June marks Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and in 2025, over 7 million people will live with Alzheimer’s, and even more will live with dementia. Dementia is the umbrella term for a variety of brain and memory conditions, whereas Alzheimer’s is a particular disease that falls under it. These conditions leave lifelong impacts on both the families and the person suffering. That doesn’t mean the families should be at a loss trying to figure out what to do. These four nonfiction titles, two about supporting the families and two about understanding the disease, will help give those with loved ones who have dementia of any type some hope and comfort.
Books to Offer Support
Loving Someone Who Has Dementia by Pauline Boss, PhD.
Loving Someone Who Has Dementia was written by Pauline Boss, PhD. She graduated from the University of Minnesota and is most known for her studies in stress reduction in individuals who lose their loved ones to dementia. Loving Someone Who Has Dementia was released in 2011. It is a story targeted towards the caregivers and families of the patients, and how to care for themselves during these challenging times.
Pauline Boss has written an informative yet empathetic book helping people cope with the idea that their loved one is physically here but still not fully present. Three main points within her text offer guidance to the families. The first part is a multi-step guide to staying strong for your loved ones and learning to stay strong for yourself. The second part is understanding the new relationships one may have now, as the suffering person might not be the same as they used to be. The final part is offering empathetic coping skills to help lessen the emotional toll it can take. This title is perfect for people who are looking for a little extra support and comfort.
Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey by Jolene Brackey
Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey by Jolene Brackley is another strong support story on this list. Jolene Brackley is a speaking activist for people with Alzheimer’s and strives to help the people who suffer from it. She also continues to break apart the stereotypes surrounding the diseases. Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey has multiple editions, but this is the fifth edition, released in 2016. It is revised with more personal stories and extra advice added to help comfort those who might be losing someone to dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Brackey has one goal: that the families and loved ones start looking past the disease, and stop looking at all the negative that has come from it. She reminds everyone that even though these people have memory loss, memories still need to be built. Even if the patient doesn’t remember what happened or who said what, they will remember the feelings that came with the special moment. Brackey wants the readers to focus on giving the best life possible to those suffering. With new stories and new advice in this edition, Brackey will offer a comforting book to turn to when you need help.
Books to Offer Understanding
Untangling Alzheimer’s: The Guide For Families and Professionals by Tam Cummings, PhD.
Untangling Alzheimer’s: The Guide For Families and Professionals, written by Tam Cummings, is the perfect story to understand dementia. Tam Cummings, PhD, has her own company dedicated to helping those with dementia, and she is one of the top educators within this specialty. The book was released in 2023, and is the perfect example of how to make something that seems so complex understandable so that those who have loved ones suffering, will be able to know how to help.
Dr. Cummings provides the readers, through intense research of her own, ways to digest and comprehend the different dementia conditions, and the differences. She goes deeply into how the memory is impacted, as well as the brain as a whole. She brings up things that people might not think about being impacted, like the five senses. She also informs everyone of the stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia and breaks down the scientific terms, so that everyone can understand the concepts, even if they are not familiar with the medical/scientific terms. She also includes sections on how to help reduce stress in the caregivers, as well as coping skills. This book is the perfect combination of empathy and understanding that is needed for individuals who are struggling.
The 36-Hour Day by Nancy L. Mace, MA, and Peter V. Rabins, MA, MPH
The 36-Hour Day is one of the top guidebooks in the dementia and Alzheimer’s field. This is written by Nancy L. Mace, MA, a now retired Alzheimer’s Association board member and coordinator at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Peter V. Rabins, MA, MPH, is the other author of this book, a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and together, their combined forces created a book that has sold millions of copies for almost 40 years. However, the edition mentioned is the 2021 edition, and it has been revised and updated to fit today’s day and age.
The book focuses on similar topics as Untangling Alzheimer’s, including bringing up the stages of dementia and Alzheimer’s, the care tips, and the reasons behind it; however, the major difference lies in the language. The 36-Hour Day is extremely detailed, one of the most detailed dementia nonfiction titles, and because of that, the terms are highly medical and highly scientific. This also makes it an extremely trusted source to use when learning about the brain. Not only that, but the new edition includes sections for new phone apps, and devices to help with caregiving, as well as showing how a caregiver can ask for additional help if needed. This book is perfect if you are looking for something medical and scientific to get down into the nitty gritty of the conditions.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s only seem to grow, and both parties in this situation end up suffering. This disease can really hurt lives, but with these four books, written by credible candidates, support can be more easily accessible. Understanding the diseases will help the caregiver know what their loved one might need in that moment. It is a tough battle, and everyone needs support through it.
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