Taking care of an aging loved one is an honour, but it comes with great responsibility. Many family caregivers find themselves physically and emotionally exhausted by life in this role, or regularly feel overwhelmed as they struggle to balance caregiving with being a son, daughter, grandchild or spouse. We’ve seen it many times and we understand—no matter how much you love someone, it’s hard!
Our Personal Support Workers (PSWs) are here to help families achieve that balance by offering skilled, dedicated homecare services in Toronto and the surrounding area. We strive to reduce the burden of care on families, allowing them to focus on their relationships and enjoy quality time with their loved ones. If you’d like a consultation and quote, please contact us.
As a family caregiver, it’s important to know that you’re not alone—something that a great book can help you understand and take comfort in. Here’s some reading material that may offer comfort, encouragement and even a bit of laughter as you navigate this chapter of life. If you have additional recommendations, please share them with us in the comments on Facebook.
Feeding My Mother by Jann Arden
Canadian singer-songwriter Jann Arden is best known for her music, but she’s written several books including Feeding My Mother: Comfort and Laughter in the Kitchen as a Daughter Lives With Her Mom’s Memory Loss. Arden’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease just days after her father died, forever changing their dynamic and quickly placing Arden in a caregiving role. This is a beautiful book about love, family, and coping with a loved one’s memory loss. One of our Living Assistance Services team members calls it a “must-read!” and we agree.
Chicken Soup for the Caregiver’s Soul
Part of the popular anthology series, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregivers offers relatable and encouraging stories about being a family caregiver. This collection of anecdotes is thoughtful, supportive and deeply validating—just what every caregiver needs to read on a tough day. There are touches of humour along with heartfelt stories of caregiver struggle, and additional pieces contributed by those on the receiving end of care. Because it’s a collection of individual stories, you can read a chapter or two at a time—an approach that’s often conducive to the lifestyle of the sandwich generation or other family caregivers.
The Caregivers Guide to Dementia
Written for those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease or other conditions causing memory loss, this book is a practical guide that explains the many aspects of dementia while outlining best practices for self-care as a family caregiver. It also offers tips on safety, advocating for your loved one, financial planning and other logistical elements of caregiving. The Caregivers Guide To Dementia was written by Gail Weatherill, a Registered Nurse (RN) and Alzheimer’s Disease educator who shares resources on TheDementiaNurse.com.
Here are some additional titles we came across—these may be worth checking out. Thanks again for reading our blog—we hope you’re inspired to pick up some new books, too!
- The Conscious Caregiver by Linda Abbit
- The 36-Hour Day by Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins
- The Comfort Book by Matt Haig (this collection is not specifically about caregiving, but is a great fit for family caregivers)
- They’re Your Parents, Too by Francine Russo (on sibling conflict in family caregiving)
- How To Care For Aging Parents by Viriginia Morris
- My Two Elaines by Marty Schreiber (ideal for those caring for a spouse with dementia)