Caregivers need comfort too — and few people know this fact better than
the family members of someone with Alzheimer’s.
Caring for someone with dementia poses unique
challenges, but it can be difficult to figure out where to turn to ask about
senior care options or how to cope with difficult behavior. So we’ve researched
a range of top books on the subject of caregiving for Alzheimer’s, and our
final list consists of seven that come highly recommended by professionals as
well as garnering top ratings from readers and reviewers.
Nearly all of these titles have been recommended by both the Alzheimer’s Association and
the National Institute on Aging:
by Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins. 4th ed.
Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006
Considered the “bible” for families caring for a loved one with AD, this
book features practical advice and plenty of examples covering all aspects of
care, including emotional issues of caring, financial details, and day-to-day
coping with dementia behaviors. Also includes information about nursing
homes and other types of residential living.
by Ronald Petersen, ed. Rochester, MN: Mayo Clinic
Health Solutions, 2006
If you’re looking for a book that explains how Alzheimer’s and other
types of dementia affect the brain, but without confusing medical jargon, this
concise guide outlines how the brain works, what constitutes healthy aging, signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s, as well as
recent developments in diagnosis and treatment. It also includes a caregiver
action plan with tips on medication administration, behavior management, home
safety, and more.
by P. Murali Doraiswamy; Lisa Gwyther. New York:
St. Martin’s Press, 2008
Families and health professionals alike will find a wealth of advice in
this book, which was co-written by a social worker and a physician who is
expert in AD and dementia. In addition to providing a guide to diagnosis and
treatment methods, it outlines coping strategies for life after diagnosis,
including what to expect from different stages of the disease and how to participate in
clinical trials.
by Daniel Kuhn, MSW, and David A. Bennett, MD. 2nd
ed. Alameda, CA: Hunter House Publishers, 2003
This book is unique in its focus on the early stages of Alzheimer’s and
how families can better understand and cope with its effects as their loved one
begins to experience cognitive and behavioral changes. Beyond practical coping
advice, it provides suggestions on how to handle caregiver stress, an extensive list of resources,
and a section consisting of first-person accounts by caregivers and family
members who have faced similar situations.
by David Shenk. New York: Random House, Inc., 2003
Shenk is a journalist and NPR commentator who has written more than just
a book about AD, but a moving exploration of the nature of memory and the
history of the disease from its discovery to the present. He discusses the role
of scientists, caregivers, and policymakers in the treatment history of the
disease, giving examples of well-known personages who suffered from
Alzheimer’s. The National Institute on Aging calls it “a readable, accessible
description of the history of AD, research, and the human impact of the disease.”
National Institutes of Health, 2008.
This free NIH publication can be downloaded in PDF format or ordered as
a print copy from the National Institute on Aging’s website. It takes a closer
look at the healthy
aging brain in comparison to the brain with Alzheimer’s, covers the
latest information from the frontlines of diagnostic and treatment research,
and talks about the need to improve caregiver support across a broad spectrum,
especially for family caregivers.
A. Robinson, B. Spencer, and L. White. Eastern
Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI: 2007
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “This resource receives high
praise for its format, specific hard-to-find information, and practical steps
to take when faced with a variety of behaviors.” It helps families and
caregivers understand why challenging behaviors occur, how to communicate, and
how to cope. It’s also recommended by the Family Caregiver Alliance
and the NC Department of Health and Human Services.
by Judith Levy, EdM, OTR. CreateSpace Independent
Publishing Platform, 2014
This book offers user-friendly activities and a means to objectively
assess if the activities helped or need to be adapted. This resource enables
consistency and communication between caregivers which benefits the loved one.
Though I have personal favourites that didn't quite make the list, these are:
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