Being a family carer isn’t always easy. It’s a challenging, yet rewarding role. To make it easier on yourself, these six books are highly recommended by other family caregivers.
#1 – Caregivers Work: A Six Step Guide to Balancing Work and Family by John Paul Marosy
If you work part-time or full-time and also provide care for your parents, this book is a must. It’s a helpful guide on how you can create a strong balance that allows you to focus on both work and family without feeling overwhelmed.
#2 – The Family Caregiver’s Guide by Harriet Hodgson
If you’re new to being a family caregiver and have questions about what happens next, this guide is perfect. It delves into how to use the skills you have to be the best caregiver you can be. You’ll learn how to make your parents’ house safe for aging in place. You also learn how to provide quality care on the most challenging of days. With checklists and question and answer sections, everything you want to know is in here.
#3 – Essential Resource Guide for Caregivers by Dr. Camille Superson
Ask a family caregiver what they struggled with at first and many will say finding the right resources. You may already know how one agency tells you to call another agency and that second agency tells you to call the first. The endless loop is exhausting. This guide helps you find the right resources to get help as a family caregiver.
#4 – Chicken Soup for the Caregiver’s Soul by Jack Canfield, et. al.
You’ve probably heard of the uplifting stories within any Chicken Soup collection. This time, the focus is on stories from other caregivers that help you realize you’re not alone. Others have experienced the situations you do, and their words may help you get through it and find comfort in knowing you’re not the only one.
#5 – Role Reversal by Iris Waichler, MSW, LCSW
One of the harder parts of caring for an aging parent is the loss of the traditional mom/father and daughter-son role. You become a parent to your parent and that change is hard on both of you. Role Reversal helps you understand the challenges, overcome the grief and anger, and build a care plan that supports both you and your parents.
#6 – Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey by Jolene Brackey
This book targets family caregivers who are helping a parent with Alzheimer’s. While the disease ravages the person afflicted with it, this book shows how to separate that sadness and create happy moments and memories by joining your parent in his/her world and not getting them to join your world.
There’s one more way to make sure you’re supported as a family carer. Talk to a home care agency and ask about respite care services. This entails having paid caregivers come to your parents’ house so that you can take a day off. When you’re ready to return and help your parents, you can without any hassle.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering a Caregiver in Glen Head, NY please contact the caring staff at Karing Hearts Agency Corp. today. (631)366-KARE(5273)