Key Takeaways:
- Being informed on caregiving and on your loved one's illness or disease will prepare you to be the best caregiver you can be.
- There are plenty of resources to support you and your loved one your caregiving journey.
- Books and resources can help you navigate difficult situations as a caregiver.
f you’re in the caregiving role, you know how difficult and stressful it can be. You may be looking for resources that can help ease your burden. Luckily, there are plenty of resources you can turn to for help!
We've compiled a list of caregiving books and resources covering topics on self-care, Dementia & Alzheimer's, navigating family relationships, preparing for the dying process, and more. Bonus: you can purchase all of the books easily on Amazon.
Self-Care
If you're a caregiver, then you've got a lot going on! And if you're caring for someone else, then self-care is even more important.
Here are four book recommendations providing techniques and tools for practicing self-care:
- A Bittersweet Season: Caring for Our Aging Parent and Ourselves by Jane Gross
- Meditations for Caregivers: Practical, Emotional, and Spiritual Support for You and Your Family by Barry J. Jacobs and Julia L. Mayer
- The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook by Martha Davis, Elizabeth Robbins Eshelman, and Matthew McKay
- The Conscious Caregiver: A Mindful Approach to Caring for Your Loved One Without Losing Yourself by Linda Abbit
For more tips on self-care:
Dementia & Alzheimer's Disease
Reading books about dementia and Alzheimer's disease can be a great way to learn more about the condition, but it can also be a helpful way for caregivers to deal with their feelings. Reading a book that describes what your loved one is going through, or even how it feels from your perspective, can help you get in touch with those feelings and learn how best to cope with them.
Here are books that focus on caring for loves one's with Dementia and Alzheimer's disease:
- The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease and Other Dementias (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) by Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins
- Making Tough Decisions about End-of-Life Care in Dementia (A 36-Hour Day Book) 1st Edition by Anne Kenny, MD
- My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver by Martin J. Schreiber
More resources for Dementia Caregivers:
Family Relationships
Family relationships can be difficult to navigate when you're juggling the demands of caregiving. There can be tension about the type of care given to your loved one.
Here are some resources that may help navigate strenuous family relationships amongst caregiving:
- They’re Your Parents, Too!: How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents’ Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy by Francine Russo
- When the Time Comes: Families with Aging Parents Share Their Struggles and Solutions by Paula Span
Preparing for the Dying Process
If you're a caregiver, the end of your loved one's life is something you never want to think about. But it's important to prepare yourself for what's coming. When the time comes, you will be able to be there for your family in the best way possible.
If you're looking for a resource that'll help guide you through this process, these books will help you make sense of what lies ahead:
- Living With Dying: A Complete Guide for Caregivers by Jahnna Beecham and Katie Ortilip, RN, LCSW
- The Art and Science of Caregiving: Stories of Inspiring Elders with an End-of-Life Guidebook by Annelise Schinzinger
Learn more about how you can prepare for the dying process: Preparing for the Dying Process as a Caregiver.
Final Recommendations:
These books are additional resources that have important tools to add to your toolkit as a caregiver.
Give these books a read to expand your knowledge on caregiving:
- Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregivers: 101 Stories of Love, Sacrifice, and Bonding by Joan Lunden and Amy Newmark
- Honoring Aging Parents: How to Grow Up When Mom and Dad Grow Old by Klaus Dannenberg, Bruce Black
- Toolkit for Caregivers: Tips, Skills and Wisdom to Maximize Your Time Together by Deidre Edwards
We hope you found some helpful books on this list. Remember that there is no one size fits all when it comes to caring for someone else.
Always keep an open mind and try new things! If one technique doesn't work for your loved one, try another one until something clicks for both of you. And remember: you're not alone in this journey. There are so many people out there who care about what happens next for both of you!
Learn more:
- What Are the Top 5 Qualities of a Good Caregiver?
- LGBTQ Caregiving Resources
- Practical Tips for First-Time Caregivers
- How to Help Loved Ones Age in Place