In this post, you’ll find six self-care and caregiving books you may want to add to your ‘to be read’ pile. Recently I put a hold on accepting new caregiving and self-care books because my ‘to be read’ pile is overflowing which makes me feel anxious.
To be honest, I’m not reading as much thanks to Wordle. Then, my son Jacob suggested I get back on Words with Friends so we could play. Now, I’m addicted to playing him, my husband, and past and present girlfriends! I justify that I’m still feeding my brain with some intellectual self-care, it’s just different.
This post continues a regular blog series where I feature a collection of caregiving and self-care books. Here’s the latest book haul!
As a bonus, I include my latest favorite ‘Just for Fun’ read – this one might provide a fantastical escape from the caregiving worries.
Self-Care for Nurses: 100+ Ways to Rest, Reset, and Feel Your Best by Xiomely Famighetti
Description: 100 activities designed to help you relax, take a break, and feel re-energized. Whether you need a quick pick-me-up in the middle or are looking for some new ways to unwind, you’ll find helpful solutions like:
- Make a nostalgic meal
- Plan alone time
- Limit drinking your calories
- Update your resume yearly
- Host game night
- Make your bed
- start a daily journal (you know I love this one!)
What You’ll Learn
- Discover different activities to feed your emotional, mental, physical, professional, social, and practical self-care needs.
Also Noteworthy
- Keep this book in the bathroom or car and read an activity idea a day for some daily self-care inspiration.
- This small hardbound book also makes a great gift. I plan to give my copy to my daughter Natalie who recently graduated with her BSN from the University of Alabama.
Love, Laughter, and Mayhem: Caregiver Survival Manual for Living with a Person with Dementia by Cindy Keith, Certified Dementia Practioner
Ideal Reader: A dementia caregiver seeking laughter and affirmation during a difficult care journey.
Description: y
What You’ll Learn
- That nurturing can be taught to those willing to learn. When nurtured care partners feel calm and safe, challenging behavior declines.
- Perfectionism as a dementia caregiver is not possible. Humor is a gift.
- Persons with dementia can’t change their behavior. However, dementia caregivers can make tweaks and adjustments. Your actions and reactions determine the outcome.
- Through real caregiving stories shared, we learn strategies to help with home safety, travel, driving, and more.
- Social isolation is detrimental for both the care recipient and the caregiver. Learn more about social self-care.
Also Noteworthy
- My cousin Meghan recommended this book during her Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast episode when we were discussing Rural Caregiving. Meghan identified this book as a great companion when caring for her mom.
- The author lives in a town that is near and dear to my heart – State College, PA. I graduated from Penn State University in 1993 and held fond memories of my college days.
Essential Strategies for the Dementia Caregiver: Learning to PACE Yourself by Tami Anastasia, MA
Ideal Reader: A dementia caregiver or health professional who works with persons with dementia and is seeking dementia tips from a dementia consultant and educator.
Description: A practical resource to help family caregivers navigate a dementia journey.
What You’ll Learn
- Education about the different types and progression of dementia; empowerment language to instill caregiving confidence, techniques, and strategies to make your journey meaningful
- The author’s PACE framework (easy to remember to also PACE ourselves, so we don’t burn out)
- Permission for trial and error
- Acknowledge their reality
- Compassionate Care
- Empower Yourself
- Take a stress survey to assess your level of caregiver burnout and learn how to reframe unrealistic “should” expectations, and identify the roots of guilty feelings.
- Actions and language to diffuse challenging dementia behavior include repetitive questions, personal hygiene, refusing meds, wandering, sundown syndrome, shadowing, and aggression.
Also Noteworthy
- On her website, Tami offers complimentary 15-minute consulting sessions for dementia caregivers.
- QR codes are throughout the book to quickly point you to supportive logs and surveys.
How to Live Forever: a Guide to Writing the Final Chapter of Your Life Story by Kimberly Best
Ideal Reader: Anyone looking for a ‘practical self-care roadmap to ensure all their ducks are in a row for an end-of-life chapter.
Description: A just over 100-page guide to help you and your loved ones write your own best ending chapters to your life stories and leave a legacy without regret.
What You’ll Learn
- What specific items are needed to put legal affairs in order, and how to maintain accessibility. You may not think of things in this list, such as social media accounts and passwords, membership in groups and awards, car titles and registration, and hospital of choice.
- Dozens of questions and suggestions for discussions and decisions around health care wishes, end-of-life decisions, and telling your life story. Here are just a few of the poignant questions:
- What do you want your environment/surroundings to be?
- What, if any, type of religious preference do you have for the end-of-life ceremony?
- What picture comes to mind for you with the term “death with dignity?”
- Were you fulfilled? Which of your dreams came true?
- Communication tools resolve conflict and heal relationships that mainly stem from unmet needs and expectations.
- A resource listing that includes many journal and diary apps. May I also suggest my journal as a great tool to capture the essence of who you are and were!
Also Noteworthy
- As a nurse, mediator, conflict manager, and family member, Kimberly has participated in countless conversations around choices and decisions that defined the last chapter. If you are in a tough spot and need a professional mediator, learn more about Kimberly’s services at bestconflictsolutions.com.
Floating in the Deep End: How Caregivers Can See Beyond Alzheimer’s by Patti Davis
Ideal Reader: Dementia Caregiver or President Ronald Reagan fan.
Description: Empowered by all she learned from the decade of her father’s illness and the slow-burning grief, Patti Davis shares her lessons learned for the often-overlooked family caregiver. She shares helpful advice while weaving in personal stories from her family and attendees she’s counseled in her support group and gives the reader coping strategies and hope that joy can coexist with grief.
What You’ll Learn
- How to incorporate people who are trained in this vocation into your caregiving life
- The antidote to grief is gratitude.
- The power of a support group to cope with chronic stress (‘fear becomes stress when left to fester’)
- Permission to have a fulfilling life while caring for a person with dementia
Also Noteworthy
- Patti Davis is the daughter of US President Ronald Reagan. Her first book about Alzheimer’s is The Long Goodbye: Memories of My Father.
- Learn more about Patti’s story by listening to the conversation on fellow Whole Care Network podcast Untangling Alzheimer’s and Dementia hosted by Marianne Sciucco of AlzAuthors.
Six Steps to Managing Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia: a Guide for Families by Andrew E. Budson MD and Maureen K. O’Connor PsyD
Ideal Reader: For a dementia caregiver seeking guidance from academic researchers to better understand dementia and jump to sections in the book that will offer ‘just in time training.’
Description: Information for dementia caregivers is organized into six steps. These six steps are: Understand dementia, manage problems, ask about medications, build your care team, sustain your relationship, and plan for the future.
What You’ll Learn
- In-depth explanations about dementia (that your health professional may not afford the time to explain), a glossary of terms, and a 12-page topical index.
- Verbiage, suggestions, and tactics to using the 4 R’s: Reassure, Reconsider, Redirect and Relax that will help you address concerns with communication, home safety, diet, incontinence, and more.
- A list of resources that I wasn’t familiar with or had forgotten about, including payingforseniorcare.com and archrespite.org/respite program
Also Noteworthy
- Written by two individuals with various roles in the health care and caregiving vocations, including Clinical Neuropsychologist, Professor of Psychiatry, Geriatric Nurse, Director of Adult Daycare Center, and Caregiver Support Group Facilitator.
Just for Fun
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas diverts from my usual fictional genres yet provides a great escape. It’s the first book in a six-part series. If you enjoyed Hunger Games and the Twilight series, I believe you’ll enjoy this one. This saga has similar ingredients: a strong female heroine, nail-biting games, forbidden love, and a magical kingdom with fairies, beasts, and humans. I listened to the audio through my Libby app and rated it 4 out of 5 stars. I plan to continue with the series.
If you enjoy reading recommendations, check out my prior book haul posts (1, 2, and 3) prior book haul post, or this one, or Elizabeth’s bookshelves on Goodreads. Happy reading!
