Laurette Klier Untangles How and Why She Created Books for People Living With Dementia artwork
AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & Dementia

Laurette Klier Untangles How and Why She Created Books for People Living With Dementia

  • S2022E60
  • 1:06:17
  • April 11th 2022

About Laurette Klier

Laurette Klier believes ENGAGEMENT + NOSTALGIA = JOY. She is the author of Nana’s Books, heart-centered pairings of nostalgic literature and art, modified to meet the needs of seniors living with brain changes.

Each book is carefully designed to bring you and your loved ones renewed connection, comfort, and joy. The books were inspired by her mother-in-law, Nana Mary, who loved big and passed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2021.

Laurette’s goal is to spearhead a national movement to create libraries within libraries of quality multimedia, multi-sensory engagement materials for people living with dementia.

With a background in creating literacy environments for students in urban and priority schools, this work came naturally to her as she believes that people are best engaged via a holistic, literature, and arts-based approach. Now, as ever, she is focused on underserved communities and inclusion. 

Nana's Books are the winner of a 2021 MAUDE'S AWARD for Innovation in Dementia Care and are endorsed by ALZ SPEAKS, ALZ AUTHORS and the Neurocognitive Community for their utility in person-centered care.

In addition to creating these beautiful books, Laurette is also working on the Essential Caregivers Act of 2021 to ensure care partners unrestricted access to their loved ones in long term care, as COVID lockdowns and lack of uniform federal protections continue to devastate seniors and their families. Learn more here.

In this episode, we discuss, how books and reading can provide meaningful interactions between family members and those living with dementia, the need that drove her to create these books, and how dementia changed her relationship with her mother-in-law for the better.

Laurette Klier Creates Nana’s Books: Nostalgic Picture Books for Seniors

Preview Laurette’s books at Issuu.com

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About the Podcast

AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.

We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please donate here.

Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here.

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AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & Dementia

Welcome to the AlzAuthors podcast! We’re so glad you found us. We are the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Join us each week as one of our authors shares their dementia journey, revealing intimate details and painfully obtained knowledge to help others currently on this path. We hope our stories offer comfort and support as we strive to break the silence and stigma surrounding a dementia diagnosis. May one of our authors speak to your experience. For more info please visit https://alzauthors.com.

Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here.


Meet Our Hosts

Marianne Sciucco avatar
Marianne Sciucco
Podcast Producer and Host

Marianne Sciucco is a registered nurse, dementia daughter, and author of the novel Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer’s love story, based on a couple she met through her work. It is a testament to the power of love in the face of this heart-wrenching disease. Marianne cared for hundreds of dementia patients over a 20+-year nursing career. She provided care to her stepfather during his dementia journey, and witnessed the painful decline of four beloved aunts to the disease. She's a founding member of AlzAuthors, sits on the Board, and is a director and manager. She can talk about AlzAuthors all day.

Christy Byrne Yates avatar
Christy Byrne Yates
Co-host and Producer

Christy Byrne Yates is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP), retired school psychologist, author, speaker and coach/consultant. Her book, Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation recounts her journey as a working mother of two who also managed the care of her parents, both of whom had some form of dementia. Combining her lived experience with her professional expertise in human development, wellness and a strengths based approach to finding solutions, Christy develops content, workshops and coaching to support Sandwiched families. She incorporates meditation, mindfulness and other evidence based mind/body practices into her work. She’s worked with care communities, financial professionals, estate planners and employers. Christy has a master’s degree in counseling psychology, and graduate credentials in both education and school psychology.

Support Us

AlzAuthors is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. The podcast is one way we provide knowledge, comfort, and support to busy caregivers desperate for information. Your generosity will help us to continue our mission to lift the silence and stigma that often accompanies a dementia diagnosis. Please consider making a donation. Thank you.