A practical guide for families facing Alzheimer's, dementia & aging
Memories may fade.
Love never does.
Adrian Hanson calls his 85-year-old mother in Jamaica several times a day. This book is what that daily practice taught him — and a roadmap for any family who refuses to lose what an aging parent carries inside them.
Includes the Legacy Interview Project — 100 questions to ask before it's too late.
The book
Not just a book about dementia. A roadmap for what you're not ready to lose.
Most families spend years preparing financially for the future. Almost none prepare to preserve what matters most.
Written by a Jamaican-born entrepreneur and devoted son, When the Memories Fade blends practical caregiving guidance with something most books in this category don't offer: a way for families to hold onto the stories, voices, and wisdom of the people they love — before time takes the opportunity away.
It's for anyone with an aging parent, not only those facing a diagnosis. For adult children who want to ask the right questions while there's still time. For caregivers who need both practical tools and emotional support. For families who want to preserve their history, not just manage a health crisis.
Inside the book
Thirteen chapters. One hundred questions. A legacy your family keeps.
Early signs of memory loss
A compassionate guide to recognizing what's changing — without medical jargon.
Brain health, before diagnosis
A full chapter on protecting the mind before it ever needs protecting.
The Legacy Interview Project
100 real questions to ask a parent or grandparent before the memories fade.
The power of music
How a familiar song can reach a mind that words no longer can.
Never argue with their reality
A gentler way to communicate when the facts and the feelings no longer agree.
Caring for yourself, too
How to care for the person you love without disappearing in the process.
Caregiving the Caribbean way
A chapter unlike anything else in this category — on culture, elders, and belonging.
Emergency binder & legacy journal
Ready-to-use templates for medications, insurance, and the family stories worth keeping.
About the author
Adrian Hanson
Adrian Hanson was born and raised in Vere, Clarendon, Jamaica — a rural community shaped by strong family bonds, deep cultural roots, and a tradition of honoring elders that left a permanent mark on how he understands the world.
He is a son first, and it is through that lens — as a son who calls his mother several times a day, across the distance between Jamaica and the United States — that this book was written. Adrian is also an entrepreneur, music executive, and hospitality entrepreneur, operating ventures across publishing, hospitality, and Caribbean music.
What readers are saying
A guide families are keeping close.
This book met me exactly where I was — overwhelmed, exhausted, and unsure how to talk to my mother anymore. The chapter on validation alone changed how our whole family communicates with her.
Jacqueline Harris-Howell
The Legacy Interview Project is a gift. We sat with my father for three Sunday afternoons going through the questions, and we have recordings now that our grandchildren will have forever.
Delores Sanford
For bookstores, churches & organizations
Bring this book to your community.
Caregiver support groups, churches, senior centers, and bookstores across the U.S. and the Caribbean are using When the Memories Fade as a group study and resource-table title. The book includes a six-session Church & Community Study Guide built for exactly this use.
- Bulk pricing available for orders of 10+ copies
- Six-session Church & Community Study Guide included
- Caribbean and diaspora distribution inquiries welcome
Request bulk pricing
Tell us how many copies and where they're headed — we'll follow up with pricing and shipping options.
Email for bulk orders"Before the memories fade, there is still time. This book shows you how to use it."
— from the Foreword
Get the book
Available now, in the format that fits you.
All editions include the full Legacy Interview Project, the Caregiver Emergency Binder, and the Legacy Journal.