“Whether you are just beginning the journey of caring for a loved one with dementia or have been navigating its challenges for a while, Virginia “Gigi” Simsiman has created an organized and practical resource for the caregiver – that is, a family member (a brother, niece, or grandchild), a friend, a partner, a spouse, or a neighbor. This guide will help you document changes in your loved one’s health, behavior, and responses to daily events or triggers. Journaling for Alzheimer’s: A Family Guide to Caring, Reflection, and Healing is much more than a notebook – it is a compassionate companion and essential tool for one of life’s most challenging and meaningful experiences.

Caregiving can feel both rewarding and overwhelming. The days often blend together, and small but important details – when behaviors shift, when certain times of day bring calm or confusion, when new patterns begin to emerge – can easily be lost amid the demands of daily life. Gigi’s journal offers a simple, organized way to capture these observations. With clear sections and thoughtful prompts, this guide helps caregivers notice changes, track progress, and communicate more effectively with other family members and friends and with healthcare providers.

I have been on my caregiving journey for about 5 years, and I often think back to moments I wish I had documented in more detail – times when something seemed different, but I didn’t have the words or dates recorded to make sense of it later. I kept notes here and there, but they weren’t organized in a way that allowed me to connect the dots. There are so many examples I can recall that I know occurred, but without a tool like this, I can’t provide the exact date or time. Having Gigi’s thoughtfully structured journal would have made it easier to recognize patterns and make more informed decisions for my loved one’s care and comfort.

Gigi’s Journaling for Alzheimer’s is an excellent tool for your caregiving toolbox. It provides a clear, organized way to record the small and large changes you observe in your loved one’s behaviors, habits, and actions. Keep the journal nearby so you can document these observations as they happen. And if you can’t do so right away, make your entry at your earliest opportunity – every note, no matter how small, could make a difference over time.

Take full advantage of this tool. Use it. Journal in it. Reflect on your entries. Share them with your loved ones and your medical team. It may help clarify the best times for medication or provide insight into when your loved one should rest or go to bed. Most importantly, it will show you that, despite the changes, your loved one is still very much present. They deserve the time, care, and dignity that thoughtful documentation provides.”

-Rhonda K. Roby, PhD, MPH

“As a Civic Leader and previous 6-Term Elected Mayor of the City of Milpitas, CA, I am always connected to and remain in contact with important constituents and business leaders in my city. In my travels, I meet many of them at meetings, conferences, and even on the streets. I am very wise and discreet in picking out and connecting right away with those who stand out in the crowd. I met Gigi Simsiman many times before finally sitting down with her, to learn more about her endeavors and pursuits. Gigi is the epitome of empathy. She recognized that she is here to serve others which I admire greatly! I learned of her endeavor of creating a very comprehensive book to assist seniors with or on the onset of dementia, a subject that is near and dear to her heart and my heart. In review of her final product, I can say with utmost confidence that she has thoroughly covered everything that a person with dementia and their caregivers really need on the “journey” they are now on. I commend her for having the fortitude to come forward with such a book and wholeheartedly endorse her current endeavor and pursuit. Congratulations Gigi, well done!”

--Jose Esteves, Former Mayor of Milpitas, California

“Having personally witnessed the care given to two individuals with dementia — one in his mid-90s and another in his mid-60s — I have seen firsthand the challenges that families and caregivers face. From the early, subtle signs of memory loss to the advanced and rapidly progressing stages of the disease, the journey can be overwhelming. Conditions can change unexpectedly, and sharing accurate updates with doctors or providing essential details to hospitals and memory care facilities often depends on having well-documented information at hand. This workbook serves as an easy-to-use guide for recording important personal and medical information. It offers a comprehensive, organized, and practical tool to help families and caregivers stay prepared and provide the best possible support for their loved ones.”

--Edwin Torralba, President Milpitas Executive Lions Club