15 Best Books for Caregivers

The task of caregiving can be an emotional rollercoaster. It’s rewarding, tiring and challenging. However, there are many books that can act as helpful resources during any point of your caregiving journey.

Finding a resource that really resonates with you can be a perfect place to start – books are approachable, digestible and and can be shared with friends. Here are some of our favorite books for caregivers that provide insight and perspective into the world of caregiving:

1. The Caregiver’s Challenge: Living, Loving, Letting Go

By Maryann Schacht, Psychotherapist

A survival guide and road map to the caregiver role. Schacht chronicles her own experience caring for her terminally ill husband and candidly exploring how terminal illness affects personal relationships.

This book entails simple steps and exercises for managing pain, consolidating one’s emotional as well as physical resources, and staying true to one’s bonds despite the perilous journey ahead. A highly recommended primer, written especially for caregivers but filled with crucial wisdom for anyone confronting the health journey of a loved one.

2. The Fearless Caregiver: How to get the best care for your loved one and still have a life of your own

By Greg Barg

This book clearly defines your vital role in developing your loved one’s care plan. It teaches you how to deal successfully with managed care organizations or home health services, and arms you with the knowledge and skills you need.

The book covers topics such as deciding if your loved one’s care is appropriate, if your doctor is the right one or if something more is needed. From wills and powers-of-attorney, to practical tips for dealing with disabilities, to long term care options, to battling stress and depression – this book provides a simplified guide to the caregiver process.

3. Daily Comforts to Caregivers

By Pat Samples

For those who feel overwhelmed by the day-to-day struggles of caregiving, this charming book offers gentle guidance and support.

Beyond all their usual personal and family demands, caregivers must take on the special responsibility of caring for family members or others with long-term health problems. With 366 days’ worth of wisdom and affirmations, Daily Comforts addresses one caregiving issue per day. An index of topics allows caregivers to find the readings most pertinent to their immediate concerns.

4. Be the Noodle: Fifty ways to be a compassionate, courageous, crazy-good caregiver

By Lois Kelly

Part love story, part how-to manual, part memoir, Be The Noodle shows readers how to find superpowers they never knew that had. The book covers how to stay sane, take comfort in sick humor, find compassion and become a crazy-good caregiver. It’s one of the most courageous jobs most of us never wanted or were never trained to do.

5. The Cancer Poetry Project 2: More poems by cancer patients and those who love them

By Karin B. Miller

The Cancer Poetry Project 2 drew more than 1,000 submissions. From widely published poets to first-time poets and many poets in between, the authors let us know we’re not alone in dealing with cancer.

The resulting anthology features the best 140 poems, plus the story and the people behind each. Men, women and children, all walks of life, all types of cancer experiences fill the pages. This anthology allows readers to find comfort, understanding and much more in just four chapters.

6. God will Carry You Through

By Max Lucado

Popular author and Pastor Max Lucado has discovered that everyone has a point in their lives that they must handle a serious event. Whether the loss of a loved one, marriage issues, illness, job loss or the stress of everyday life, people everywhere need the assurance that they will make it through.

Using both scripture and personal testimonials as vehicles to deliver the messages to the readers, this book is rich in hope for finding peace and reassurance through whatever challenges you face.

7. Box of Butterflies: Discovering the unexpected blessings all around us

By Roma Downey

A New York Times’ best seller, Roma Downey – best known for her role as the beloved angel on the television show Touched by an Angel – has written a book full with positive assurance of God’s presence in everyday life.

A deeply personal book, Downey shares artwork, scripture and quotes that lifted her up in some of her darkest moments. The central theme is that even if you feel alone, you never truly are – because there is a God that loves you and He is always by your side. This book is filled with hope and many words of encouragement and healing, making it a great read for anyone needing a glimpse of brighter days to come. 

8. The Screwtape Letters

By C. S. Lewis

The Screwtape Letters is a book written in the style of religious satire – for those days when you need a bit of a laugh or a smile brought to your face. It’s ironic portrayal of human life is seen through the eyes of Screwtape, a demon given the role of a highly placed assistant to “Our Father Below.” An engaging account of temptation and triumph, this book engages readers through to the end.

9. Heaven

By Randy Alcorn

Have you ever wondered what heaven will be like? In his book Heaven, Randy Alcorn presents an answer to this question based on years of study in a very engaging way. His writing will challenge your imagination and encourage you to think bigger and more broadly about this topic than ever before. This book inspires readers to long for heaven while still on earth.

10. The Bible

Sacred Text

If you find comfort in faith, the Bible gives you access to God’s word whenever you seek comfort. It is a collection of sacred texts and scriptures for you to pull for inspiration or a word of hope when you need it.

11. The Cancer Conqueror

By Greg Anderson

A “must-read” for caregivers, families and patients going through a journey with cancer, The Cancer Conqueror is a modern-day parable that focuses on the immense effects of a positive attitude and a hopeful mindset, as well as how they aid in the recovery process.

A cancer survivor himself, Greg Anderson was given a lung cancer diagnosis and 30 days left to live. He refused to accept the hopelessness that came with this diagnosis. What he found in the search for survivors of his cancer changed not only his health, but the face of cancer survivorship in America.

12. The Mission is Remission

By Pat Williams

Pat Williams, well-known in the basketball world by leading 23 teams to the NBA play-offs learned to lean on a different team later on in his life – his doctors.

Diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a rare and incurable cancer of the blood, he relied heavily on his faith and fighting spirit. Pat’s story outlines six healing factors that saw him through his cancer journey, as well as how his family became his best support system. This book is an encouraging and uplifting resource for patients and their loved ones going through the journey with them. It’s more than just a book about cancer – it’s about BEATING it.

13. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living with Alzheimer’s and other Dementias

By Amy Newmark and Angela Geiger

Many types of dementia massively impact peoples’ lives every day. A joint project with the Alzheimer’s Association, this book reinforces the notion that you are not alone – both as someone going through this progression of this disease or as a caregiver caring for a loved one.

Written especially for caregivers, this book is a source of encouragement, inspiration and 101 stories of love and lessons from caregivers everywhere. Chicken Soup for the Soul will lift and inspire you as you care for your loved one during this difficult time. 

14. The Conscious Caregiver: A mindful approach to caring for your loved one without losing yourself

By Linda Abbit

Considered to be one of the most helpful books for caregivers, The Conscious Caregiver is one to add to your list if you’re caring for a loved one. Linda Abbit is an expert caregiver and the founder of Tender Eldercare, and in this book she covers how caring for another person can really take a toll on the caregiver.

Discussing the hard work, patience and emotional stress of caring for another, she touches on how the common sacrificing of one’s well-being to care for their loved one is actually counterproductive, and in doing so, has created a well-rounded, compassionate guide to serve you through the caregiving process.

15. Living with Dying: A complete guide for caregivers

By Katie Ortlip, RN, LCSW, and Jahnna Beecham

As you care for your loved one, it’s important to be realistic about the progression of whatever ails them – whether it be old age, a form of dementia or other illness. Living with Dying is a down-to-earth, compassionate guide filled with pieces of advice to help you cope with the process of dying, getting your loved one’s affairs in order, having the difficult conversations with your loved one and giving them the best possible care.

This book is designed to offer support, strength and courage to face the most emotionally and spiritually challenging responsibilities of the caregiving process.

Tip: Our on-site CaringBridge Planner helps you coordinate care and organize needs like bringing meals, rides to doctor appointments or taking care of pets, so you don’t have to do it alone.

Start a CaringBridge Site

When you’re going through a health journey, you have a lot on your plate. CaringBridge replaces the time-consuming task of sharing your health news over and over. It’s a free, easy to use online journal for sharing health information with your family and friends.  

We Welcome Your Suggestions!

We hope you enjoyed these 15 book suggestions for caregivers. Did your book make the list? If you have other ideas of good books to read, please include them in the comments below.