Losing ourselves in books is a great enjoyment for avid readers like us, many of our readers and our senior loved ones.
One can travel the world and travel through time with a good book — not to mention learning a thing or hundred.
Books can truly give inspiration and enjoyment, frequently leaving us feeling uplifted. Learning something that helps us improve the life an elderly parent or grandparent can be especially uplifting.
We would like to recommend a few of our favorites that you may treasure as well — and from which you may learn, as we did.
Favorite Books for Senior Caregivers
One of our favorite series of books for inspiration is the Chicken Soup for the Soul series of books. There is a topic for any person or situation. One we recommend to you or a caregiver in your life is Chicken Soup for the Caregiver’s Soul: Stories to Inspire Caregivers in the Home, the Community and the World. This is a collection of tales that you will love and love to share with special people in your life.
A book that offers practical and inspiring tips for those caregivers dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease that we think you may find very helpful is Creating Moments of Joy: A Journal for Caregivers, Fourth Edition. It is a collection of moments you can make with your senior loved one to help bring out their spirit within.
Books can be extremely worthwhile when we are seeking information and guidance on dealing with specific issues. One such book that covers a wide range of topics dealing with seniors and useful suggestions to help you deal with the care of your senior loved one is The Boomer’s Guide to Aging Parents: The Complete Guide.
Yet another inspiring type of book is one that helps you cope by offering caregiving experiences through stories of other caregivers in situations similar to that in which you find yourself. It can offer the same sense of camaraderie that you might feel in a support group by reading others’ stories and seeing what they might have tried that worked or didn’t work for them in dealing with an elderly loved one. One you might enjoy is Dementia Caregivers Share Their Stories: A Support Group in a Book.
Gifts of books to family members, those who give care to your loved ones or yourself (don’t forget your own needs) will be often welcomed as a respite from the demands of caregiving and a source for ways to meet the challenges.
You can find all the above books and more in the Senior Care Corner Bookstore.
Please let us know if there is a favorite book of yours we should add.
Happy reading!
I wish I’d known about these books when I was caring for my ailing parents. It was so hard and I look back at those years with sadness and a tiny bit of regret. The latter when I think of my impatience with my mom. My dad was amazing throughout their decline, but my mom had been enabled her whole life by my dad so when she was left along, she fell apart. I did my best but doing it all alone was very hard. Having the resources YOU provide, BB, is so wonderful!
Thank you, Bruce. I know “wish I had” stories can bring back painful memories but in sharing them you provide so much benefit to those who still have the chance to learn from you!
These books sound like a joy to read. We have many family members frequent our retirement community to visit their elderly parents and grandparents and these would make great gift ideas for the holidays. I will certainly be encouraging the families of our residents who might be having a difficult time with the circumstances to purchase some of these books. Thanks Barry!
Thank you for saying so, Mike! Appreciate you stopping by and glad you find our suggestions helpful and plan to spread the word.
The chicken soup book series always holds a special place in my heart, I have given the teenage versions of all the books when they turned 13.
This looks like a good book to read. My parents are both getting up in age and I’m anticipating that I will be taking care of them at some point but I feel like I don’t really know what I’m in for or what to expect. Thanks for the recommendation.