10 Best Books About Dementia For Families and Caregivers
A dementia diagnosis is life-changing, not only for the person diagnosed but also for their loved ones. Families often struggle to understand what to expect in the different stages of the journey, how to provide the best dementia care, and how to maintain relationships despite the challenges. Books can be a valuable source of practical advice, emotional support, and real-life examples that help guide families and caregivers through this difficult journey.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of must-read books that provide insight into caregiving, coping strategies and the experiences of people living with dementia.
What is Dementia?
Dementia is a complex condition that affects memory, thinking, and daily life. It is not a single disease but a term for a range of cognitive disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, and early-onset Alzheimer’s. These conditions cause cognitive decline that affects both the individual and the loved ones or caregivers who look after them.
In the UK, over 944,000 people are living with dementia and the number is continuing to grow. It is important to understand when the right time to consider a care home may be, as they are equipped with all the tools and care experts to provide around-the-clock care. Books and resource sites such as Alzheimer's Society or the NHS can be a great way for you to gain more knowledge and make the transition a little easier.
Books Offering Practical Advice for Family Carers and Health Professionals
1. The 36-Hour Day – Nancy L. Mace & Peter V. Rabins
This is a classic guide for family carers and provides practical strategies for managing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. It covers topics such as respite care, nursing care, and navigating the complex emotions of watching a loved one change. This is a recommended read for those seeking guidance on the importance of self-care while caring for a person with dementia.
2. Contented Dementia – Oliver James
This book introduces the SPECAL (Specialised Early Care for Alzheimer’s) method, a unique approach to dementia care that focuses on understanding rather than correcting memory loss. It offers practical tips on improving relationships between family members, carers, and the person diagnosed, ensuring they feel safe and secure.
3. When Reasoning No Longer Works – Angel Smits
A helpful guide for those struggling with the different stages of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, this book helps families expect the challenges ahead. It provides a range of practical strategies to improve communication and make daily life easier for both the carer and their loved ones.
Personal Stories from Families and Caregivers
4. Somebody I Used to Know – Wendy Mitchell
Wendy Mitchell’s memoir offers a powerful, first-hand perspective of being diagnosed with early-onset dementia. She shares the emotional challenges of cognitive decline and how she adapted to a life with dementia. This book is essential for those wanting to understand real-life examples of how dementia affects a person and their family members.
5. Dementia from the Inside Out – Dr Richard Taylor
Richard Taylor is a former psychologist who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and gives an honest and insightful look at what it feels like to live with dementia, helping readers understand the emotional side of the condition.
6. Finding the Light in Dementia - Jane M. Mullins
This guide offers valuable approaches, tips & suggestions interspersed with caregiver stories that help the reader learn to care for & stay connected with their care partner. Whether you're a partner, child, sibling, friend, parent, paid caregiver, or health & social care professional, this book can give you some valuable advice.
Books for Children and Young Family Members
7. Grandpa’s Stories – Joseph Coelho & Allison Colpoys
This book is ideal for children struggling to understand why a grandparent with dementia is changing as it briefly introduces memory loss, the relationships between generations and how to celebrate life in the present.
8. The Memory Box – Mary Bahr & David Cunningham
This touching story follows a young boy who creates a memory box to help his grandfather with Alzheimer’s remember special moments from his past. It’s an excellent resource for families seeking ways to involve children in caregiving.
Fiction and Storytelling
9. The Little Girl in the Radiator – Martin Slevin
This is a heartwarming book where a son is caring for his mother who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and the journey they go on throughout the new stages of her life. It captures both the love and the challenges of being a carer.
Blending humour, warmth, and raw honesty, Nigel Baines created a graphic novel to share his experiences of supporting his mother through memory loss and balancing the emotional weight of caregiving with moments of love, laughter, and resilience.
Finding Support and Guidance
Caring for a loved one with dementia is an incredibly challenging journey. Whether you’re a son, daughter, husband, or wife of someone diagnosed or a health professional working in a care home, these books offer helpful insights into the condition, the role of carers and the quality of life that can be upheld.
For those seeking more support, nursing homes and care homes in Kidlington provide a safe and welcoming environment where residents receive exceptional dementia care. Expert teams are on hand around the clock to answer questions and provide peace of mind and comfort. Support groups can also be a valuable resource for families, offering guidance on the challenges of dementia and advice on finding the right care services.
No matter where you are on your dementia care journey, there are many ways you can receive reassurance or assistance. Online resources such as Dementia UK and Alzheimer's Society can also provide practical advice and information to help provide a better understanding.
Dementia Care at Floryn House Care Home
At Floryn House Care Home, we provide specialist dementia care as well as residential care, nursing care and respite care. Our fully qualified and certified team understand the unique challenges that both the individuals living with dementia and their loved ones can experience and are on hand to provide the best possible care to each individual.
Our commitment to providing an environment where our residents can thrive extends beyond our care - we have several in-house facilities and activities that are tailored to the needs, interests and capabilities of our residents who are living with dementia. Whether they want to spend some time in the sensory room, enjoy a favourite film in the cinema or kick back and get pampered in the hair & nail salon, we have something for everybody at our care home in Yarnton.
We have recently had our Franklin Dementia Community open and would love to welcome you or your loved one to the Floryn House family. To find out more or to see what life is like for yourself, get in touch with our compassionate team. We can't wait to meet you.
