Books for Caregivers

The Essential Caregiver’s Library: 14 Must-Read Books for Anyone Caring for a Loved One

November is National Family Caregivers Month

The right book at the right time can offer support, guidance, ideas, empathy, and much more. In honor of National Family Caregivers Month, we’ve rounded up our favorite books for caregivers into a library that’s sure to interest and inspire anyone who has cared for a loved one personally or professionally, past or present.

Looking for a gift for your favorite caregiver? These books may also be the perfect, thoughtful gesture during the holidays and beyond.

Books for all caregivers

Helping Yourself Help Others: A Book for Caregivers by Rosalynn Carter
The former first lady provides both first-hand experiences and clear-eyed advice in this classic memoir-meets-guidebook.

Self-Care for Caregivers by Pat Samples, Diane Larsen, and Marvin Larsen
Based on the twelve step program, this book helps caregivers make the most of the caregiving process without losing themselves.

Passages in Caregiving: Turning Chaos into Confidence by Gail Sheehy
Bestselling author and aging expert Gail Sheehy outlines the nine crucial steps for successful family caregiving in an indispensible resource that Rosalynn Carter calls “one of those rare books that can drastically lighten even the heaviest of loads.”

You’d Better Not Die or I’ll Kill You: A Caregiver’s Survival Guide to Keeping You in Good Health and Good Spirits by Jane Heller
A lighthearted take on caregiving, this book includes advice on caring for a loved one, communicating with medical staff, and gaining wisdom from other caregivers – all with a healthy sense of laughter and love.

If Only I’d Had This Caregiving Book by Maya Hennessey
A real-world account of how caregiving can impact families and individuals, this no-nonsense guide helps caregivers find balance and support using a unique workshop format.

Daily Comforts for Caregivers by Pat Samples
This inspiring, gentle guide to caregiving offers 366 days worth of wisdom and affirmations designed to serve as a “support system in your pocket” for anyone coping with the challenges of caregiving.

Books for children caring for parents

The Emotional Survival Guide for Caregivers: Looking After Yourself and Your Family While Helping an Aging Parent by Barry J. Jacobs
The Emotional Survival Guide weaves together the story of two sisters and their ailing mother with practical advice on how to plan and execute a caregiving strategy that’s right for your family.

When the Time Comes: Families with Aging Parents Share Their Struggles and Solutions by Paula Span
Based on the true stories of several families facing the reality of older parents, this book offers an empathetic view of the challenges and opportunities that come with an aging family.

A Bittersweet Season: Caring for Our Aging Parents – And Ourselves by Jane Gross
In A Bittersweet Season, New York Times expert on elderly care Jane Gross tells her story of finding acceptance and redemption while taking care of her elderly mother. Topics include choosing the right doctor, how to deal with Medicaid and Medicare, and taking care of yourself as a caregiver.

Books for caregiving spouses

The Caregiving Wife’s Handbook: Caring for Your Seriously Ill Husband, Caring for Yourself by Diana B. Denholm
Billed as a “step by step communication guide to help women maintain emotional, physical, and financial health,” The Caregiving Wife’s Handbook is a must-read for any woman taking care of her husband or partner.

When the Man You Love Is Ill: Doing Your Best for Your Partner Without Losing Yourself by Dorree Lynn
Another resource for caregiving women, this book focuses on healing and strengthening relationships between husbands and wives throughout the caregiving process.

I Still Do: Loving and Living with Alzeimer’s by Judith Fox
A photographic examination of caregiving, this visual love story communicates the joys and heartbreaks of caregiving in a whole new way.