Book Recommendations

Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Guide to Maximizing Brain Health and Reducing Risk of Dementia
by Nicole D. Anderson, Kelly J. Murphy, & Angela K. Troyer (2012)
This book provides reliable information on the nature of this disorder, how it may affect people, and what can be done about it.

Alzheimer’s from the Inside Out
by Richard Taylor, PhD (2006)
The author, a former psychologist, shares his account of how his life was affected by a dementia diagnosis at age 61.

Living with Lewy Body Dementia: One Caregiver’s Personal, In-depth Experience
by Judy Towne Jennings (2012)
This book is authored by a personal caregiver and professional physical therapist with many years of experience in movement disorders.

Living Your Best with Early-Stage Alzheimer’s: An Essential Guide
by Lisa Snyder, MSW, LCSW (2010)
This book offers strategies for managing memory loss and may be very helpful for people with Mild Cognitive Impairment and early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Dementia from the Inside: A Doctor's Personal Journey of Hope 
by Jennifer Bute and Louise Morse (2018) 
This book refl ects Dr. Jennifer Bute’s personal journey of hope as a senior physician who was diagnosed with young-onset dementia.

Dancing with Dementia: My Story of Living Positively with Dementia
by Christine Bryden (2005)
Christine Bryden was a top civil servant and single mother of three children when she was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 46. This book is a vivid account of the author's experiences of living with dementia, exploring the effects of memory problems, loss of independence, difficulties in communication and the exhaustion of coping with simple tasks. She describes how, with the support of her husband, Paul, she continues to lead an active life and explains how professionals and carers can help.

Still Alice 
by Lisa Genova, PhD (2007)
This compelling novel follows the story of a 50-year old woman who experiences early
onset Alzheimer’s disease. The book explores her struggles with memory loss and impact of the disease on her life and relationships, offering an insightful portrayal of life with Alzheimer’s.

A Tattoo on my Brain 
by Daniel Gibbs, MD with Teresa H. Barker (2023) 
This memoir and documentary film follows Dr. Daniel Gibbs, a seasoned neurologist, as
he becomes his own patient after noticing early signs of cognitive decline. His personal
journey offers a rare dual perspective as both a clinician and patient.

When Memory Fades
By Nathaniel Chin, MD (Wisconsin ADRC) (2026)
Based on both his personal and professional experience, Dr. Chin offers a practical and
compassionate guide for families and caregivers navigating Alzheimer’s disease and
dementia.

When Waves Rise: Navigating Difficult Moments Associated with Dementia
By Sarah Viola, OTR/L (2021)
When Waves Rise is a must read for dementia caregivers as it thoughtfully explains
difficult changes and challenges with practical examples for day-to-day support.

The Dementia Handbook: How to Provide Dementia Care at Home
By Judy Cornish (2017)
Judy Cornish takes a systematic and empathic approach to dementia care, aiming to
improve the quality of life for individuals who have dementia and the caregivers who
support them.

Surviving Alzheimer’s
By Paula Spencer Scott (2018)
Surviving Alzheimer’s involves a combination of practical caregiving strategies, emotional
support, lifestyle adjustments, and access to resources for both patients and caregivers.

Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey
By Jolene Brackey (2016)
This book serves as a guide for families and caregivers that focuses on finding joy in the
small, everyday moments with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Loving Someone Who has Dementia: How to find Hope while Coping with Stress and Grief
By Pauline Boss (2011)
This guide provides strategies for managing on-going stress and grief for caregivers, family members, friends, neighbors, educators, and professionals, as well as anyone else touched by dementia.

The Best Friends Approach to Dementia Care
By Virginia Bell and David Troxel, MPH (2016)
This book describes a relationship-centered approach to dementia care that builds on the
essential elements of friendship– respect, empathy, support, trust, and humor. This
approach has been widely recognized for helping people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias experience meaningful engagement and dignity in all aspects of their lives.

Coping with Behavior Change in Dementia: A Family Caregiver’s Guide
By Beth Spencer and Laurie White (2015)
This handbook is intended to help families understand possible causes of common
specific behavior changes and learn to respond more effectively to behaviors.

The 36 Hour Day 
By Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins (2025) 
Written by experts with decades of experience caring for individuals with memory loss, Alzheimer disease, and other dementias, the book's authoritative and compassionate approach to care features discussions of the causes of dementia and the management of its symptoms from the early stages to late-stage disease.

Moving a Relative & Other Transitions in Dementia Care 
By Laurie White and Beth Spencer (2019) 
This comprehensive guide is intended to support families from the beginning to the end of the caregiving journey. These include decisions about safety, bringing in home care, preparing for hospitalization and end of life, talking with a relative about giving up driving, moving from out of state and more.

Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief 
By Pauline Boss (2000) 
In this sensitive and lucid account, Pauline Boss explains that, all too often, those confronted with such ambiguous loss fluctuate between hope and hopelessness. With its message of hope, this eloquent book offers guidance and understanding to those struggling to regain their lives.

Caring for a Loved One with Dementia 
By Marguerite Manteau-Rao (2016) 
Caring for a Loved One with Dementia offers a compassionate and effective mindfulness-based dementia care (MBDC) guide to help you reduce stress, stay balanced, and bring ease into your interactions with the person with dementia.

Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementias 
by Jonathan Graff -Radford, MD, Angela M. Lunde, MA 
This guide is an essential resource for people with dementia and those who care for them – addressing the latest advancements in diagnosis and treatment from the experts at Mayo Clinic.

Living in the Moment
By Elizabeth Landsverk, MD (2022)
Living in the Moment is a thoughtful, straightforward guide for caregivers and patients alike, to understanding Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases. Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk offers tools for making the best decisions, providing a path for patients to live a healthy and full life with dementia.

Before I Forget: Love, Hope, Help, and Acceptance in Our Fight Against Alzheimer’s
By B. Smith, Dan Gasby, Michael Shnayerson, and Rudolph E. Tanzi (2016)
Crafted in short chapters that interweave their narrative with practical and helpful advice,
readers learn about dealing with Alzheimer's day-to-day challenges: the family realities and tensions, ways of coping, coming research that may tip the scale, as well as lessons learned along the way.

Dementia Reimagined
By Tia Powell (2020)
Reimagining Dementia is a moving combination of medicine and memoir, peeling back
the untold history of dementia, from the story of Solomon Fuller, a black doctor whose
research at the turn of the twentieth century anticipated important aspects of what we
know about dementia today, to what has been gained and lost with the recent bonanza of
funding for Alzheimer's at the expense of other forms of the disease.

The Problem of Alzheimer’s
By Jason Karlawish (2020)
Part case studies, part meditation on the past, present and future of the disease, The
Problem of Alzheimer's traces Alzheimer’s from its beginnings to its recognition as a crisis.

Finding the Right Words
By Cindy Weinstein and Bruce Miller (2021)
Finding the Right Words follows Weinstein's decades-long journey to come to terms with
her father's dementia as both a daughter and an English professor.

The Memory Box
by Mary Bahr (1992)
When Gramps realizes he has Alzheimer’s disease, he starts a memory box with his grandson, Zach, to keep memories of all the times they have shared.

Singing with Momma Lou
by Linda Jacobs Altman (2002)
Nine-year-old Tamika Jordan dreads visiting her grandmother at the nursing home. Momma Lou has Alzheimer’s and always forgets who Tamika is. But when Tamika’s father shows her Momma Lou’s scrapbooks, the young girl gets the idea of jogging Momma Lou’s memory. During each visit, she shows her grandmother memorabilia from the scrapbook: Momma Lou dressing Tamika like an angel for a Christmas pageant, marching in a civil rights demonstration, and singing “We Shall Overcome” with other jailed protesters. One day, Momma Lou recognizes a newspaper clipping and leads everybody in a celebration of song.

Still My Grandma
by Véronique Van den Abeele (2007)
The realities of Alzheimer’s disease are gently introduced in this story for young readers about the special relationship between a girl and her grandmother. Camille and Grandma have sleepovers, bake cupcakes, giggle at old photographs, and go shopping together. But one day, Grandma forgets Camille’s name. Then she can’t remember where to put her shoes. Camille learns that her grandma has Alzheimer’s disease, which is what makes her do strange things. And even though Grandma has to move out of her house and rely on nurses to care for her, Camille finds creative ways to maintain their friendship. Sensitive illustrations emphasize the story’s theme of unconditional love.

What’s Happening to Grandpa?
by Maria Shriver (2004)
Kate has always adored her grandpa’s storytelling – but lately, he’s been repeating the same stories again and again. One day, he even forgets Kate’s name. Her mother’s patient explanations opened Kate’s eyes to what so many of the elderly must confront: Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of memory loss. Determined to support her grandfather, Kate explores ways to help him – and herself – cope by creating a photo album of their times together, memories that will remain in their hearts forever.

Why Did Grandma Put Her Underwear in the Refrigerator?
by Max Wallack and Carolyn Given (2013)
Authors Max Wallack and Carolyn Given believe that no child is too young to learn about Alzheimer’s disease or how to participate in providing safe care for their loved one. Why Did Grandma Put Her Underwear in the Refrigerator? is a sensitive, light-hearted children’s story that seamlessly provides its young readers with a toolbox to help them overcome their fears and frustrations. It shares easy-to-understand explanations of what happens inside the brains of adults with Alzheimer’s and how to cope with changes in their grandparents.

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge
by Mem Fox (1985)
A young boy, Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge, lives next door to a nursing home in which several of his elder friends reside. His favorite friend is Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper because she has four names, just as he does. Wilfred discovers that Miss Nancy, who is 96, has "lost" her memory. Undaunted, Wilfred sets out to "find" Miss Nancy's memory for her.

Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s
PBS (2025)
This documentary is an intimate portrayal of three families as they confront the unique
challenges of Alzheimer’s and how it transforms roles and relationships.

The Eternal Memory
Documentary/Romance (2023)
This film captures the real-life romance between the renowned journalist Augusto Gongora and famous actress Paulina Urrutia as they navigate Augusto’s heartbreaking battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Alive Inside (2014)
This award-winning documentary explores how music touches and awakens people with
dementia and other disorders as they reconnect with their sense of self.

Still Alice (2014)
A renowned linguistics professor fights to maintain her identity after she is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease.

Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center (MADC)
MADC YouTube Channel
Alzheimer's Association | Alzheimer's & Dementia Resources
Alzheimer's Association Michigan Chapter
NIA | Alzheimer’s and Dementia 
CDC | Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD)
Lewy Body Dementia Association
AARP | How to Care for a Loved One With Dementia
Mi Caregiver Connection Aging Resources

Speaking of Alzheimer’s Podcast
Alzheimer’s Association
This podcast dives into firsthand experiences from individuals as they navigate their journey with dementia, engaging discussions with dedicated care partners and researchers.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Dementia Matters
Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
Creator and host Dr. Nathaniel Chin offers this podcast about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. He interviews leading scientists and caregiving experts to provide the latest in news, research, and caregiver resources.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

Dementia Care Partner Podcast with Teepa Snow
Hosted by Greg Phelps and renowned dementia care educator Teepa Snow, this podcast offers practical advice, creative solutions, and emotional support for both family and professional care partners navigating the senior care maze.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

Let’s Talk Dementia
Hosted by Carol Howell, a certified dementia practitioner and caregiver to her mother, this podcast serves to deliver quick, entertaining, and highly practical information for caregivers of dementia. The show offers guidance, coping strategies, and support for those navigating memory loss.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Audiobook | YouTube

The Age of Aging
Penn Memory Center, University of Pennsylvania Health System
What does it mean to grow older with dignity, purpose, and quality of mind? How do we live well with cognitive changes, the work of caregiving, or both? The Age of Aging, a biweekly podcast from the Penn Memory Center, explores these questions. The Age of Aging inspires listeners to reflect with insight, compassion, and creativity. The result? Practical wisdom.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube