Resources for Caregivers of Aging Loved Ones

Here are some helpful activities and books for caregivers:

Conversation Cards for Adults, Nostalgic Items — Reminiscence Activity for Alzheimer’s / Dementia / Memory Loss Patients and Caregivers

By Shadowbox Press 

Shadowbox Conversation Cards were developed by an activity director to encourage individuals experiencing memory loss to reminisce and converse about a particular aspect or experience from their lives.
— Recommended by the Alzheimer’s Association Green-Field Library, alz.org

Jan’s Story: Love Lost to the Long Goodbye of Alzheimer’s

By Barry Petersen 

When CBS News Correspondent Barry Petersen married the love of his life 25 years ago, he never thought his vow, “until death do us part,” would have an expiration date. But early onset Alzheimer’s claimed Jan Petersen, Barry’s beautiful wife, at 55, leaving her unable to remember Barry or their life together.— Recommended by the Alzheimer’s Association Green-Field Library, alz.org

The 36-Hour Day, sixth edition: A Family Guide toCaring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) 

By Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins 

The guide is a resource for families who love and care for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Whether a person has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, he or she will face a host of problems. The book helps family members and caregivers address these challenges and simultaneously cope with their own emotions and needs.
— Recommended by the Alzheimer’s Association Green-Field Library, alz.org

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: What Everyone Needs to Know

By Steven R. Sabat 

The book provides information on dementia and Alzheimer’s, which are two distinct conditions, and how to understand memory dysfunction and many other significant abilities that people have even in the moderate to severe stages of these disorders. From years spent exploring and observing the points of view and experiences of people diagnosed, the author strives to inform as well as to remind readers of the respect and empathy owed to those diagnosed and living with dementia.
— Recommended by the Alzheimer’s Association Green-Field Library, alz.org

My Mother, Your Mother: Embracing “Slow Medicine,” the Compassionate Approach to Caring for Your Aging Loved Ones

By Dennis McCullough

Shaped by common sense and kindness, it advocates for careful anticipatory “attending” to your loved one’s changing needs rather than waiting for crises that force acute medical interventions — thereby improving the quality of their extended late lives without bankrupting families financially or emotionally. This is not a plan for preparing for death; it is a plan for understanding, for caring and for helping those you love live well during their final years.

Role Reversal: How to Take Care of Yourself and Your Aging Parents

By Iris Waichler  

A comprehensive guide to navigating the enormous daily challenges faced by caregivers. In these pages, Waichler blends her personal experience caring for her beloved father with her 40 years of expertise as a patient advocate and clinical social worker. The book offers information on topics including estate planning, grief and anger, building a support network and finding the right level of care for your loved one. 

The Conscious Caregiver: A Mindful Approach to Caring for Your Loved One Without Losing Yourself 

By Linda Abbit 

While it may be a rewarding experience to care for a loved one, the emotional and physical stress of caregiving can lead to burnout and exhaustion — causing caregivers to put themselves and their own well-being in the background. Abbit, author and founder of “Tender Loving Eldercare” and a veteran of the caregiving industry, shares her advice on taking care of an older parent or loved one and how to handle everything that goes along with this dramatic life change.