12 Books Adult Caregivers Should Read Right Now!
If you’re an adult caregiver, it can be hard to find time to take care of yourself. You may not know how or what exactly that would look like, but the following 9 books will help you get started. For this list I’ve chosen books that are personal and practical with exercises and activities for caregivers; they cover topics such as self-care, mindfulness, dealing with difficult emotions (grief), and more. This list is in no particular order – pick whichever one sounds most interesting to you! If possible read them all – your mind & body will thank you for it!
Table of Contents
1. The Adult Caregiver’s Path to Self-Care: Getting Back to You by Kathleen McCue
This book is all about self-care for caregivers. Kathleen McCue is a nurse who has written extensively on the topic of caregiving, and in this book, she provides practical tips and exercises for caregivers to help them take care of themselves.
2. Mindfulness for Caregivers: A Guide to Finding Peace in a Busy World by Rebecca Erwin Wells
This book is all about mindfulness and how it can help caregivers deal with the stress and demands of their job. Rebecca Erwin Wells is a mindfulness teacher and her book includes exercises and practices to help caregivers learn how to be more present in their lives.
3. The Grief Recovery Handbook, The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Losses
This book is about grief and how to move through it. It’s a great resource for anyone who has experienced a loss, whether recently or in the past. John W. James and Russel Friedman are both experts in the field of grief recovery and they offer helpful exercises and advice in this book.
4. The Caregiver’s Survival Guide: How to Care for Yourself While Caring for Others by Deborah L. Young
This book is all about self-care for caregivers – it includes tips on time management, healthy eating, getting enough rest, and more. It’s a great resource for caregivers who want to take care of themselves but don’t know where to start.
5. The Patient and the Caregiver: A Journey Through Alzheimer’s Disease by John W. James and Russell Friedman
This book is about living with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease. It includes information about the disease as well as journal entries from people who have been through it before – their wisdom truly shines in this book!
6. How to Age Well: A Lifelong Guide to Your Physical and Spiritual Health
This book is all about mindfulness and how it can help you age well. Tich Nhat Hanh is a Buddhist monk who has written extensively on the topic of mindfulness, and this book includes helpful exercises to help the reader learn how to deal with thoughts, emotions, and pain in order to live fully in the present moment.
7. The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path To Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron
This book provides an 8-week creativity course that anyone – regardless of artistic ability – can benefit from! It focuses on clearing your mental clutter so you can focus on doing your best creative work.
8. Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Thich Nhat Hanh
This book is a Buddhist-based resource about living mindfully. Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese monk and teacher who has been teaching mindfulness for decades – this book includes helpful exercises so you can learn to have more peace in your life.
9. When Someone You Love Has Dementia: A Caregiver’s Month-by-Month Guide to Caring for the Person With Alzheimer’s
This book is all about caring for someone who has dementia (it focuses on the early and middle stages of the disease). It was written by an expert in dementia care, Julia Caplan, and her husband Charles Farcht – the book includes practical advice on how to take care of yourself as you cope with this tough situation.
Conclusion
Caregiving can be one of the most rewarding and satisfying experiences in life, but it can also be extremely stressful and demanding. If you’re a caregiver and want to learn how to take care of yourself while taking care of others, these books will give you some great tips and advice on coping with stress and dealing with sadness, grief, and loss.
