Carer Mary Jordan's books offer a guide to working practice and 'may just help some avoid the devastating diagnosis of dementia'

Experienced care professional and writer Mary Jordan credits her fellow carers as society’s unsung heroes, and speaks to homecare.co.uk about how they have inspired her growing list of works.

An ability to engage with the challenges of looking after others, combined with her own care expertise, has led to several publications that include ‘The Essential Carer’s Guide’, ‘The Essential Guide to Avoiding Dementia’, and ‘End of Life’ – the latter written in collaboration with fellow care specialist Judy Carole Kauffmann.

On compiling her first book, ‘The Essential Carers’ Guide’, Ms Jordan says: “It was very cathartic to write the book, after experiencing loss, and proved to be a way of reaching out using personal experience, helping others by summing up all I had learned.”

She says: “Working for a medical publisher, I was interested in that side of healthcare but then my personal experience of caring for my husband and my mother-in-law and having no source of information to go to drew me towards wanting to make a difference. The idea of a Carer’s Guide came to me as I realised that, in retrospect, I felt I would have liked a book like that.”

The experience proved a rewarding one and inspired her to further titles; the latest, ‘Avoiding Dementia’, explores key research and speculations on how to avoid an onset of conditions like Alzheimer’s. Among those to compliment the book is Dr Graham Stokes, director of one of the UK’s most respected healthcare brands, Bupa.

Mr Stokes welcomes the book as “a timely must read”, describing it as a “thoughtful, well-written book that may just help some avoid the devastating diagnosis of dementia.”

Praising Ms Jordan’s ability to engage with the reader, Dr Stokes sees the publication’ s potential as a profound one, describing himself as “in no doubt this book has the potential to change how countless numbers of people might otherwise have ended their lives.”

He continues: “Chapters are comprehensive, grounded in evidence but accessible to the interested as well as the specialists and practitioners in dementia care.”

On dementia onset itself, Ms Jordan advises: “The thing that struck me the most when writing this book was the amount of evidence in research that revealed how key social interaction is and what a high risk a solitary lifestyle is. It seems very much connected with brain plasticity – keeping on learning, stretching the mind, meeting new situations and interacting with others.”

Discussing the impact of her books, she says: “There’s been a wonderful reaction to them that has compelled me to write more. Though I don’t openly promote them at work, I’ve had many lovely discussions with carers and people connected with the profession; I like to think that sharing ideas and learning in this way helps to enhance good professionalism.”

This positive attitude is also clear in Ms Jordan’s reaction to the historic challenges faced by the care sector. Regardless of a rapidly ageing demographic and increasing financial pressure, she responds with genuine enthusiasm when asked about the road ahead, saying: “I do feel optimistic, especially when we hear of more care innovations and advancements. Every line of research advances us a bit further.”

“Without a doubt the sector will be tested ten times as much as it has,” she continues, and advises families that, “In terms of getting help, it depends so much on the area where you live, in terms of how much help you get. I really can’t stress enough to people with care needs and their loved ones to do all the research you can to make sure you’re not missing out on a wide range of support.”

Commenting on where future funding resources need to be directed, she says: “When individuals develop challenging behaviour, that’s definitely where skills and resources are most tested and need to be strong.

“When I think of how many hundreds and thousands of carers are doing a fabulous job, I realise they really are unsung heroes. Unfortunately many of them do not get enough financial support, we really need to ensure this improves.”

A ‘working manual’ for carers is the latest task Ms Jordan has set herself, aiming to give professionals the ability to look up and download a range of different care topics quickly and easily.

What was your first job? I was an officer in the regular army

What is your favourite book? I have read too many to have a favourite

What is your favourite film? Zulu

What is your favourite piece of music? Jupiter from The Planets Suite

What was your last holiday? I visited my sister in Wales