Living Well with Early-Onset Alzheimer's: Peter Berry's Remarkable 10-Year Journey
Jun 17, 2025 11:31 pm
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Hello ,
We’re delighted to bring you the replay from our latest Books and Chit Chat episode, where we had the pleasure of hosting Peter Berry and Deb Bunt, the inspiring duo from Suffolk, England. Read on for heartfelt stories, practical insights, and updates on their current projects.
Peter was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at age 50. After initially facing depression and loss, Peter found renewed purpose by sharing his journey to help others. Deb, his cycling friend, and now co-author, met Peter after his diagnosis. Their partnership has resulted in two powerful books:
- Slow Puncture: Living Well With Dementia
- Walk With Me: Musings Through the Dementia Fog
Both bring you honest, practical, and compassionate reflections on living fully with dementia.
Highlights from the Episode:
- Peter shared how the right support and meaningful activity—like cycling—can give life purpose, even after a difficult diagnosis. He describes dementia as a “wrecking ball” but believes you can “build a castle out of that rubble.”
- Both Peter and Deb emphasize the importance of mutual support. “It’s not about just helping Peter,” Deb notes, “he supports me, too. Everyone needs to feel needed.”
- Peter’s advice: Don’t keep a dementia diagnosis a secret. “The positives of telling friends and family definitely outweigh the negatives.” Open conversations lead to understanding and support.
- The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes: Peter participated in this groundbreaking Channel 4 series where people with dementia ran a real restaurant, challenging public stereotypes and proving ability persists with the right environment. Click here to watch
- Peter and Deb’s poetry collection, Walk With Me: Musings Through the Dementia Fog, offers raw, poignant glimpses into Peter’s experience.
- Peter and Deb have spoken at festivals, hospitals, and care homes across the UK and even Gibraltar, touching countless people and encouraging professionals to reconsider perceptions and best practices in dementia care.
- Their upcoming book, Patching the Puncture, will reflect on five more years of friendship and adapting to change.
For more on Peter and Deb, simply search their names on our site.
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In Case You Missed It . . .
We’re excited to highlight a truly unique voice in dementia fiction—Alfredo Botello, author of the novel Spin Cycle: Notes from a Reluctant Caregiver. In our latest podcast episode, hosts Christy and Marianne, along with acquisitions editor Ruth Stevens, share laughs, poignant moments, and thoughtful reflections with Alfredo about his creative process, caregiving journey, and the important role of fiction in understanding dementia.
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Coming Up for Book Club
Jean Lee cared for two parents with Alzheimer's at the same time. Her memoir, Alzheimer's Daughter, is a heartfelt retelling of their journey through care and denial with a lifelong love story woven through. Jean shares her story of getting the diagnosis, the many moves required to keep her parents safe and together, and how she mitigated her ever present deep-rooted grief for taking over their lives, then writing her book. A perfect read for those caring for a parent with dementia. She is a founder of AlzAuthors.
This will be the last of the book club discussions for 2025.
We will resume next year.
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Be a part of something special with an AlzAuthors limited-edition 10th anniversary t-shirt! Available in sizes small -XXL. Specify your choice of logo with image 1. or 2. on the order form. Comes in white only.
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Start Spreading the News . . .
In celebration of our 10th anniversary, we published a news release telling our story and outlining our plans for this momentous year. Here it is. Please share this with your family, friends, followers and contacts in dementia care.
Thank you.
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Take a Chance on Our 10th Anniversary Book Giveaway!
Winners selected monthly!
First three winners were chosen!
Watch your email inbox for notification!
Enter once to win all year.
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2025 Books & Chit Chat, Podcasts, and AlzAuthors Live! Virtual Events
6/24 - Books & Chit Chat with Jean Lee, Alzheimer’s Daughter, a caring for two parents memoir, RSVP here
7/2 - NEW AUTHOR: Marjorie Maddox, Seeing Things, a poetry collection
7/16 - Replay of Jean Lee's Books & Chit Chat
8/6 - NEW AUTHOR: TBA
8/20 - Replay of Poetry for the Dementia Journey
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Susan’s Design of the Week
Please share this image with your friends and followers on social media using the following text, copy, paste and hit send!
Having a support system can make all the difference for caregivers. AlzAuthors offers valuable insights within hundreds of Alzheimer's and #dementia resources created from personal experience to help caregivers feel more competent and confident in their abilities. https://alzauthors.com/
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We have so much to learn . . .
Friday, June 20th, at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET: Dementia advocate Scott Berkheiser and his wife Kris joins Being Patient Live Talks to share his story about a surprise diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and share how endurance sports have helped him cope. Berkheiser was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2023 at age 57. He and Kris had noticed memory issues years earlier, but these early symptoms had been dismissed by doctors as Attention Deficit Disorder. Before his diagnosis, he worked 18 years as an engineer for Lockheed Martin, mostly on the F22 stealth Raptor fighter jet.
WHEN: Friday, June 20th, at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET:
WHERE: Being Patient’s Facebook page
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Love our newsletter?
Please forward it to a family member, friend, or someone you know on a dementia journey. Share the news about our authors, their stories and books, and the valuable resources we offer: website, podcast, blog, and more.
Thank you.
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Let's keep connected ...
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Our mission is to provide quality resources for those concerned with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Please help by connecting with us in at least one new way this week:
Follow our podcast and leave a review
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Join Books & Chit Chat book club
Volunteer your time and talents
Submit Your Book, Blog, or other Resource
Share this newsletter with others on a dementia journey
Visit us on The Whole Care Network
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Check Out This Curated List of Alzheimer's Podcasts Featuring our Authors
Discover our authors in this podcast series on Alzheimer's
Purchase a Custom Caregiver Collection
Vote us up on the World Podcast Network
Listen to the podcast on Coming Home Well
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Thank you for supporting our mission to
connect caregivers with resources.
Your Management Team
L to R: Vicki Tapia, Ann Campanella, Christy Byrne Yates,
Marianne Sciucco, Susan Landeis, and Jean Lee
How to reach us:
Marianne Sciucco: podcast host/producer
mariannesciucco@gmail.com
Jean Lee: acquisitions editor, Custom Caregiver Collections
jean@alzheimersdaughter.com
Vicki Tapia: acquisitions editor, children's books
vicki.tapia@gmail.com
Ann Campanella: Custom Caregiver Collections
anncampanella@gmail.com
Susan Landeis: Custom Caregiver Collections
contact@susanlandeis.com
Christy Byrne Yates: podcast host/producer, YouTube channel manager
christy@cbyates.com
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