Jeanette A. Auger

Losing Me, While Losing You is a long-needed resource to those providing care for persons with dementia — and for those providing care to the caregivers. In this book, caregivers speak from their own experiences of caring for loved ones with dementia; they cover when they first noticed behavioural changes, what they did and how their role changed when they received the diagnosis, how the experiences changed their perceptions of themselves, especially in cases where important ones no longer recognized them or their, often long-standing, relationships. The caregivers also talked about what resources, if any, were available to support them through the caregiving journey, what recommendations they would make to government policymakers and to others in similar situations. This book is unique in that it documents the personal lived experience of loss which family, friends and caregivers go through as their roles, expectations and images of self are changed throughout the caregiving process.

This study of the challenges that same-sex couples face in Nova Scotia considers the legal issues that have arisen since Nova Scotia passed legislation permitting same-sex couples to legally register their relationship and the social expectations that continue to affect personal decisions. Closeted relationships and the history of discrimination have led many partners to avoid making end-of-life decisions. The personal interviews and group discussions presented offer insight into the challenges that same-sex couples face and provide a framework for discussing what partners need to consider to assert their legal rights.