'The Australian Ageing Generation Handbook' by Josie Gagliano

And so… this.

This is the baby I have been working on for many, many months and have been living for many, many years.

Here is the cover of my new - and very first - book, titled 'The Australian Ageing Generation Handbook.'

(Updated June 3: featuring the new cover with the legendary Ita Buttrose's words - she has kindly written the foreword to the book, in her role as Alzheimer's Australia National President and carer to her beloved late father who had dementia):

There will be more to come on the book, but for now… have a look!

I am very proud, very much blown away this is all coming together, and very emotional knowing you will be able to read all about my journey through aged care, the 'Sandwich Generation', and being a carer for my mother.

I am also very moved knowing that many will see themselves in these stories.

'The Australian Ageing Generation Handbook' will be available in July 2014, published through Jane Curry Publishing.

It is being launched on July 8 at Gleebooks. Click here to come to the event (open to the public, though RSVPs a must) and buy the book.

WHERE TO BUY THE BOOK:

The book is also available at ABC shops, online and instore - see this link here.

It's also available at all Big W stores Australia-wide.

Also via Boffin Bookstore here and the Co-op Bookshop here and Booktopia here.

And you can download it instantly via JB-HiFi here.

Neville Wran dies of dementia, age 87. Funeral on May 1.

Neville Wran died on April 20, at the age of 87. He was the Premier of NSW from 1976 and 1986. Tomorrow, on May 1, Mr Wran will be given a state funeral, to be held at Sydney Town Hall.

Mr Wran suffered from dementia and had been under special care for the past two years.

His wife Jill Hickson said: “This is of course a very sad time for us all but in fact a blessed release for Neville­."

I understand these words - though not to their full extent yet - because many people I have interviewed who have lost loved ones to dementia express a sense of relief their relative is now at peace, and not being 'ravaged' at the hands of this cruel disease.

Also, I am surprised to learn that people who have had no experience at all with dementia are not aware people can actually die of dementia. I should not be that surprised though - I was one of these people. Until my mother was diagnosed with dementia, I had no idea it is a degenerative disease which eventually leads to death.

"Dementia is a cruel fate and I have been grieving the loss that comes with it for some years," continued Jill Wran.

If you have a relative with dementia you have probably heard of the term associated with it: "the long goodbye."

It is indeed a long farewell, and long period of mourning, if you will. The carer is grieving the 'loss' of that person you knew for a very long time. Sometimes, you don't even realise you have done this, or are continually doing this, until your loved one with dementia displays behaviours inconsistent with who they were, and you know they'd be mortified - if they were of sound mind - to know what they are doing.

Continued Jill Wran: "But I hope now, especially in this political climate, people will join me in celebrating­ the life of a great man, a true political hero."

RIP, Neville Wran. Here's to being remembered as the man you were in the prime of your life.

World's Toughest Job - #worldstoughestjob: VIDEO

I debated where to post this beyond fantastic viral video. On my pop culture blog Josie's Juice, where I post viral videos? Or on TwinnieWorld, where I post parenting bits and bobs.

But nope, I knew it had to be on this blog. As a tribute to my mamma. As an early Mother's Day gift. To acknowledge ALL she has done for me. And now all I do for her in return. Because she deserves it.

Watch. You will truly laugh… then cry. Posted only two days ago and already over three million hits.

It's comes from a Boston agency, who posted this job listing online for a "director of operations" position at a company called Rehtom Inc. The requirements sounded nothing brutal!

• Standing up almost all the time
• Constantly exerting yourself
• Working from 135 to unlimited hours per week
• Degrees in medicine, finance and culinary arts necessary
• No vacations
• The work load goes up on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and other holidays
• No time to sleep
• Salary = $0

The job ad got 2.7 million impressions from paid ad placements. Only 24 people enquired. They interviewed via webcam, and their real-time reactions were captured on video.

Check out what happened below. It's worth watching to the end.

Thai Life Insurance: 'Unsung Hero' - Viral Video

I love this now-viral video.

Okay, sure… it's selling insurance in Thailand, but… the message is very simple: pay it forward and you will get it (love, luck, joy, emotional connections) back ten-fold.

I think this lesson can absolutely be applied to carers: carers do the most selfless 'job' on the planet. They put the needs of others first. often for no 'gain' other than a BIG one: eternal gratitude and lots of deep love from those being cared for. The moment may not be apparent immediately - or often - but it's there.

In the meantime, let this video inspire you:

Fighting Alzheimer's Stigma: VIDEO

This video - published on Alzheimer's & Dementia Weekly - talks about how dementias like Alzheimer's can be deeply stigmatising.

The video shows how some people are fighting those stigmas to make a real difference.