Taking care of an aging family member or friend who needs 24-hour support can quickly become an overwhelming and isolating responsibility. Books can provide the essential information, empathy and humor needed by those caring for a family member or friend. Here are five that I recommend:
Caregivers Are Mad as Hell!: Rants From the Wife of the Very Sick Man in Room 5029, by Ann Brenoff
Well-written and funny, this is a breath of fresh air for those who feel alone in their caregiving or are reluctant to say how they really feel.
Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir, by Roz Chast
This unique graphic novel by a well-known cartoonist traces the trajectory of her care provision and the loss of her aging parents with profound understanding, angst and great humor.
The Chronic Illness Workbook: Strategies and Solutions for Taking Back Your Life, by Patricia Fennell
This is a valuable resource for understanding and helping people living with chronic conditions and those who care for them. This book serves as a guide for navigating the trajectories of chronic illnesses and living a full and meaningful life that incorporates these challenges.
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, by Atul Gawande
This best-selling book by a practicing surgeon has had a huge role in transforming our collective thinking about end-of-life care, moving the focus from curing disease and illness in ways that often lengthen the dying process and add to the distress felt by families, to providing what matters most to families to support living with autonomy, dignity and joy.
The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss, by Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins
The 36-Hour Day is a classic for family caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.
Ellen Carbonell, LCSW, assistant professor of Social Work at Rush University College of Health Sciences, is a consultant for Rush’s Caring for Caregivers.
