Preventing Her Shutdown

FREE on Kindle until August 17th

“What a powerful personal story of love and loss. Going through this and writing the experience for all of us to learn from must have been a labor of love. We are better to have read this and for those of us going through it with a loved one currently, this touches the heart. Thank you for your work.” – Amazon Review

Preventing Her Shutdown: Losing My Wife To Alzheimer’s
(Preventing Her Shutdown From Alzheimer’s)

No one is prepared for Alzheimer’s.

When my wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I suddenly became her full-time caregiver.

This deeply personal account shares our journey through fear, uncertainty, failures, and successes as I struggled to preserve her trust, dignity, and quality of life.

Written in real time as our lives were changing, this is not a clinical guide or a collection of theories. It is the story of one husband searching, day after day, for ways to keep his wife engaged, connected, and feeling loved while facing the relentless attack of Alzheimer’s.

Through moments of heartbreak, hope, setbacks, and small victories, readers experience the emotional reality of home caregiving and the quiet strength that grows through unwavering devotion.

The power of love permits the unimaginable, transforming the husband I once was and giving me the determination to keep searching for ways to reach the woman I love, even as Alzheimer’s continues to take so much from her.

A very personal and touching guide to working with a person experiencing Alzheimer’s!

Sammie Marsalli brings us a powerful and personal look at caring for a person experiencing Alzheimer’s with Preventing Her Shutdown! This book is yet another very useful guide from Marsalli on the subject of Alzheimer’s care, but this one is much more personal as it covers Marsalli’s personal experience.

This was a very touching tribute, but also a useful eye opener for those of us that have taken care of a number of people experiencing Alzheimer’s. As with Marsalli’s other excellent guide, I appreciated his personal touch and the look at multiple things one might try when providing care in the home! Yet, Marsalli does a fantastic job tackling the emotional side of things, both with the person experiencing Alzheimer’s directly and the person providing care. This book was very engaging though, as it really came from the heart and Marsalli’s own struggles and triumphs, and it sticks with you.

If you’re looking for some guidance on working with those experiencing Alzheimer’s, or just want to celebrate a life and connect with Marsalli’s struggle, definitely come be part of Preventing Her Shutdown!  -Amazon Review

 

About the Author

Sammie Marsalli

My books are born from love and the daily reality of caring for my wife with Alzheimer’s.

I share my journey—not only the struggles, but also the lessons, discoveries, and small moments of grace—in the hope that other family caregivers will know they are not alone.

When my wife was diagnosed, my world changed overnight. I was no longer just her husband—I became her full-time caregiver, companion, and protector. What I didn’t understand then was that caregiving is not only physical. It is emotional, unpredictable, and often overwhelming.

There is no manual for Alzheimer’s. No clear steps. No predictable path.

There is no chronological order in how to care for a loved one with dementia, including Alzheimer’s. This is not a step-by-step process. Behavioral changes are often spontaneous and vary depending on the type of dementia and its stage. Every person’s journey is unique.

What works one day may not work the next. What comforts today may cause distress tomorrow. Like many caregivers, I learned through trial and error—often in difficult moments, with no time to prepare.

Caring for a loved one at home, without immediate help, means facing situations in real time. In those moments, there are no instructions—only intuition, patience, and love.

In response, I developed my own ways to help my wife stay engaged, connected, and present—particularly during the quiet moments when connection begins to fade. That “blank look” is the moment I fear most. It is in those moments that I act, making small adjustments, small efforts—anything that might help her hold on to her sense of self, even as the disease progresses.

I am not writing as an expert. I am writing as a husband, married for over four decades, a father of three, and a full-time caregiver doing the best he can each day.

My hope is that these books offer something practical, something honest, and something comforting—so that other caregivers may feel less alone, less overwhelmed, and better prepared for the unexpected moments this journey brings.

If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, you already understand the depth of love and sacrifice involved. You also know that, even in silence, our loved ones are still trying to live.

If my experiences can ease even a small part of your journey, then sharing them has been worth it.

These books reflect different parts of the caregiving journey—from daily survival to staying connected and understanding what is being lost.

Be sure to check out my journey on substack for more information:

https://sammiemarsalli.substack.com