t had much experience with dementia, but she began documenting, in writing and art, her family’s heartbreaking and hilarious experiences.
As a professional artist, she had often turned to art as a self-prescribed therapy to help deal with life’s trials. This battle was no different. She utilized the elephant as a symbol for dementia, and incorporated sheet music into the paintings because her dad had been a jazz musician. Eventually, Page created 40 paintings that are included in the book. She also began blogging about the range of issues that arose daily as the disease progressed, documenting everything from her own fear of getting dementia, to her dad’s transition to diapers (and the various places he opted to drop his drawers and just “go”), to combatting his compulsions like the need to “clean” the cars with steel wool, to an exploration of how he might have gotten the disease, to finding the right dementia care facility, to the best ways to make him giggle. Page approached the disease from the fresh viewpoint of a younger caregiver. As her blog following grew, so did the suggestions from readers that she turn the blog into a book. After hearing too many horror stories about traditional publishing contracts, she decided to self-publish. She ran a fundraising campaign for her book, Fractured Memories, and presold over 500 copies in less than a month.
“My dad was my best friend. He embraced the ridiculous, looked for the good in people, and mentored and helped people whenever he could. Following his diagnosis, when people asked how he was doing, he’d answer, ‘Not bad for a demented guy.’ He looked for the light hiding amidst the pain. He chose to be very open about what he was going through in the hopes that it would help other people cope with their own diagnosis or a loved one’s diagnosis. Writing this book seemed a fitting way to honor that legacy.”
Page doesn’t shy away from the ugly, raw emotion of life with dementia, but she also looks for the laughter where it can be found. Rest assured, you will love her father as much as she does when the book is done, and perhaps gain some insight about how to cope with your own loved one’s dementia or how to support a caregiver.
Fractured Memories is available through Page’s website at http://shop.emilypageart.com/t/the-book.
As a professional artist, she had often turned to art as a self-prescribed therapy to help deal with life’s trials. This battle was no different. She utilized the elephant as a symbol for dementia, and incorporated sheet music into the paintings because her dad had been a jazz musician. Eventually, Page created 40 paintings that are included in the book. She also began blogging about the range of issues that arose daily as the disease progressed, documenting everything from her own fear of getting dementia, to her dad’s transition to diapers (and the various places he opted to drop his drawers and just “go”), to combatting his compulsions like the need to “clean” the cars with steel wool, to an exploration of how he might have gotten the disease, to finding the right dementia care facility, to the best ways to make him giggle. Page approached the disease from the fresh viewpoint of a younger caregiver. As her blog following grew, so did the suggestions from readers that she turn the blog into a book. After hearing too many horror stories about traditional publishing contracts, she decided to self-publish. She ran a fundraising campaign for her book, Fractured Memories, and presold over 500 copies in less than a month.
“My dad was my best friend. He embraced the ridiculous, looked for the good in people, and mentored and helped people whenever he could. Following his diagnosis, when people asked how he was doing, he’d answer, ‘Not bad for a demented guy.’ He looked for the light hiding amidst the pain. He chose to be very open about what he was going through in the hopes that it would help other people cope with their own diagnosis or a loved one’s diagnosis. Writing this book seemed a fitting way to honor that legacy.”
Page doesn’t shy away from the ugly, raw emotion of life with dementia, but she also looks for the laughter where it can be found. Rest assured, you will love her father as much as she does when the book is done, and perhaps gain some insight about how to cope with your own loved one’s dementia or how to support a caregiver.
Fractured Memories is available through Page’s website at http://shop.emilypageart.com/t/the-book.
140 pages, Paperback
Published February 27, 2017
About the author
Emily Page
1 book12 followersEmily Page is a professional artist and part-time writer. Working out of Raleigh, NC, Page spends most of her time elbow deep in paint and/or tattoo ink, but comes up for air periodically to share her art and thoughts on her blog. She translated her ridiculous musings about her family’s journey through her father’s dementia into a book, Fractured Memories: Because Demented People Need Love, Too, available at http://shop.emilypageart.com/. Follow her on Twitter at @EmilyPageArt23, and read her blog at https://emilypageart.net/.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 14, 2017
Emily and her father were extremely close; they had a unique and special father-daughter relationship. In this brutally honest and real book Emily first tells us about her larger than life father in a way we can really get to know and love him as she did; a vibrant, talented and colorful guy. Next, she brings us on her journey as a devoted daughter, caregiver and decision maker as we learn about how dementia manifested in her dad and slowly took him. She bravely offers up her thoughts recorded in her journal during this time and includes her beautiful artwork which depicts her dad, his faltering state of mind, and their relationship as it changed. I laughed and cried through this book as it touched my heart.
My father has been living with dementia for almost a decade and my incredibly strong and brave mother is his primary caregiver along with daytime, lifesaving in-home caregivers. Day to day living is consistently stressful and worrisome; riddled with questions where no answers exist and little support is available. The doctors don’t know enough, many caregivers lack proper experience or intuition, most friends and family don’t come around often, and every little household chore becomes a huge burden to tackle. More recently Alzheimer’s and dementia have been in the spotlight due to publicity from news about Pat Summit, Glen Campbell, Ronald Reagan and Robin Williams, but the media (tv, movies, and books) had yet to present to me anything that resembles truly what dementia entails and what my family has been enduring…until Fractured Memories: Because Demented PeopleNeed Love, Too.
Its not always as simple as the person with dementia gradually just forgetting things and becoming quiet. It is so much more and so much worse. It’s more like watching your loved one go from being strong, independent, creative and reasonable to not driving, not knowing what to do with a pencil, unable to complete a sentence. Keeping your loved one clean, dressed, safe, fed, distracted, nonviolent, happy and occupied uses up every bit of energy. And if you are lucky to sleep at night you can recharge to be ready to do it all over again the next day, but often sleep doesn’t come because of the worries about money, medications, living situations, proper help, the future…Emily Page offers advise and tips for caregivers, dementia facilities, and friends and family of dementia patients…so many tidbits I have wanted to scream from the rooftops myself! She has touched on just how difficult this disease is for the patient and the family.
If you know anyone with dementia or Alzheimer’s – if you are a loved one, a caregiver, a friend, acquaintance, nurse, hospital worker or volunteer, YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK.
If you have lost someone due to dementia YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK.
And even if you have no connection to anyone with this disease YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK.
Education and understand can only help lead to new medications and hopefully a cure or preventions and better training, facilities and care for the increased number of people who end up with this devastating and debilitating disease that effects entire families as well as the patient. Kudos to author and artist Emily Page for being honest and truthful in her book and her artwork, and loving and loyal to her wonderful father. May his memory be for a blessing.
My father has been living with dementia for almost a decade and my incredibly strong and brave mother is his primary caregiver along with daytime, lifesaving in-home caregivers. Day to day living is consistently stressful and worrisome; riddled with questions where no answers exist and little support is available. The doctors don’t know enough, many caregivers lack proper experience or intuition, most friends and family don’t come around often, and every little household chore becomes a huge burden to tackle. More recently Alzheimer’s and dementia have been in the spotlight due to publicity from news about Pat Summit, Glen Campbell, Ronald Reagan and Robin Williams, but the media (tv, movies, and books) had yet to present to me anything that resembles truly what dementia entails and what my family has been enduring…until Fractured Memories: Because Demented PeopleNeed Love, Too.
Its not always as simple as the person with dementia gradually just forgetting things and becoming quiet. It is so much more and so much worse. It’s more like watching your loved one go from being strong, independent, creative and reasonable to not driving, not knowing what to do with a pencil, unable to complete a sentence. Keeping your loved one clean, dressed, safe, fed, distracted, nonviolent, happy and occupied uses up every bit of energy. And if you are lucky to sleep at night you can recharge to be ready to do it all over again the next day, but often sleep doesn’t come because of the worries about money, medications, living situations, proper help, the future…Emily Page offers advise and tips for caregivers, dementia facilities, and friends and family of dementia patients…so many tidbits I have wanted to scream from the rooftops myself! She has touched on just how difficult this disease is for the patient and the family.
If you know anyone with dementia or Alzheimer’s – if you are a loved one, a caregiver, a friend, acquaintance, nurse, hospital worker or volunteer, YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK.
If you have lost someone due to dementia YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK.
And even if you have no connection to anyone with this disease YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK.
Education and understand can only help lead to new medications and hopefully a cure or preventions and better training, facilities and care for the increased number of people who end up with this devastating and debilitating disease that effects entire families as well as the patient. Kudos to author and artist Emily Page for being honest and truthful in her book and her artwork, and loving and loyal to her wonderful father. May his memory be for a blessing.
July 2, 2018
The wonderful artwork of an elephant being lifted by a balloon first drew me to Fractured Memories. In the book, Emily Page documents the experience of losing her enigmatic train-loving, jazz-musician father to frontotemporal dementia. Within the first few pages, it was clear to me how much love she had for her dad and the unique bond they shared. Page presents the caregiving life with eyes wide open and a casual intimacy that draws the reader in. She holds back nothing. But at the same time my heart was breaking, she made me smile and laugh out loud. Fractured Memories reminds me of the uniqueness and preciousness of every caregiver's story. And I was moved by her artwork which she includes at the end. This is a beautiful book that touches the heart!
December 1, 2017
This book is very touching, and very relateable... There was only one section of it that I didn't like, and that was the section where Emily was talking about how her family chose her father's dementia care unit, at the end of Part I. Despite it being relevant, I felt it just didn't fit in, because that talk wasn't really about her dad, like the rest of the book was. Instead, it was more of Emily telling the reader what she believes is important in a dementia care facility, which she also did go over in parts in other sections of the story, in a better way. My favorite part was in Part II, where Emily shared some thoughts that she had while going through this with her family. These were both the funniest, and the hardest stories to read, and they definitely felt the most "real". I'd recommend it, I just would skip the last section of Part I as I said, were I to read it again.
Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
September 11, 2017
I read this book in one night. It is incredible. It made me laugh and cry, and most importantly see my situation (a parent diagnosed with dementia) from a new lens. It is also really personal, with anecdotes and family jokes. I do feel like Even though this disease can make people feel very alone at times, it reminded me I am not the first to experience this. Page are an incredibly talented writer and artist, and this book ties the two together seemlessly. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with this disease or has a loved one who has been diagnosed.
May 17, 2017
Fractured Memories: Because Demented People Need Love Too by Emily Page is a profoundly raw account of one family’s experience of caring for a father with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The story is told from the perspective of an adult daughter (the author) who is caring for her father along with her husband and her mother. The book has three parts. This first part of the book is much like a traditional memoir, with the author’s experience recounted in a narrative. The second part of the book reads a bit like a series of journal entries, raw and largely unedited recounts of caring for her father. The author is an artist, and the third part of the book is a series of paintings she created that out of her caregiving experience.
The author’s love for her father is the greatest testament of this book. Yes, the author becomes angry, emotionally frayed and anxiety-ridden in the seven years she cared for her father, and sometimes those emotions are even directed at her father. But she never walks from the situation. Underneath all the difficult emotion was an abundantly present love of a daughter. The first chapter recounts her father’s life before his diagnosis. It’s a beautiful celebration of his life before dementia, including his sense of humor, his extraordinary passion for trains and music, and his time as a First Lieutenant in the Vietnam War.
Frontotemporal dementia is described as disease of a thousand goodbyes, like slowly losing the person you love in stages. The author writes:
“When I got home, I, of course, got online and started researching the disease. What I saw was not good. Asshole internet, which so very often lies, refused to lie to me that night. The symptoms all matched: odd social behavior (disinhibition), inability to make changes or follow complicated instructions, heightened emotion, depression. Treatment was aimed at managing symptoms, not slowing or stopping the disease. There were no medications for that. Prognosis: death two to ten years after diagnosis, probably from pneumonia after aspirating food because of muscle failure. Two to ten years. Two to ten years. Two to ten years."
This book leveled me. I openly wept several times while reading it, especially in the second part of the book that read like a series of mostly unedited journal entries. I learned a great deal about the impact dementia has on a family. I also learned a great deal about how to advocate for someone living with this terrible disease.
The writing style is casual, and portions of the book read like an email from a friend. It took a while for me to adjust to the casual style. I very much enjoyed the artwork throughout the book. The author uses images of elephants to portray herself, her father, and dementia itself because “an elephant never forgets” and “An elephant’s faithful 100 percent.” The book ends with a list of songs, a playlist of the music that was mentioned throughout the book and has a special meaning or memory tied to the author and her father. Fractures Memories is a must read for anyone who loves or cares for anyone living with dementia.
I reviewed this book as part of Rosie's Book Review Team.
The author’s love for her father is the greatest testament of this book. Yes, the author becomes angry, emotionally frayed and anxiety-ridden in the seven years she cared for her father, and sometimes those emotions are even directed at her father. But she never walks from the situation. Underneath all the difficult emotion was an abundantly present love of a daughter. The first chapter recounts her father’s life before his diagnosis. It’s a beautiful celebration of his life before dementia, including his sense of humor, his extraordinary passion for trains and music, and his time as a First Lieutenant in the Vietnam War.
Frontotemporal dementia is described as disease of a thousand goodbyes, like slowly losing the person you love in stages. The author writes:
“When I got home, I, of course, got online and started researching the disease. What I saw was not good. Asshole internet, which so very often lies, refused to lie to me that night. The symptoms all matched: odd social behavior (disinhibition), inability to make changes or follow complicated instructions, heightened emotion, depression. Treatment was aimed at managing symptoms, not slowing or stopping the disease. There were no medications for that. Prognosis: death two to ten years after diagnosis, probably from pneumonia after aspirating food because of muscle failure. Two to ten years. Two to ten years. Two to ten years."
This book leveled me. I openly wept several times while reading it, especially in the second part of the book that read like a series of mostly unedited journal entries. I learned a great deal about the impact dementia has on a family. I also learned a great deal about how to advocate for someone living with this terrible disease.
The writing style is casual, and portions of the book read like an email from a friend. It took a while for me to adjust to the casual style. I very much enjoyed the artwork throughout the book. The author uses images of elephants to portray herself, her father, and dementia itself because “an elephant never forgets” and “An elephant’s faithful 100 percent.” The book ends with a list of songs, a playlist of the music that was mentioned throughout the book and has a special meaning or memory tied to the author and her father. Fractures Memories is a must read for anyone who loves or cares for anyone living with dementia.
I reviewed this book as part of Rosie's Book Review Team.
September 2, 2018
The author and artist, Emily Page, paints a poignant account of her father, his diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and her family’s journey through his illness and death. It is really a love letter to her father and helpful guide to all the challenges of caring for someone with dementia. With humor and compassion, she walks us along her path of caring for her father at home, then in a facility, and then with hospice, all the while passing on gems of advice. She honestly discusses feelings of frustration, guilt, and anger which are common feelings to a caregiver – and makes you feel okay if you have those feelings. I think her account will help someone new to the caregiving role or someone struggling with caring for someone with dementia.
A talented artist, Emily Page includes her artwork that she created during her journey. The book, while on a difficult subject, is touching and hopeful. I would recommend this to anyone caregiving to someone with dementia.
A talented artist, Emily Page includes her artwork that she created during her journey. The book, while on a difficult subject, is touching and hopeful. I would recommend this to anyone caregiving to someone with dementia.
November 3, 2025
I came across Fractured Memories through a book club recommendation, and it was easily one of the most powerful literary experiences I’ve had. The book speaks to the deepest parts of the human condition, love, grief, healing, and the silent strength found in remembering. The author’s prose is tender yet fierce, weaving moments of heartbreak and hope with astonishing balance. There’s a realism in the way emotions are portrayed, as if the author had lived a thousand lives just to write this one story. Every paragraph feels intentional and full of heart. It’s not just a story, it’s a conversation with your soul about what it means to be human. I found myself revisiting certain passages, not because I had to, but because I needed to feel them again.
November 4, 2025
Through a book club, I found Fractured Memories, and I am still in awe of its emotional power. The author has an extraordinary way of transforming simple moments into reflections of the soul. The writing is poetic but never forced, every sentence resonating with truth. The story explores loss, love, and the slow, uncertain process of healing with incredible tenderness. I especially admired how the book doesn’t offer easy answers, but rather invites readers to sit with their feelings and find their own meaning. I’ve recommended it to several friends already, and each one thanked me for introducing them to such a heartfelt work.
October 21, 2025
I came across Fractured Memories in a book club and instantly knew it was something special. The author’s words have a way of settling deep into your thoughts and staying there. It’s a story about loss, yes, but also about finding strength where you least expect it. The emotions are raw, the writing is captivating, and the message is timeless. A must-read for anyone who appreciates heartfelt storytelling.
November 7, 2025
Through a book club recommendation, I read Fractured Memories and was completely transformed by it. The author’s insight into human emotion is extraordinary. Each page feels like a window into the mind of someone learning how to live again after loss. The writing is luminous — full of warmth, honesty, and vulnerability. It’s rare for a book to feel both heartbreaking and healing at the same time, but this one achieves exactly that. I finished it with tears in my eyes and hope in my heart.
October 21, 2025
I found Fractured Memories in a book club, and it became one of those books I couldn’t stop thinking about. The story captures the essence of humanity, our flaws, our hopes, our memories, with stunning accuracy. The emotional honesty in the writing is breathtaking. This is a story that will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever loved, lost, and learned to begin again.
October 21, 2025
Through my book club, I had the opportunity to read Fractured Memories, and it exceeded every expectation I had. The narrative is heartfelt and honest, exploring emotions that many people are afraid to confront. The author’s talent lies not just in writing but in understanding. I found comfort and courage in these pages, the kind of book that heals while it hurts.
October 21, 2025
I found Fractured Memories in a book club, and it became one of those books I couldn’t stop thinking about. The story captures the essence of humanity our flaws, our hopes, our memories — with stunning accuracy. The emotional honesty in the writing is breathtaking. This is a story that will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever loved, lost, and learned to begin again.
October 30, 2025
I discovered Fractured Memories through my book club, and it touched me in ways I didn’t expect. The storytelling is rich with emotion, honesty, and wisdom. The author has crafted something that feels both deeply personal and universally human. It’s rare to find a story that speaks so clearly to the heart. A beautiful, healing, and unforgettable book.
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November 29, 2025Through a book club I came across Fractured Memories, and I can honestly say it moved me to tears more than once. The author’s voice is calm yet intense, exploring memories that shape us in ways we often overlook. The prose is poetic, but the emotion is real and raw. This is a book that not only tells a story, it teaches you to listen to your own heart more deeply.
April 29, 2017
*review copy provided by author*
This is a story of love, hope and undying devotion. It's not my normal read, not even something I would have noticed if I hadn't have been contacted by the author, but I am glad I was able to read this gem. I went back and purchased my copy, in the hopes of sharing it with someone who may need the knowledge. You can never know it all. This story, this life event, it's 140 pages that will have you thinking, and hoping to always be the best for the people you love the most. Thank you Emily for sharing your story.
It's hard to put a rating on someone's life events. With that being said, I commend Emily and her family for what they have endured. Being a caregiver is never easy, but to be tasked in a case like this, when the person you love is the one who needs you at all times, it can be beyond overwhelming. I speak from experience there. Though the troubles are many, the hurt and uneasiness of being that person there, watching your loved one struggle is heartbreaking. No one ever knows if they are doing the right thing. If they're doing enough, even. Everyday is a struggle and its the job of the caregiver to keep it together and make sure they put their best face forward.
If I could give Emily a hug I would. This story made me smile, made me cry and has helped me in ways. My story is different, as is everyone else's, even if their loved one suffers from the same disease. Each road we travel in life is different - some are paved, some are made of dirt and some so full of pot holes you wish you could turn around and start over. Starting over is not an option so you struggle through it the best you can.
This is a story of love, hope and undying devotion. It's not my normal read, not even something I would have noticed if I hadn't have been contacted by the author, but I am glad I was able to read this gem. I went back and purchased my copy, in the hopes of sharing it with someone who may need the knowledge. You can never know it all. This story, this life event, it's 140 pages that will have you thinking, and hoping to always be the best for the people you love the most. Thank you Emily for sharing your story.
It's hard to put a rating on someone's life events. With that being said, I commend Emily and her family for what they have endured. Being a caregiver is never easy, but to be tasked in a case like this, when the person you love is the one who needs you at all times, it can be beyond overwhelming. I speak from experience there. Though the troubles are many, the hurt and uneasiness of being that person there, watching your loved one struggle is heartbreaking. No one ever knows if they are doing the right thing. If they're doing enough, even. Everyday is a struggle and its the job of the caregiver to keep it together and make sure they put their best face forward.
If I could give Emily a hug I would. This story made me smile, made me cry and has helped me in ways. My story is different, as is everyone else's, even if their loved one suffers from the same disease. Each road we travel in life is different - some are paved, some are made of dirt and some so full of pot holes you wish you could turn around and start over. Starting over is not an option so you struggle through it the best you can.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews