In Love

This book attracted me because, as a gerontologist/social worker, I’m interested in the subject of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia. This book, rather than describing the long, sad decline of a loved one, tells Bloom’s story of trying to help her spouse with AD to end his life.

Bloom is a clinical social worker who writes with a deep understanding of human behavior and motivation, most notably her own, which makes her a fine memoirist. She writes candidly about her emotions, unafraid to reveal less flattering details.

Her story is a sad one, with many ups and downs, but the… show more.

Amy’s story is filled with many welcome laughs to break up the many dramatic moments. And I thank her for that.

It’s a beautiful yet tragic love story. After a terminal diagnosis, her husband chose to leave this world with dignity. Amy supports his decision, knowing she’ll spend the rest of her days alone. It raises many questions. “What would I do in this situation?” Could I make the same sacrifice? Could I support my spouse if she chose the same?

I love that we are with them every step of the way. In our country, why can’t we decide… show more.

This memoir, like one I too have written, details the ups and downs of loving a spouse struggling with dementia.

It was helpful to see both the parallels and the differences in our experiences. The big difference was the author’s husband’s desire to die on his own timeline, and her decision to make that possible for him. How she did that is an important story, and I applaud her telling it. 

When Bloom’s husband Brian is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at age 65, he knows immediately that he wants to die while he still knows who he is. In Love is the story of how his wife helps him to do that, a process that involves months of research, appointments, applications, hurdles, until they are finally accepted to Dignitas in Switzerland. (“Right to Die” states in the U.S. were not an option, because there’s a requirement that a doctor has given you less than six months to live; with Alzheimer’s someone can live another five, ten, fifteen years.) Readers empathize with… show more.