Alzheimer’s and Dementia Books for Caregivers

October 18, 2017 | Blog | Reading Time 4:00 Minutes

Caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia often face unique challenges, including high financial costs, competing demands from work and family and loss of significant personal time. Despite the many rewards that come with caregiving, the sheer burden of responsibility can also take a physical and mental toll.

To help ease the strain of providing care for a relative or friend, organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association offer a variety of resources. In addition, a number of books provide information to help caregivers cope and remain healthy. Here are a few recommended titles.

“Understanding Difficult Behaviors: Some practical suggestions for coping with Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses.”

The Alzheimer’s Association notes that this book, written by Anne Robinson, Beth Spencer and Laurie White, and edited by Eastern Michigan University, offers detailed information and steps for dealing with various behaviors associated with dementia.

“Mayo Clinic Guide to Alzheimer’s Disease: The Essential Resource for Treatment, Coping and Caregiving.”

Offering a concise view of the inner working of the brain, Alzheimer’s symptoms and the elements of healthy aging, this guide avoids jargon and is written in an approachable manner. The book includes an action plan that provides caregivers with tips for managing problematic behaviors, ensuring safety at home and administering medications correctly.

“Activities to do with Your Parent who has Alzheimer’s Dementia.”

This book by Judith Levy discusses multiple activities caregivers can use to assist individuals with dementia in preserving mobility, along with skills in self-care and socialization. By engaging in these tasks, the author writes, people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia can experience feelings of self-worth. An assessment form provides caregivers a means for examining each activity from different perspectives.

“Alzheimer’s Disease: Unraveling the Mystery.”

This guide from the National Institute on Aging describes the growth in awareness of Alzheimer’s from an obscure disorder to a significant public health challenge affecting millions of people. Since the 1978 launch of the NIA program on Alzheimer’s Disease, the organization has placed a priority on learning as much as possible about the disease. The book describes the ways in which research is moving ahead and outlines new treatment approaches for individuals with Alzheimer’s.

“The Forgetting. Alzheimer’s, Portrait of an Epidemic.”

Author David Shenk writes that Alzheimer’s affects almost half of adults over age 85 and kills nearly 100,000 Americans each year. The disease steals victims’ memory and has a significant, negative impact on the lives of family members and other caregivers.

Thanks to research, medical professionals and the public now understand that Alzheimer’s is much more than a sign of normal aging, and the disease continues to be a focus as the population ages. Shenk’s book looks at the effects on individuals with the disease, as well as their family members, as he reviews the history of the diagnosis.

“The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementias, and Memory Loss.”

Alzheimer’s causes challenges both for individuals with the disease and for their family members and other caregivers. For more than 30 years, this guide has provided help and support to families affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. In this updated version, authors Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins outline the latest details about dementia, including tips for prevention and for managing the disease in its early stages. Basic facts about the disease, legal and financial issues and getting help and support also are included.

“Alzheimer’s Early Stages: First Steps for Family, Friends and Caregivers.”

Author Daniel Kuhn writes that when an individual is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, family members may not know where to turn for support. The early stages of the disease can prove to be especially difficult because family members know little about what to expect or what they can do to make the process easier on their relative.

This book opens with a section on how the disease begins and how individuals can help family members who have been diagnosed as well as helping themselves. The book’s newest edition offers recent information about treatments and possible ways of preventing the disease, and a new chapter includes thoughts on successful coping strategies from family members.

Holistic Living at The Brielle

At our Staten Island NY memory care community, each individual with Alzheimer’s or dementia benefits from personalized care within our scenic, 10-acre campus featuring natural surroundings with walking paths and wildlife. Every aspect of life in our community offers opportunities for building relationships and creating moments of joy. To find out more, please contact us.