Press Kit
Press release from Emerald Lake Books:
Press release by Paul Steinmetz:
How a Daughter’s Theater Experience Influenced Her Work in Dementia Care
Marysue Moses is a self-described “theater kid” who studied in London, worked with the Illusion Theater in Minneapolis, and co-founded Theatre at Work. Until her mother was diagnosed with “probable Alzheimer’s disease,” Moses had planned to devote the rest of her life to the dramatic arts.
As she tried to better understand what her mother was experiencing, Moses was struck by the lack of meaningful engagement in her mother’s first two memory care communities.
“When I visited her over a week’s time, I was horrified to see that there was literally nothing for these people to do,” Moses says.
She tapped into her background to develop an interactive program she called “Tales from a Trunk,” literally a trunk on wheels filled with items to touch, smell, or manipulate—props and costume pieces chosen to involve participants in bringing stories, poems, and even snippets of Shakespeare to life. Her mother and other memory care community members loved it.
“It was so much fun. I tapped into skills I had developed from years in theater,” Moses says. “My background gave me the confidence and energy to try new things, and I was delighted that the program was well received.”
With that experience, Moses realized she loved interacting with people living with dementia and sought work doing just that. She held several jobs in a memory care setting with a focus on engaging residents with interesting, meaningful activities—and helping professional caregivers and families learn better ways to interact and connect.
While Moses was earning her master’s degree in gerontology, her job as activities coordinator morphed into a memory care coordinator position. She next served as dementia program coordinator for a large senior living management company, developing training and best practices for multiple sites. Today, with more than 20 years of experience, she continues her work as a dementia educator, consultant and speaker, sharing practical, creative approaches with caregivers, families and professionals.
“You don’t have to have a theater background to be successful in dementia care,” she says. “But it sure helped me.”
Her experiences eventually became the foundation for Moses's new book, Looking Past Dementia: Learning from Those Who Live with It. It is intended to help both family and professional caregivers and also to serve people living with dementia by better preparing those who care for them to engage with the person, not just react to the disease.
“The better you understand the people in your care and the more you learn about what brings them happiness and comfort, the more accurate your instincts become in making a dramatic difference for them,” she writes in Looking Past Dementia. “People who live with dementia have a rich history of experiences and accomplishments. This wealth of skills and memories must be accessed, stimulated and transformed into successful engagement opportunities.”
To that end, Looking Past Dementia, published by Emerald Lake Books®, provides guidance on how to get to know the person, understand what matters to them, and respond to the person rather than the diagnosis.
“Activities should not be mere fillers used to pass time until the next meal,” Moses writes. “Instead, they should offer opportunities to recall precious memories, stimulate and stretch the brain, and provide individuals living with dementia with a tangible sense of purpose.”
Her guidelines and suggestions are useful for both visiting family members and employees in dementia care facilities.
“Family members sometimes start thinking, ‘Oh this isn’t my mom anymore. I’ll never get her back again.’ If they can’t remember your name, people may feel sad and even offended,” Moses says. “I’ve seen people pressure the person to come up with it. It just isn’t kind. We have to think, ‘Does it really matter if they can’t come up with your name?’ I don’t think so. Focusing on finding ways to express your love to them will result in them returning that to you in some form. In my experience, that’s what happens.”
Moses hopes that “maybe the staff who work in the kitchen might read the book, or the maintenance staff. They generally get less training on how to interact than do nursing and activities staff.”
Looking Past Dementia, published on Aug. 25, has already been recognized with a Silver Award in the Adult Nonfiction category from the Readers’ Choice Book Awards. Books published by Emerald Lake Books®, in Sherman, CT, may be ordered through your favorite booksellers or by visiting https://emeraldlakebooks.com/dementia.
To contact Marysue Moses for an interview or to schedule a book talk, go to
Podcasts:
Who We Become with Amanda Lentz - To be released on October 26, 2026.
@Crossing_The_ Pond_Podcast - Episode #100 'Memories' -Marysue Moses Available now
Alzheimer's Speaks with Lori La Bey - To be recorded October 20, 2026
I was proud to be profiled as one of 16 "Luminaries" featured in this special publication from PASSIONEER magazine, which is available online and in print. See page 73. The story of how I came to receive this honor will be in my next blog on this site.
THE PASSIONEER INDEX 2026 GLOBAL EDITION
The PASSIONEER Index: The Luminary List, 2026 Global Edition recognizes 16 individuals whose work is creating meaningful impact across industries, communities, and generations.
This special edition brings together leaders, innovators, advocates, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers from across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Their paths are different, but they share a common thread: a commitment to using their work to make something better.
Sixteen Luminaries. Three dimensions of impact. One Global Edition.
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View or Purchase: You can read or buy the inaugural print and digital editions via MagCloud PASSIONEER Publication or visit the PASSIONEER Magazine Official Site.
Endorsements:
Looking Past Dementia offers a much-needed new vision of caring for and caring with
people living with dementia. With its compelling stories and solid advice gleaned from
Mary Sue Moses’ long career working in memory care settings, this book could take the
place of hours of dull lectures about dementia. As I read it, I imagined sending a copy to
every person working in some kind of memory care community, including administrators
and marketing people, activities directors, nurses, CNAs, cooks, housekeepers,
maintenance people, etc. I also thought about the many family caregivers I know who
need to be gently reminded that people living with dementia don’t lose the ability to give
and receive love. This beautiful work reverberates with messages of hope and offers
multiple examples of how joy and meaning can be retained when we honor the
humanity of people living with dementia by “looking past” their brain changes and
acknowledging they have much to teach us.
—Susan H. McFadden, PhD, Professor Emerita of Psychology, cofounder of Fox Valley Memory Project, and co-author of Dementia Friendly Communities
As a geropsychologist working with dementia patients on a daily basis for 45 years, I
know firsthand that their quality of life is directly affected by the quality of the
relationships they have with caregivers and family members. Marysue Moses uses her
years of experience working with these individuals to highlight the humanity, uniqueness
and personality that remains in individuals despite their dementia diagnosis. Ms. Moses
demonstrates how to touch people in an emotionally meaningful way. This book should
provide hope, encouragement, and new ways of thinking for people who care for and
love someone living with dementia.
—John E. Brose, PhD, LP, LMFT, LADC
CEO, Owner and Clinical Director
Director of Integrated Mental Health Services
Associated Clinic of Psychology
"Looking Past Dementia is filled with wonderful insights from a professional with a true heart for those living with dementia and their caregivers. This book is a beautiful celebration of the unique and myriad talents of all those affected by this health issue. It also teaches those involved in caregiving how to connect with and bring out these talents that are still inside--how to look past dementia--and enrich the lives of both the caregiver and the cared for.
Kudos to Marysue Moses on Looking Past Dementia--a true gift to us all! "
—Marsha Brintnall, daughter and sister to loved ones who lived with dementia.
Marysue Moses has such a loving, helpful perspective on her experiences with dementia, both as the daughter of a parent with dementia and as a memory care coordinator. And what my immediate feeling was reading this book: how fast it went! It’s truly a quick read. So, if you’re going through the ups and downs of helping a loved one with dementia (even if it’s just something you suspect), that aspect of the book is so valuable.
Throughout each chapter, she shares a real moment she experienced with a patient who has dementia, her response, and the lessons learned from it. She manages to capture such hope and joy through the process of helping them navigate the uncertainty of dementia. It actually gave me the perspective I needed to see for myself as I often see the opposite when googling this matter online.
This is not a how-to book with clear, strict instructions on navigating the murky, tumultuous waters of dementia. In fact, if it had been presented that way, I would have had a very wary eye as I read. Instead, it’s written from the perspective of a loving daughter and loving care coordinator who saw firsthand how to better understand dementia and treat patients with the respect and love they deserve.
I absolutely recommend this book if you are struggling with a loved one dealing with dementia. Marysue Moses provides so many great tips and help along the way.
—Nicole Pyles, Freelance writer, blogger, and podcast booker
Reviewed by Makeda Cummings for Readers' Favorite
In Looking Past Dementia, Marysue Moses gives us a refreshing, strengths-based look at how to care for people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of cognitive decline. It carefully explores a health journey that so many people misunderstand. The book shows readers practical ways to talk and connect that put empathy way ahead of correcting facts. Moses explains that behaviors like confabulation are usually just defensive shields rather than deliberate lies, meaning caregivers should respond with blameless apologies and gentle redirection. The pages guide you through creating purpose-driven activities that connect with an individual’s past identity, such as using specific olfactory triggers or familiar songs. It also walks through the emotional milestones of transitioning to professional memory care when staying at home is no longer safe. Most of all, it offers the kind of support families need to recognize when a change is necessary, thereby making the process calm and deeply respectful for everyone involved.
Looking Past Dementia by Marysue Moses is an informative self-help manual and caregiving resource that uncomplicates the daily struggles of neurological aging. It provides a candid but thoughtful read, breaking down complex clinical terms into simple steps any household can use. Moses’ inclusion of real-life stories from her time working in care communities adds a nice layer of warmth to the pages, making the structural advice on lifestyle habits and risk management feel a lot less intimidating. The sections explaining therapeutic fibbing reveal a true understanding of human relationships, proving that validation really is the highest form of respect. By keeping the focus on the intact heart instead of cognitive deficits, this book shows how to maintain a supportive community for aging loved ones. It is a beautiful testament to the truth that human value is never lost, offering a helpful blueprint for keeping mutual joy and dignity alive during life’s most challenging chapters. Very highly recommended.
Thank you for wanting to connect! I look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Marysue