Both Robin and I have personal experience in being family caregivers for our parents and we know that this can be a very emotional and difficult time in your life. The advice we give to anyone who is going to be a family caregiver is to get educated about what you are going into before the crisis happens.
We believe it’s an important issue that adult children should plan and prepare for. It’s often very difficult to know what the right thing to do is when caring for an older adult.
If you are caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, check out our list of books to help you with the specific issues that you and your senior loved ones may be dealing with.
Here are some of our favorite caregiver books that we can recommend for anyone providing elder care.
A Bittersweet Season
by Jane Gross
A wonderful and well reviewed book on the topic of family caregiving.
The Fragile Years
by Amy Cameron O’Rourke
This book has proven strategies for adult children who are caring for their senior parents. Information about how to manage your situation whether your senior loved one is living at home, in an assisted living or a nursing home.
The Conscious Caregiver
by Linda Abbit
What we love about this caregiving book is that it not only gives you practical advice and information on how to be a caregiver, but it focuses also on how to keep your own sanity while doing it. It’s so very important for caregivers to realize they must take care of themselves as well as their senior loved ones.
This is an essential guide to help you through your caregiving journey.
The Empowered Caregiver
by Linda Fodrini-Johnson
Another wonderful book filled with practical tips on how to maneuver through the challenges of caring for your elderly parents.
Daily Comforts For Caregivers
by Pat Samples
Every caregiver needs daily inspiration and motivation. Some days more than others. Here’s a book filled with some lovely words to help you through this time in your life.
The Sudden Caregiver
by Karen Warner Schueler
We certainly recommend that if your parents are aging, that family members should begin planning for caregiving as soon as possible. But unfortunately, many do not. Here’s a practical guide that can help you if you find yourself suddenly in the position of having to care for your elderly loved ones.
Take Back Your Life
by Loren Gelberg-Goff
We are huge proponents for caregivers to care for themselves as well as their loved ones. You can only give the best care to your loved one if you are well yourself.
You’ll find some wonderful and valuable insights in this book.
So take a look at this wonderful book and hopefully it can help you to be the best caregiver you can be. For them and for yourself.
The Caregiver’s Toolbox
by Carolyn P. Hartley and Peter Wong
There are so many details to deal with when it comes to caring for an aging parent. Many caregivers find themselves in that position unprepared to make the difficult decisions that need to be made.
This book is filled with valuable information and should help you to get organized and in control of your situation.
Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout In America
by Kate Washington
This book is one woman’s story of how she found herself in the role of being a caregiver to her ailing husband and how she dealt with the inadequate resources available for caregivers in the United States.
For many, becoming a caregiver is an unexpected journey that they are not prepared for. When you read a good book such as this you can find practical suggestions on how to maneuver through this time in your life.
Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?
by Roz Chast
If you’re looking for something with a little comic relief, then this book is for you. It’s filled with cartoons, family photos and much more. It’s the author’s own memoir about her caregiving for her aging parents.
Caregiver’s Survival Handbook
by Alexis Abramson, PhD
Another book that helps caregivers to take care of their senior loved ones as well as themselves. It’s a wonderful family guide that we recommend for every caregivers’ library.
The 36-Hour Day
by Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins
This classic book covers the complicated issues of caring for elderly loved ones with issues relating to memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a practical resource on caregiving issues that we highly recommend.
How To Care For Aging Parents
by Virginia Morris
So many new parents read books on how to begin caring for their new infant. So why not continue that practice and get informed about how to care for your aging parents? This book is another great resource full of information to help you through.
The Dying Process
by Katie Duncan
As we all age, it’s inevitable that at some point in time we will all die. When caregiving for a senior, it’s important to accept the eventual loss of elderly parents, to understand about the dying process and end of life care, and how you can help yourself and your loved one through it.
When Your Aging Parent Needs Help
by Leslie Kernisan MD
A wonderful book written by a Geriatrician filled with practical and professional advice on what to look out for in your senior parents as they age. There’s expert advice here about how to deal with memory loss, unstable parents and other caregiving topics.
Chicken Soup For The Caregiver’s Soul
by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and LeAnn Thieman
This wonderful book from the Chicken Soup For The Soul series is filled with true stories, personal stories that may inspire you through your adventures as a caregiver.
We hope that this list of books will help you as you embark on this time of your life. We both know how difficult it can be. Physically, emotionally and financially.
But please know that it’s a temporary situation and you will get through it. But how well you get through it will be up to you! So, the more informed you are, the better.
