Free Caregiver E-book Library Available

Although National Family Caregivers Month ends November 30^th, AFC is always here providing programs, support, education and resources for our patients and their families.

This month we’re highlighting one of our important resources, the caregiver e-book library. We highlighted two of the e-books in a previous blog post you can find here. 

Below are the titles with brief descriptions of the other caregiver e-books in the series available 24/7 for download at no charge from our online library.  They’re full of useful information and actionable tips to make your caregiving journey easier.

Click here to see our complete e-book library.

How the Brain and Memory Works

Although the brain’s way of storing memories is sometimes compared to a filing cabinet, the processes are extremely complex and still not fully understood. Learn about the different types of memory, how memories are created, why memory fails in some people but not others, and strategies to use to give your brain a boost.

Communicating with Your Loved One

Communicating with a loved one with dementia can be challenging as the disease progresses. Knowing how to communicate is key in making your day go more smoothly. The good news is that there are many ways to connect with each other. Listening, verbal communication, nonverbal communication, emotional awareness, and written communication tips and examples are provided, organized by stages of impairment.

Assembling a Team for the Journey

Although it may seem like staying healthy when caring for someone with memory loss is impossible, the good news is, it’s not. The most successful, healthy, and balanced caregivers take time for themselves, ask for help, put resources in place early and make self-care a top priority. This book lays out the different resources every dementia caregiver needs following the “5 Pillars of Health.”  These include social health, physical health, mental health, spiritual health, and legal/financial health.

10 Activities to Do at Home with Your Loved One

One challenge of caregiving for a loved one with dementia is finding adequate stimulation and entertainment for them. It can be challenging because the activities they had enjoyed may not interest them anymore. They also may not show the same level of engagement that they used to. This book features a selection of 10 fun and easy ways to keep your loved one’s mind active, are easily adaptable to many settings, and you can also enjoy.

Personal Care and Hygiene

Helping a loved one with dementia to stay healthy, clean and safe is an important task. The ability of a person with dementia to bathe, use the toilet, dress or recognize safety hazards diminishes over time. By using the information in this book, caregivers can help preserve the quality of life for their loved one, better manage their hygiene and safety, and know what to expect as dementia progresses.

Stresses and Challenges of Caregiving

The stresses and challenges of being a caregiver are considerable and yet, caregiving can also be very rewarding. Learn what contributes to stress, signs you may be overly stressed and heading toward caregiver burnout, how to lower your stress level and accept the role of family caregiver.

Managing Behaviors

Difficult behaviors are a way of communicating, and caregivers need to listen with all their senses to interpret what their loved one is trying to say. How to best deal with a loved one’s resistance, fearfulness, wandering and anger are some of the challenging behaviors addressed in this book.

Depression and Dementia

Depression in people with dementia, or in caregivers, is not uncommon. Left untreated, depression can worsen over time and hasten cognitive decline. In caregivers, depression can lead to health problems, sleep deprivation, panic or anxiety attacks, substance abuse and other detrimental effects. Signs and symptoms of depression, how to get a diagnosis, and options for treatment are included in this e-book.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, AFC’s building is closed until further notice. However, our staff and “Center Without Walls” offers families needed services via phone and Zoom videoconferencing, as well as referrals to other community resources. For more information, please call 714-642-0851.