If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and you are the one charged with their caregiving, there are different resources you can turn to for help. You may be wondering about strategies for providing support or planning for the future. You might want to find out about the best treatments and how to obtain them. Though often overlooked, your family and loved ones will also want information about the emotional impact of the diagnosis. During overwhelming times such as these, dementia and Alzheimer’s books for caregiving can be a helpful resource.
Books can play a big part in helping caregivers seeking information. Literature written by counselors, family members who have first-hand experiences of being caregivers, nurses, and medical professionals can offer excellent guidance on how to take care of those with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. In the books selected below, authors often share their own experiences and personal stories, giving advice to those who are trying to support a loved one with the disease. Read on to find the perfect book for you and those you are caring for.
A Caregiver’s Guide to Lewy Body Dementia
Written by Helen Buell Whitworth and James Whitworth, A Caregiver’s Guide to Lewy Body Dementia received a 2012 Caregiver Friendly Award from Today’s Caregiver Magazine and is one of the first books – among texts on dementia and Alzheimer’s caregiving – to present a thorough picture of Lewy Body Dementia. Lewy Body Dementia is the second leading cause of degenerative dementia in the elderly but it is largely misunderstood. Even in the medical community, it is often confused with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.
Helen Whitworth is a retired nurse and educator and James Whitworth served as the first president of the Lewy Body Dementia Association. They have written the book in everyday language and included different stories, personal examples, anecdotes, and general facts and tips for those giving care to loved ones with dementia. Readers praise the accessible writing style of the book and the clear distinctions it draws between Lewy Body Dementia and other similar diseases. If you are a caregiver to someone with Lewy Body Dementia, this book may be the ideal resource for you and other family members and friends.
The paperback and electronic versions of the book cost $19.16 and $9.99, respectively.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living with Alzheimer’s & Other Dementias: 101 Stories of Caregiving, Coping, and Compassion by Amy Newmark and Angela Timashenka Geiger
Written by Amy Newmark and Angela Timashenka Geiger, another book in the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series, Living with Alzheimer’s & Other Dementias offers support, advice, and comfort for caregivers and those living with Alzheimer’s. The book incorporates 101 stories about caregiving and includes chapters on what it’s like to have Alzheimer’s, strategies and tips for coping, next steps in your journey as a caregiver, support for younger families, and new therapies. Readers recommend the book for those who would like to be reminded that they are not alone in their journey and take comfort in the stories of others who are in a similar situation.
The paperback and electronic versions of the book cost $14.49 and $9.99, respectively.
Contented Dementia
Written by Oliver James, Contented Dementia is a Sunday Times bestseller. The book explains the Specialized Early Care for Alzheimer’s (SPECAL) method. This method links a patient’s memories to daily living activities in order to improve the quality of life for those struggling with the disease. Using real-world examples and tested methods, the book attempts to assist caregivers in providing 24-hour wraparound care for lifelong well-being for their loved ones. Reviewers have called the book indispensable for anyone dealing with the effects of dementia and trying to keep the sufferer as happy as possible. The Guardian deemed the methods used in the book revolutionary.
The paperback and electronic versions of the book cost $19.421 and $12.49, respectively.
Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey: A Guide for Families and Caregivers
Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey is written by Jolene Brackey, who has worked as a speaker in North America and shared her message of inspiration with families and caregivers for over twenty years. This book is another bestseller, looking beyond the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease to focus on creating moments of joy. The book is filled with practical advice, encouragement, and humor, offering caregivers and families great suggestions. Reviewers term the book a key for anyone looking to transform hardship into a life-affirming experience.
The paperback and electronic versions of the book cost $11.29 and $10.73, respectively.
The Dementia Handbook: How to Provide Dementia Care at Home
Judy Cornish, the author of The Dementia Handbook, received her graduate degree from Lewis & Clark Law School in Oregon, where she focused on disability law, elder law, family law, and mediation. With her diverse experiences of working with patients, Cornish founded the Dementia & Alzheimer’s Wellbeing Network and developed a new method of care for those suffering the illness. This book approaches dementia care with methods that improve the lives of patients and their caregivers. Cornish provides readers with a pattern in the abilities of people with dementia and offers caregivers tips based on this pattern. Readers call the book a must-read for any dementia caregiver and say it is filled with “aha moments” throughout.
The paperback and electronic versions of the book cost $9.00 and $4.49, respectively.
Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s: A Groundbreaking Approach for Everyone Dealing with the Disease
Written by Joanne Keonig Coste and Robert Butler, Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s offers tips on how to cope with the diagnosis and adjust to the disease’s progression, help the patient communicate their feelings, face practical issues such as driving, make meals, comfort eh patient, and deal with paranoia, aggression or other similar issues. The book emphasizes relating to patients in their own reality and works to enhance communication between caregivers and those struggling with the disease. Coste is a nationally recognized expert and an outspoken advocate for patient and family care and most readers find her book to be well worth the money.
The paperback and electronic versions of the book cost $13.94 and $10.99, respectively.
Let’s Talk Dementia: A Caregiver’s Guide
Let’s Talk Dementia is written by Carol Howell, a certified dementia specialist and a caregiver to her mother. Her book attempts to educate and help the reader about various forms of dementia by providing hands-on tips for caregivers. Her motto throughout the book is “Knowledge brings POWER. Power brings HOPE, and HOPE brings SMILES.” Reviewers say this book gives readers everything they need, including spot-on advice from someone who knows dementia well. If your task of caregiving seems like an overwhelming and impossible challenge, perhaps Howell’s book can be the perfect fit for you.
The paperback and electronic versions of the book cost $14.99 and $3.99, respectively.
Loving Someone Who Has Dementia: How to Find Hope while Coping with Stress and Grief
Loving Someone Who Has Dementia, written by Pauline Boss, provides readers research-based advice for caring for someone with dementia. Specifically writing for caregivers, family members, friends, and other loved ones, Dr. Boss outlines seven guidelines for staying resilient, discusses the meaning of relationships with individuals who are suffering from dementia, and offers approaches to understand and cope with the emotional strain that accompanies caregiving. Though it is based on research, readers find the book easy-to-read and straightforward. Many reviewers also call it deeply personal.
The paperback and electronic versions of the book cost $11.99 and $10.99, respectively.
The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss
Written by Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins, The 36-Hour Day remains an indispensable guide for countless readers caring for someone with dementia, even 35 years after its original publication. The sixth edition, included in this list, has information about devices that make life simpler and safer for dementia patients, strategies for delaying some symptoms, changes in insurance laws, palliative and hospice care, traumatic brain injuries, support groups for caregivers, and more. Reviewers and readers call the “36-Hour Day” the definitive dementia care guide.
The paperback and electronic versions of the book cost $16.19 and $9.18, respectively.
Conclusion
If you are a caregiver of a loved one with Dementia or Alzheimer’s and you wish to learn more about the subject, these are some of our top book picks that will help you through the process. The books included are all available on Amazon.com for easy access and have earned high ratings by readers. Some are written by experts and others by loved ones of individuals with dementia. We hope that this list will be helpful in your search for the most helpful book.
