Hanni Epp M.A. LLP

West Michigan
Caregivers Alliance
Masonic Temple Building
233 East Fulton Street
Suite 222
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616-235-8501

Are YOU caring for a parent,
spouse or sick relative?
You ARE a caregiver. 

Learn to care for another, and care for yourself!
Choose one or more of the following books to help.

READERS’ CORNER

General Caregiving

AARP Publications.  A Caregiver Guide to Information and Resources (D16697).  AARP Fulfillment, 601 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20049.  (800) 424-3410.  Single copies of this and other booklets for caregivers and their families are free.

Carter, Rosalynn. Helping Yourself Help Others: A Book for Caregivers. Random House, 1994, $20, 278 pages. Many personal stories explain emotions, medical and family issues. Resource listings and bibliography.

Heath, Angela. Long Distance Caregiving. American Source Books, 1991, $9.95, 123 pages.
Defines caregiving issues, tips for traveling, finding help in the aging network, legal and financial paperwork, care plans, relocation.

Karpinski, Marian.  Quick Tips for Caregivers.  Healing Arts Communications.  2000, $24.95, 217 pages.  Comprehensive, reader-friendly; focused on physical aspects of giving care, including clear illustrations and step-by-step instructions.

Karr, Katherine L. Taking Time for Me: How Caregivers Can Effectively Deal With Stress. Prometheus Books, 1992, $17.95, 179 pages.
Personal accounts demonstrate how to renew strength without jeopardizing care.

Levine, C.  Always on Call: When Illness Turns Families Into Caregivers.  United Hospital Fund of New York City.  2000.  $20.00.  ISBN: 1881277534.  Contains personal narratives, work/family issues, insurance issues, a resource guide and family issues.

 McFarlane, Rodger, and Bashe, Philip. The Complete Bedside Companion:  A No-Nonsense Guide to Caring for the Seriously Ill. . Fireside Books, 1999, $26, 544 pages. Chapters on  the health care team, dealing with doctors, essential nursing skills, caring for the caregiver.

McLeod, Beth Witrogen, Editor.  And Thou Shalt Honor; The Caregiver’s Companion.  St. Martin’s Press, 2002.  $24.95.  445 pages.  Companion volume to PBS special, providing insights and answers on all aspects of providing care, complete with action plans and checklists.

McLeod, Beth Witrogen. Caregiving: The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss, and Renewal.  John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1999, $22.95, 259 pages.
Beth McLeod's narration of her own experience of caring for her parents and how that led her to writing this book will touch your heart.

Meyer, Maria M.  The Comfort of Home:  An Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide for Caregivers, 2nd Edition.  Caretrust Publications LLC.  2002, $23, 364 pages.  Starts with basics; takes you through all steps of home care.

Visiting Nurse Associations of America, Caregiver's Handbook: A Complete Guide to Home Health Care. DK Publishing, 1998, $14.95, 192 pages. Chapters include "Being a Caregiver," "Communication," "Adapting the Home," "Home Hygiene," "Healthy Eating & Drinking," "Bed Comfort."

Caring for Aging Parents and Other Elderly Relatives

Astor, Brent. Baby Boomer's Guide to Caring for Aging Parents. Macmillan/ Spectrum, 1998, $15.95, 282 pages.
How to talk to parents about sensitive matters, long-term caregiving, facing the inevitable.

Beerman, Susan, Judith Rappaport-Musson.  Eldercare 911:  The Caregiver’s Complete Handbook for Making Decisions.  Prometheus Books.  2002, $24, 450 pages.  Highly detailed, practical and easy to read; includes forms and examples to simplify documentation.

Berman, Claire. Caring for Yourself While Caring for Your Aging Parents. Owl Books, 2001, $16, 251 pages. Looks at different situations such as long distance caregiving, only child, finances; lists of resources.

Cassidy, Thomas M. Elder Care: What to Look for, What to Look Out for! New Horizon Press, 1997, $13.95, 212 pages.
Legal perspective on caregiving, including home care, assisted living, nursing homes, hospice.

Holstege, Henry, and Riekse, Robert.  Complete Guide to Caring For Aging Loved Ones.  Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.  2002.  $29.99.  558 pages.
A lifeline for those navigating the practical emotional and spiritual aspects of caregiving.

Loverde, Joy. The Complete Elder Care Planner: Where to Start, Questions to Ask and How to Find Help. Hyperion, 1997, $14.95, 274 pages.
Practical guide on common issues, with checklists and action planning guides.

Lustbader, Wendy, and Hooyman, Nancy R. Taking Care of Aging Family Members: A Practical Guide. Simon & Schuster, 1994, $24.95, 353 pages.
Psychological, practical, social issues; ready-to-use charts and checklists.

Marcell, Jacqueline.  Elder Rage, or Take My Father, Please!:  How to Survive Caring for Aging Parents.  Impressive Press, 2nd Edition.  2001, $19.95, 368 pages.  Includes behavior modification techniques for handling difficult elders, how to get a correct diagnosis and proper medications.

Morris, Virginia. How to Care for Aging Parents. Workman Publishing, New York, 1996, $15.95, 460 pages. Talking to your parents, new roles, caring for the caregiver, getting help, nursing homes, sharing care, dementia, and resources.

Caring for Spouses or Loved Ones With Specific Illnesses

Schwarz, Shelley Peterman.  300 Tips for Making Life with Parkinson’s Disease Easier.  Demos Medical Publishing, 2002,  $13.27, 124 pages.  Filled with tips, techniques and shortcuts author learned from personal experience.

Carroll, David. Living Well With MS. HarperCollins, 1993, $10.40, 259 pages. Comprehensive book that gives comfort and practical information for the patient, family, and caregivers.

Carter, Rosalynn. Helping Someone With Mental Illness: A Compassionate Guide for Family, Friends, and Caregivers. Times Books, 1998, $24, 348 pages.
Latest treatments and research, being an effective caregiver and advocate.

DeHaan, Robert.  Into the Shadows, A Journey of Faith and Love into Alzheimer’s.  Faithwalk Publishing, Grand Haven. 2003. $14.99.  257 pages.  Insight into how to understand the Alzheimer's patient and what kind of help the caregiver needs in order to make the right decisions.

Mace, Nancy, and Rabins, Peter. The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with AD and Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991, $12.95, 329 pages. The "Bible" on caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's.

Miller, Freeman, and Bachrach, Steven J. Cerebral Palsy: A Complete Guide for Caregiving. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1995, $35.95, 465 pages.
Comprehensive guide for parents, caregivers, adolescents and adults with CP.

Shirk, Evelyn. After the Stroke: Coping With America's Third Leading Cause of Death. Prometheus Books, 1991, $16.95, 114 pages.
Report on the 15 years between husband's first stroke to the end; emphasis on caregiving.

Strong, Maggie. Mainstay: For the Well Spouse of the Chronically Ill. Bradford Books, 1997, $15, 394 pages. Updated; how to handle getting the news, changed dependencies, acts of rescue, family conflicts.

Caring for Children With Special Needs

Batshaw, Mark L., ed. Children with Disabilities. Paul H. Brookes, 1997, $53, 960 pages.
Universal resource book dealing with medical and societal issues; charts, case studies, graphs, glossary.

Bowman, Patricia, and others. From the Heart: On Being the Mother of a Child with Special Needs. Woodbine House, 1995, $14.95, 149 pages.
Narratives on autism, multiple disabilities, Tourette syndrome, Attention-Deficit Disorder.

Exceptional Parent Magazine. Published 12 times a year/$32. P.O. Box 3000, Dept. EP, Denville, NJ 07834-9919; 1-800-EPARENT. Web site: http://www.eparent.com/.
Annual resource guide, products.

Miller, Nancy. Nobody's Perfect: Living and Growing With Children Who Have Special Needs. Paul H. Brookes, 1994, $21, 307 pages. Tools for handling illness and crisis, loss, unexpected changes.

Naseef, Robert. Special Children, Challenged Parents. Carol Publishing Group, 1997, $21.95.
Father's account of severely disabled child; handbook and guide for parents on how to understand emotional turmoil, challenges.

Sullivan, Tom. Special Parent, Special Child: Parents of Children With Disabilities Share Their Trials, Triumphs, and Hard-Won Wisdom. Putnam, 1996, $13.95.
Inspiring and informational guide.