1. The Caregiver’s Challenge: Living, Loving, Letting Go

By Maryann Schacht, Psychotherapist

A survival guide and road map to the caregiver role. Schacht chronicles her own experience caring for her terminally ill husband and candidly exploring how terminal illness affects personal relationships.

This book entails simple steps and exercises for managing pain, consolidating one’s emotional as well as physical resources, and staying true to one’s bonds despite the perilous journey ahead. A highly recommended primer, written especially for caregivers but filled with crucial wisdom for anyone confronting the health journey of a loved one.

2. The Fearless Caregiver: How to get the best care for your loved one and still have a life of your own

By Greg Barg

This book clearly defines your vital role in developing your loved one’s care plan. It teaches you how to deal successfully with managed care organizations or home health services, and arms you with the knowledge and skills you need.

The book covers topics such as deciding if your loved one’s care is appropriate, if your doctor is the right one or if something more is needed. From wills and powers-of-attorney, to practical tips for dealing with disabilities, to long term care options, to battling stress and depression – this book provides a simplified guide to the caregiver process.

3. Daily Comforts to Caregivers

By Pat Samples

For those who feel overwhelmed by the day-to-day struggles of caregiving, this charming book offers gentle guidance and support.

Beyond all their usual personal and family demands, caregivers must take on the special responsibility of caring for family members or others with long-term health problems. With 366 days’ worth of wisdom and affirmations, Daily Comforts addresses one caregiving issue per day. An index of topics allows caregivers to find the readings most pertinent to their immediate concerns.

4. Be the Noodle: Fifty ways to be a compassionate, courageous, crazy-good caregiver

By Lois Kelly

Part love story, part how-to manual, part memoir, Be The Noodle shows readers how to find superpowers they never knew that had. The book covers how to stay sane, take comfort in sick humor, find compassion and become a crazy-good caregiver. It’s one of the most courageous jobs most of us never wanted or were never trained to do.

5. The Cancer Poetry Project 2: More poems by cancer patients and those who love them

By Karin B. Miller

The Cancer Poetry Project 2 drew more than 1,000 submissions. From widely published poets to first-time poets and many poets in between, the authors let us know we’re not alone in dealing with cancer.

The resulting anthology features the best 140 poems, plus the story and the people behind each. Men, women and children, all walks of life, all types of cancer experiences fill the pages. This anthology allows readers to find comfort, understanding and much more in just four chapters.

6. God will Carry You Through

By Max Lucado

Popular author and Pastor Max Lucado has discovered that everyone has a point in their lives that they must handle a serious event. Whether the loss of a loved one, marriage issues, illness, job loss or the stress of everyday life, people everywhere need the assurance that they will make it through.

Using both scripture and personal testimonials as vehicles to deliver the messages to the readers, this book is rich in hope for finding peace and reassurance through whatever challenges you face.

7. Box of Butterflies: Discovering the unexpected blessings all around us

By Roma Downey

A New York Times’ best seller, Roma Downey – best known for her role as the beloved angel on the television show Touched by an Angel – has written a book full with positive assurance of God’s presence in everyday life.

A deeply personal book, Downey shares artwork, scripture and quotes that lifted her up in some of her darkest moments. The central theme is that even if you feel alone, you never truly are – because there is a God that loves you and He is always by your side. This book is filled with hope and many words of encouragement and healing, making it a great read for anyone needing a glimpse of brighter days to come.

8. The Screwtape Letters

By C. S. Lewis

_The Screwtape Letters is a book written in the style of religious satire – for those days when you need a bit of a laugh or a smile brought to your face. It’s ironic portrayal of human life is seen through the eyes of Screwtape, a demon given the role of a highly placed assistant to “Our Father Below.” An engaging account of temptation and triumph, this book engages readers through to the end.

9. Heaven

By Randy Alcorn

Have you ever wondered what heaven will be like? In his book Heaven, Randy Alcorn presents an answer to this question based on years of study in a very engaging way. His writing will challenge your imagination and encourage you to think bigger and more broadly about this topic than ever before. This book inspires readers to long for heaven while still on earth.

10. The Bible

Sacred Text

If you find comfort in faith, the Bible gives you access to God’s word whenever you seek comfort. It is a collection of sacred texts and scriptures for you to pull for inspiration or a word of hope when you need it.

11. The Cancer Conqueror

By Greg Anderson

A “must-read” for caregivers, families and patients going through a journey with cancer, The Cancer Conqueror is a modern-day parable that focuses on the immense effects of a positive attitude and a hopeful mindset, as well as how they aid in the recovery process.

A cancer survivor himself, Greg Anderson was given a lung cancer diagnosis and 30 days left to live. He refused to accept the hopelessness that came with this diagnosis. What he found in the search for survivors of his cancer changed not only his health, but the face of cancer survivorship in America.

12. The Mission is Remission

By Pat Williams

Pat Williams, well-known in the basketball world by leading 23 teams to the NBA play-offs learned to lean on a different team later on in his life – his doctors.

Diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a rare and incurable cancer of the blood, he relied heavily on his faith and fighting spirit. Pat’s story outlines six healing factors that saw him through his cancer journey, as well as how his family became his best support system. This book is an encouraging and uplifting resource for patients and their loved ones going through the journey with them. It’s more than just a book about cancer – it’s about BEATING it.

I36-Hour Day – Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabbins

The 36-Hour Day is continually updated to provide the most up-to-date resources and information for caregivers and families, and it is an honest look inside the journey of Alzheimer’s and dementia. It provides caregivers perspective on challenges, coping strategies, and support resources to help them as they care their loved one during this difficult time.

Activities to do with Your Parent Who Has Alzheimer’s Dementia – Judith A. Levy

This guide provides activities that will help your loved one succeed in the Activities of Daily Living. The tasks outlined in this book encourage individuals to feel confident in themselves while maintaining their mobility, socialization, and self-care skills. Finding new ways to accomplish daily tasks can be overwhelming, but with the guided help from this professional author can go a long way. This book will make tasks and goals seem very obtainable on a personal level and in the home setting where you’re caring for your loved one.

The Alzheimer’s Action Plan: What You Need to Know – and What You Can Do – About Memory Problems, from Prevention to Early Intervention and Care – P. Murali Doraiswamy and Lisa P. Gwyther with Tina Alder

An Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis can rock the world of everyone who it impacts. It leaves you with thousands of questions and so many directions to go in. With the help of healthcare professionals, you can adapt and create a successful care plan for your loved one. The Alzheimer’s Action Plan lays out coping methods, clinical trial information, and information about what the future of Alzheimer’s research looks like, all in a clear and easy-to-understand way.

Before I Forget: Love, Hope, Help, and Acceptance in Our Fight Against Alzheimer’s – B. Smith and Dan Gasby

This story is about how a professional publisher, restaurateur, and wife B. Smith unexpectedly got diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 66. When she realized this wasn’t something unique to her but impacted millions of people each year, B. Smith wanted to tell her story. With her husband Dan by her side, B. tells the narrative of advice, challenges, and harsh realities that they faced as a family during this time. It is a story of hope, love, and empowering others to stay connected and continue learning even after the world seems to stand still.

Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey: A Guide for Families and Caregivers – Jolene Brackey

This is a book written to help families remember that there are joyous moments that can still be created after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. In the early days of a diagnosis, there is a sense of feeling lost in the darkness with all the unknowns that are to come. Although these moments seem overwhelming, Brackley highlights ways to help families create new perfect moments with their loved ones, to help bring back their smiles.

We are Not Ourselves – Matthew Thomas

This fiction novel that tells the story of a multi-generational family. It follows the story of a family in the American landscape and how their life changes as the father is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Matthew Thomas writes this novel after as his father died of Alzheimer’s and the parallels from personal experience can be read through the lines. It is a narrative that can pull you into a different time as well as help you see why family is the most important thing.

Still Alice – Lisa Genova 

Still Alice is a captivating novel about celebrated Harvard professor who, at the height of her career, got the devastating diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Alice takes readers through her journey of maintaining her independence and experiencing her life to the fullest. It truly captures what it is like to live with the disease.

Slow Dancing with a Stranger – Meryl Comer

In this personal journey, Meryl tells the story of her life caring for her husband during his battle with Alzheimer’s disease. As a caregiver, she discusses the impact that the disease has on both the person living with it and those who are caring for them. Comer has dedicated herself to fighting for Alzheimer’s and raising public awareness.

Let’s Talk Dementia – Carol L. Howell

Carol L. Howell is a Certified Dementia Specialist, caregiver, mother, and educator who is passionate about shedding light on the various types of dementia. In this book, she provides knowledge, power, hope, and smiles to readers through the acknowledgement of best practices when it comes to caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.

Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s: A Groundbreaking Approach for Everyone Dealing with the Disease – Joanne Koenig Coste

In this book, Joanne Koenig Coste explores the idea that when you’re caring for a loved one who is living with Alzheimer’s, you should meet them where they are, rather than harshly pulling them out of their reality. This method of communication allows for genuine connection between caregiver and loved one. The book also goes over how to cope with a new normal and face the daily challenges associated with Alzheimer’s.

Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer’s: One Daughter’s Hopeful Story – Lauren Kessler

This book is a compelling narrative of a daughter’s journey, caring for her mom as she lives with Alzheimer’s disease. Kesser watched as many things she knew about her mom began to slip away. Ultimately, she realized that the disease didn’t have to be an end, but a beginning of something new. She recognizes that this could be a time to experience friendship, love, joy, and sorrow in a new way.

1. “My Parent’s Keeper” by Jody Gastfriend

When you step into a caregiving role, it’s normal to have a lot of questions. “My Parent’s Keeper: The Guilt, Grief, Guesswork, and Unexpected Gifts of Caregiving” by Jody Gastfriend works to answer these questions. The book explores a wide range of topics from the cost of long-term care to managing the healthcare system and and protecting yourself from burnout.

2. “Helping Yourself Help Others: A Book for Caregivers” by Rosalynn Carter

Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, a longtime advocate for caregivers, penned “Helping Yourself Help Others: A Book For Caregivers” to address the challenges and benefits of caring for a loved one. The book draws on her experiences, as well as those of other caregivers, to discuss the difficulties of unpaid caregiving, the dangers of caregiver burnout and how to look out for yourself while meeting the needs of others.

3. “Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout in America” by Kate Washington

Kate Washington’s timely book “Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout in America” explores Washington’s journey trying to care for her husband following a serious cancer diagnosis. It’s an unflinching look at the way unpaid caregivers are under-valued in society and at the unseen mental load of family caregiving. It combines experience with research in a way that makes caregivers feel seen.

4. “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?” by Roz Chast

This memoir and graphic novel provides a comforting, honest and humorous look at talking with aging parents about their care, what it’s like to be an adult child accepting a parental role and dealing with the uncomfortable realities and logistics of caregiving. Written and illustrated by “New Yorker” cartoonist Roz Chast, the book is based on the author’s own experiences caring for her aging mother and father.

5. “Multicultural Guide to Caregiving” by Angelica P. Herrera Venson

Author and gerontologist Dr. Angelica P. Herrera Venson offers this guide to aging and caregiving within communities of color and first generation Americans. Based on personal stories and years of research, “Multicultural Guide to Caregiving” dives into the ways culture and traditions shape caregiving roles, how to access critical benefits for your aging loved one and tips for so many aspects of managing finances, medical care and other important considerations.

6. “We’re Stronger Than We Look” by Jill Case Brown

Caregivers can find support, inspiration and understanding through the stories shared in “We’re Stronger Than We Look: Insights and Encouragement for the Caregiver’s Journey” by Jill Case Brown. The book speaks to the anxieties and struggles of caregiving with humor and heart, while still acknowledging how difficult the transition into a caregiving role can be.

7. “The Caregiver Guide” by Grant Bryan and Gayle Wolfe

Wondering if you have the skills to be a caregiver and where to start? Check out “The Caregiver Guide: What to do when you don’t know where to start” by Grant Bryan and Gayle Wolfe. The book, written by experienced caregivers, comes complete with checklists and fill-in-the-blank sections to help you prepare for your caregiving role and make sure you don’t miss anything along the way.

8. “Stand By Me” by Allison Applebaum

Coming in February 2024, “Stand By Me: A Guide to Navigating Modern, Meaningful Caregiving” offers advice on juggling the responsibilities and emotional struggles of caregiving from clinical psychologist Dr. Allison Applebaum. The book covers topics like navigating medical care, advance care planning and how to navigate ever-changing relationship dynamics.

9. “Creative Care” by Anne Basting

MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Anne Basting tackles the topic of eldercare through compelling research and touching stories. “Creative Care: A Revolutionary Approach to Dementia and Elder Care” describes Basting’s method of using creative arts to transform care for elderly individuals and those with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Her approach, backed by decades of research, combines methods from the world of theater and improvisation with evidence-based therapies that spark creativity and connection.

10. “The Color of Care” by Ky’a Jackson

Black caregivers can face unique obstacles. “The Color of Care: A Beginner’s Guide for the African American Caregiver” by Ky’a Jackson was written to address the unique needs of Black caregivers, while offering practical tips, advice and support. It also offers a valuable perspective on the racial barriers that make caregiving more difficult and how to manage these on your caregiving journey.

11. “The Accidental Caregiver” by Dr. Kimberly Fraser

For many people, the transition into a caregiving role comes suddenly. Dr. Kimberly Fraser, a nurse who ran a large home support business, knows this firsthand. This book recounts her experiences caring for her aging father and sick husband. She offers practical advice on how to navigate this new role, along with a support, wisdom and knowledge to help new caregivers feel less alone.

12. “Bridging Generations: A Caregiving Pocketbook for Asian American Families” by Jessica Chen

Author Jessica Chen has created a guide to understanding and navigating dementia caregiving for Asian American families and first and second-generation caregivers from any cultural background. This book includes stories and advice for handling complex behaviors from your loved one, managing stress as a caregiver and addressing guilt.

13. “Who Cares: The Hidden Crisis of Caregiving, and How We Solve It” by Emily Kenway

Emily Kenway offers her experience of caring for an aging parent to help guide others and discuss the vital need for caregiving reform in the U.S. “Who Cares: The Hidden Crisis of Caregiving, and How We Solve It” digs into the unique emotional and financial burdens of caregiver and the way the needs of caregivers have been largely ignored by government leaders. Kenway also blends expert research with her own experiences to share solutions to this ongoing crisis.

14. “Care For The Caregiver” by Jazmin Graham

This workbook-style guide for caregivers is meant to help process difficult feelings, avoid burnout and learn how and when to ask for help. Written by a licensed clinical social worker, “Care For The Caregiver” is meant to serve as a resource that provides emotional help and guidance to the caregiver, while encouraging them to seek support in whatever ways they need and giving them the tools to succeed.

15. “Mother Lode: Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver” by Gretchen Staebler

This memoir by Gretchen Staebler details her journey moving back to her childhood home at age 60 to care for her 96-year-old mother. Not only does the author provide an unflinching look at managing the demands of her mother’s care and health needs, but she also shares valuable wisdom, including how she made self-care non-negotiable and navigated the complex medical system for aging adults.