I remember when a family member was diagnosed with “dementia with probable Alzheimer’s disease”, the neurologist gave us a book called “The 36-Hour Day.” That book, widely distributed or recommended by many physicians, really became our lifeline for learning about this stupid disease.
Fast forward just a couple years to working in the senior living industry. I became immersed in the reality of day-to-day living with the disease. It became vitally important to me to learn and understand as much as possible so that I could provide the best quality of life possible to my family member and my residents. While 36-hour Day was my go-to book, I began seeking out more books that would take me further toward understanding, being a better caregiver and better leader of professional caregivers.
These are the Best Books I found for learning about, working with, caring for, and loving someone with dementia.
- The 36-Hour Day – Nancy L. Mace
- A Dignified Life – Virginia Bell & David Troxel (Their Best Friends Approach™ is the methodology my team and I used to care for our residents in memory care)
- Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s – Jane Koenig Coste
- The Dementia Caregiver – Dr. Mark Agronin
- Still Alice – Lisa Genova (While fiction, is inspired by the author’s experience with her grandmother who had Alzheimer’s disease)
- Before I Forget – B. Smith & Dan Gasby
- Aging with Grace: The Nun Study – David Snowdon (This is a fascinating book – not care-related, but if you like research, this one’s for you!)
- Dementia Beyond Disease: Enhancing Well-Being – G. Allen Power, M.D.
- When Reasoning No Longer Works: A Practical Guide for Caregivers Dealing with Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care – Angel Smits
- Creating Moments of Joy – Jolene Brackey
