One of the hardest parts of caring for someone with dementia is not knowing what each new day will bring. You may be doing your best every day, yet still wonder if it’s enough or wish someone could tell you what to say or do next.
As you do your best to support a loved one, the right books on dementia can provide both practical knowledge and emotional comfort from other people who have walked the same path.To help guide you along your caregiving journey, we have gathered 10 of our favorite books about Alzheimer’s. Our dementia caregiver reading list includes informative guides, personal caregiver stories, dementia care books for children, and books to help you support your well-being.We’ve grouped the titles by different stages of the caregiving journey so you can quickly find the books that feel most helpful to you at this moment. Many of them are available in multiple formats, including e-book, audiobook, and large-print editions.
Best Books for Understanding Dementia
When someone close to you is diagnosed with dementia, life can suddenly feel very different. In the early days, families often have more questions than answers as they try to understand the disease and how best to support their loved ones.Below, we share our top picks for the best dementia books for caregivers helping loved ones navigate the early stages of the disease:
The 36-Hour Day by Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins
The 36-Hour Day resonates with many dementia caregivers, who often wish there were more hours in the day to get everything done.The authors, both experienced dementia care experts, help guide families through the dementia journey step by step, from understanding its causes and managing the early symptoms, to handling legal and financial matters, and eventually bringing in additional care and support when home care is no longer possible.The 36-Hour Day is published by Johns Hopkins University Press and has been widely praised for its medically grounded, deeply humane guidance that families can return to again and again. The authors continue to update the book regularly with new research findings,treatment options, and dementia care practices.
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Written by a Harvard-trained neuroscientist who left his research role to write books about Alzheimer’s, Still Alice is a New York Times bestseller that follows a cognitive neuroscientist diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s.Having watched her grandmother develop dementia, Genova combines personal experience with deeply human storytelling to give readers an intimate look at what it can feel like to slowly lose one’s sense of self.The book offers rare and valuable insight into the lived experience of memory loss, helping caregivers and families better understand what a loved one may be going through.
Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey by Jolene Brackey
Watching someone you love struggle with dementia can be deeply heartbreaking. Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey brings together practical ideas, uplifting stories, and humor to encourage caregivers to notice small, meaningful moments of joy and connection rather than waiting for perfect days.A former activity director in an Alzheimer’s care community, the author, Jolene Brackey, spent decades helping families navigate their journeys with dementia. Her book offers a hopeful approach to finding meaning and connection in everyday interactions in both the early and later stages of dementia care.
Best Memoirs by Caregivers and Families
Even with love and support around you, there are days when it can feel like few people truly understand what you’re going through.These books on dementia were written by people who have walked a similar path and can help caregivers feel less alone, while also finding moments of strength and connection along the way:
Losing My Mind by Thomas DeBaggio
Losing My Mind is one of the few dementia memoirs written entirely from the patient’s perspective, beginning from the very first day of diagnosis. Author Thomas DeBaggio was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 1999 at age 57. In the book, he shares deeply personal reflections on the daily realities of coming to terms with the troubling disease.His deeply personal story offers rare insight for those newly diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s who want to understand the experience firsthand, as well as for family members seeking deeper empathy for what the person they care for may be going through internally.
The Diminished Mind by Jean Tyler
In The Diminished Mind, Jean Tyler recounts the gradual decline of her husband after his diagnosis. The author shares what daily life looked like for her and her family as they tried to come to terms with the diagnosis and care for him.She covers the full arc of her husband’s journey with Alzheimer’s, from the early symptoms all the way through the final stages of the disease, helping to address how caregivers can balance personal well-being with family connection while navigating their caregiving journey.Tyler’s husband was only 42 when symptoms appeared, making the book an essential addition to a dementia caregiver’s reading list for those supporting a younger loved one.
Somebody I Used to Know by Wendy Mitchell
Wendy Mitchell was diagnosed with young-onset dementia at a relatively young age. In her powerful memoir, Somebody I Used to Know, she offers a rare, honest look at dementia from the inside, helping families understand the day-to-day reality of living with the disease.Her story provides a hopeful reminder that, even in life’s most difficult moments, people affected by dementia can still find meaning, direction, and hope.
Books That Help Explain Dementia to Children and Teens
Caregiving conversations often miss the perspective of grandchildren and younger family members.Below, we’ve gathered some excellent books for families dealing with dementia that can help younger people learn about cognitive conditions in a gentle, age-appropriate way:
What’s Happening to Grandpa? by Maria Shriver
For families, the right books on dementia can open the door to honest conversations about a loved one’s diagnosis. What’s Happening to Grandpa? is a touching story that follows a young girl named Kate as she begins to notice changes in her grandfather and, with her mother’s guidance, learns that he has Alzheimer’s disease.Rather than pulling away, Kate finds meaningful ways to stay connected. She looks through old family photos with her grandfather, and together they put together a scrapbook full of love.What’s Happening to Grandpa? is one of the most well-known children’s books for families dealing with dementia. It can be a helpful resource for gently explaining a grandparent’s diagnosis to young children, typically ages 4-10.
The Remember Balloons by Jessie Oliveros
Another title on our dementia caregiver reading list is The Remember Balloons. Similar to What’s Happening to Grandpa?, this picture book explains dementia to children in a gentle, easy-to-understand way.The author uses balloons as a symbol for memories. A young boy named James notices he has more balloons than his younger brother, but fewer than his parents, while his grandpa has the most. One day, Grandpa’s balloons begin to drift away, and James realizes that some of the balloons his grandpa loses are now his to hold.This touching story reframes loss as something that can be carried forward with love, offering comfort to both children and adults. Rather than relying on clinical explanations, the balloon imagery gives children a simple, lasting way to understand what’s happening.
Books on Self-Care and Emotional Wellness for Caregivers
Caring for a loved one is a deeply meaningful and rewarding journey. Without extra support or time to recharge, the day-to-day demands can feel stressful and exhausting.The following books on dementia provide caregivers with practical strategies for managing stress, preventing burnout, and maintaining their own emotional well-being while supporting the people they love:
Self-Care for Caregivers by Susanne White
Looking after your own well-being is essential for both you and your loved one. But despite the value of self-care, being so busy caring for others can make it hard to find time for yourself. This book is a gentle reminder that caring for yourself is part of caring for your loved one.The author shares over 100 simple and effective self-care techniques covering emotional, physical, spiritual, and practical needs, including how to create a support tribe, learning to ask for help without guilt, finding small moments of rest in everyday life, and tips for having better, more productive conversations with the person you care for.
Passages in Caregiving by Gail Sheehy
In our last book on dementia, Gail Sheehy shares the emotional, practical, and psychological realities of caregiving through real-life stories and her own 17-year journey caring for her husband.Drawing on her lived experience of caregiving, she encourages caregivers to see their journey not only as a set of challenges but as a series of life passages, each bringing change, growth, and deeper understanding.
Tips for Getting the Most From These Books
While our dementia caregiver reading list is an excellent starting point, there are many other helpful titles as well.With that in mind, here are a few helpful tips for finding and getting the most out of books on dementia:
- Library and App Access: Many dementia care books can be borrowed for free through your local library. You can ask a librarian to help you find the best dementia books for caregivers. They often have curated lists ready to go.
- Audiobooks: If you prefer listening while driving, walking, or doing daily tasks, the Libby app connects directly to libraries, letting you borrow dementia care e-books on your phone, tablet, or e-reader for free.
- Caregiver Book Clubs: Joining a book club gives caregivers a chance to talk through real-life situations with others who understand their situation. Shared experiences like these create a sense of community, helping caregivers feel less alone in what they are going through.
- Sharing With the Care Team: If your loved one is receiving support from a care team, books on dementia can open the door to more collaborative conversations about what’s working well and what may need adjusting. Consider highlighting specific sections or ideas that stand out, rather than sharing the entire book at once.
Find Support for Your Dementia Caregiving Journey
The right books on dementia can be a valuable guide along your caregiving journey. As you do your best to support a loved one, please know you don’t have to do it all alone. We’re here to support you and your family member every step of the way.At StoryPoint Group communities, we see each day as an honor to serve our residents. That’s why we treat them like family. Our caring team takes the time to learn each resident’s unique needs, including the little things that bring them joy, so we can help them shine every day in ways that matter most to them.If someone you love would benefit from compassionate memory care support or simply a new home where they can experience genuine connection and a real sense of belonging, we’d love to be part of your journey.For more information, call us at 1-844-275-9990 or schedule a tour of a StoryPoint Group community near you.
