Must-Read Books on Caring for Aging Parents

Taking care of aging parents can be challenging. You might face emotional, medical, and logistical issues. Whether you are making healthcare choices, handling family relationships, or looking for help with dementia care, the right book can help. This list of important books offers practical advice, emotional support, and expert tips. These resources can help caregivers make informed decisions and find comfort during this journey.

Essential reads for caregivers

Navigating aging & caregiving responsibilities

📖 A Bittersweet Season: Caring for Our Aging Parents—and Ourselves – Jane Gross

• Who it's for: Adult children navigating the challenges of caring for an elderly parent, particularly those new to the caregiving journey.
• What it's about: Journalist Jane Gross shares her experience of caring for her mother, covering emotional struggles, medical system challenges, and long-term care decisions.
• Why it's valuable: Offers a profoundly personal yet informative look at what to expect in eldercare.
• More about A Bittersweet Season >>

📖 The Family Guide to Aging Parents: Answers to Your Legal, Financial, and Healthcare Questions – Carolyn L. Rosenblatt

• Who it's for: Adult children and concerned families dealing with legal, financial, and healthcare concerns.
• What it's about: A practical guide covering critical issues like power of attorney, long-term care planning, and handling conflicts over caregiving decisions.
• Why it's valuable: Written by an elder law attorney and RN, this book provides expert advice on legal issues and financial matters that many caregivers face.
• More about The Family Guide to Aging Parents >>

📖 Caring for Your Parents: The Complete AARP Guide – Elinor Ginzler & Hugh Delehanty

• Who it's for: Adult children looking for a well-rounded, expert-backed resource on elderly family.
• What it's about: AARP's comprehensive guide covers essential caregiving topics, including financial planning, healthcare, housing options, and emotional challenges.
• Why it's valuable: Provides expert advice in an easy-to-follow format, along with real-life stories, checklists, and action plans to help caregivers navigate the complexities of caring for elderly parents.
• More about Caring for Your Parents >>

Practical guidance & emotional support

📖 The Conscious Caregiver: A Mindful Approach to Caring for Your Loved One Without Losing Yourself – Linda Abbit

• Who it's for: Caregivers struggling with mental health issues, burnout, and self-care.
• What it's about: Encourages a mindful approach to caregiving, offering techniques for reducing stress and building emotional resilience.
• Why it's valuable: Focuses on caregiver well-being alongside practical care strategies.
• More about The Conscious Caregiver >>

📖 When the Time Comes: Families with Aging Parents Share Their Struggles and Solutions – Paula Span

• Who it's for: Those facing difficult choices, such as assisted living facilities, home care, or hospice.
• What it's about: Real-life stories from families who have navigated elderly care challenges.
• Why it's valuable: Helps caregivers understand what to expect and learn from others' experiences.
• More about When The Time Comes >>

📖 Role Reversal: How to Take Care of Yourself and Your Aging Parents – Iris Waichler

• Who it's for: Caregivers balancing their own lives while taking on a parental role for elderly parents.
• What it's about: Explores the emotional shift of caregiving and offers expert advice on managing the transition.
• Why it's valuable: Provides both personal stories and professional advice to ease the role-reversal journey.
• More about Role Reversal >>

Medical, ethical, and end-of-life considerations

📖 Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End – Atul Gawande

• Who it's for: Anyone grappling with aging, terminal illness, or end-of-life care.
• What it's about: Explores the limitations of modern medicine and emphasizes quality of life over aggressive treatments.
• Why it's valuable: Thought-provoking and deeply compassionate, it helps families navigate challenging conversations and choices.
• More about Being Mortal >>

📖 Hard Choices for Loving People: CPR, Artificial Feeding, Comfort Care, and the Patient with a Life-Threatening Illness – Hank Dunn

• Who it's for: Families making medical decisions for their loved one with a serious or terminal illness.
• What it's about: A compassionate guide to making medical choices, like whether or not to pursue life-prolonging treatments.
• Why it's valuable: Written by a chaplain, this book provides gentle, faith-neutral guidance on making choices that align with your loved one's wishes.
• More about Hard Choices for Loving People >>

📖 Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying – Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley

• Who it's for: Those supporting a loved one at the end of life.
• What it's about: Written by hospice nurses, this book offers insights into the experiences of dying individuals and how to provide meaningful support and compassionate caregiving.
• Why it's valuable: Helps caregivers recognize signs of the dying process and find peace in their role.
• More about Final Gifts >>

Dementia & cognitive decline

📖 The 36-Hour Day – Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins

• Who it's for: Caregivers of loved ones with dementia or Alzheimer's.
• What it's about: A practical guide to managing the daily and long-term challenges of dementia care.
• Why it's valuable: One of the most comprehensive and widely recommended books on dementia caregiving.
• More about The 36-Hour Day >>

📖 Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer's Journey – Jolene Brackey

• Who it's for: Caregivers looking for ways to enhance the quality of life for their loved one with dementia.
• What it's about: Encourages caregivers to focus on creating joyful moments, even amid memory loss.
• Why it's valuable: Offers a hopeful, uplifting approach to dementia care.
• More about Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer's Journey >>

📖 Loving Someone Who Has Dementia: How to Find Hope While Coping with Stress and Grief – Pauline Boss

• Who it's for: Family members struggling with the emotional impact of dementia caregiving.
• What it's about: Introduces the concept of "ambiguous loss" and provides strategies for coping with grief and uncertainty.
• Why it's valuable: Helps caregivers process the unique emotional challenges of dementia care.
• More about Loving Someone Who Has Dementia >>

Family dynamics & sibling relationships in caregiving

📖 They're Your Parents, Too! – Francine Russo

• Who it's for: Families navigating caregiving roles, particularly siblings sharing caregiving duties.
• What it's about: Explores how caregiving impacts family relationships and offers strategies for cooperation.
• Why it's valuable: Helps prevent and resolve conflicts between family members during the caregiving journey.
• More about They're Your Parents, Too! >>

A note from Givers

You don’t have to buy every book to get good information on caring for aging parents. Public libraries, digital library services (libbyapp.com), online free book resources (openlibrary.org), and often community lending programs make it easier than ever to find books for free or at low cost. Whether you prefer physical books, e-books, or audiobooks, these resources can help you navigate the challenges of caring for aging parents without breaking the bank.