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Published by: Munn Avenue Press
Release Date: September 11, 2026
Pages: 198
ISBN13: 978-1969679711

 
Overview

No one tells you what dementia caregiving is actually like.

“Easily the single most compassionate, compact, constructive, and complete guide to living with Alzheimer’s for everyone involved. Led by Dr. Robbins’ deep insights and experience, it’s a beautiful Master Class in what to know and do.”
—Paula Spencer Scott, author of Surviving Alzheimer’s

The repeated questions. Being mistaken for a stranger by someone who raised you. Deciding when it’s no longer safe for them to drive, or live alone, or be left for an afternoon. Grieving the loss of a person who is still here.

Dementia rarely shows up all at once. It's a forgotten conversation. A moment that doesn't add up. A flash of temper that isn't like him. One at a time, they don't mean much. Add them up, and they do.

Until You’re In It pairs renowned psychiatrist and internist Dr. Kenneth Robbins’ decades of experience and clinical knowledge of dementia with real stories from caregivers who lived it. Most books out there give you one or the other. This one gives you both: what’s happening medically, and what it actually feels like to go through it.

Inside, you’ll find:

• The types and stages of dementia, and what to expect with each one

• Early signs families often miss or explain away

• How to get through diagnosis, medical appointments, and the difficult conversations that come after

• Practical guidance for managing anxiety, hallucinations, sleep problems, safety concerns, and emotional outbursts

• How to think through memory care, legal planning, and end-of-life decisions

• Caregivers’ own accounts of what this really feels like, day-to-day

There's no right way to do this. There's just doing it.

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Praise

"Easily the single most compassionate, compact, constructive, and complete guide to living with Alzheimer's—for everyone involved. Led by Dr. Robbins' deep insights and experience, it's a beautiful Master Class in what to know and do."
—Paula Spencer Scott, author of Surviving Alzheimer's

"Most of us are either dealing with dementia or will eventually face dementia in a loved one, if not ourselves. Until You're In It is a clear, compassionate guide covering everything from the diagnosis of dementia to the support of caregivers. Ultimately this is a book about kindness from experts who have been "in it." A must read for caregivers, family members, and really anyone facing dementia."
—Thomas R. Insel, MD, Former Director of the National Institute of Mental Health

"Until You're In It is an invaluable guide for families navigating the often complex and unpredictable journey of dementia. Dr. Robbins brings wisdom, clinical expertise, compassion, and practical insight to the essential role of the family care partner—from recognizing the earliest changes and helping clinicians arrive at a diagnosis, to navigating treatment and the difficult decisions that arise as dementia progresses. Just as importantly, this book reminds care partners that sustaining the person they love also means caring for themselves. Families facing dementia will find in this book not only expert guidance, but understanding, reassurance, and a trusted companion for the journey."
—Brent P. Forester, MD, MSC
Geriatric Psychiatrist and Dementia Care Expert; Co-author, The Complete Family Guide to Dementia; Chief and Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, Tufts Medical Center

"This is a book that sparks hope despite the challenges of dementia - hope that people with dementia will get the care and support that they need and that their caregivers will be empowered to be patient, engaged, and loving."
—Art Walaszek, MD, author of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia