Books for Care Partners

This is one of the first books that people should read when dementia enters their world, whether they are the person diagnosed, a family member, a care professional, or doctor. In this wonderful book, Wendy Mitchell beautifully shares her personal experiences during the early stage of Alzheimer’s Disease. She offers an honest description of many of the tricks that the brain can play on people living with dementia. But, just as importantly, she also shares the sense of humor, determination, and ingenuity that often got her past those tricks.

She offers crucial insight into the feelings, abilities, needs, and desires of someone living with dementia, which will help people recently diagnosed feel less alone and will help care partners understand how best to support them. Dementia care relationships could be greatly improved and dementia stigma greatly reduced if everyone read, and discussed, this lovely story that the author so kindly shared!

Although this is an older book, its practical advice on how to support someone living with dementia in a positive way is still quite helpful. Joanne Koenig Coste developed her theory of "habilitation" both through her professional and personal experience caring for people living with dementia.

She effectively shares practical examples of how care interactions can be improved and how people's lives can be enriched by adapting communication and environment while also embracing each person's abilities and perspectives. Finally, she closes the book with very specific tips on how care partners can care for themselves while also caring for those they love.

This is a short, easy to read book written by a husband (and former governor) who is caring for his wife who is living with Alzheimer's Disease. He shares what he has learned and what he wishes he had known to do better in the beginning so that you can learn valuable perspectives earlier in your journey. He tells their story with love and, occasionally, even humor while also sharing practical tips to make caregiving just a little easier. I highly recommend it for anyone who is trying to find the balance between being a care partner and a spouse.

Whether you're struggling to feel comfortable while interacting with someone who is living with dementia or you just want some new, creative ideas to make your time together more fun, this book will give you practical tips that can make a positive difference. It also includes helpful guidance on end of life visits during the final stage of dementia. Although it's less than 100 pages, it's packed full of information that can be read quickly.

The authors (a woman living with Alzheimer’s Disease and her husband) candidly weave their very touching story of adjusting their lives and relationship as dementia progresses with a lot of helpful information about dementia and how to cope with it. While the story is mostly told by her husband, B. Smith also shares her perspective at the beginning of each section. This is a loving story which also provides simple explanations of dementia and related resources which will help other couples as they journey through dementia together.

This book also includes a resource list and index of topics at the back of the book, as well as easy to understand tips at the end of each chapter, so readers will be able to return to it for guidance as new concerns arise.