Read a Book Day: Stories of Care, Compassion, and Connection

At Senior Helpers, we understand that caregiving, aging, and memory loss are deeply personal experiences. In honor of Read a Book Day, we put together a collection of books that reflect the challenges, emotions, and rewards of these journeys. These stories are for caregivers, families, healthcare professionals, and anyone who wants to better understand the realities of growing older and supporting those who do.

Fiction: Understanding Through Story

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley
This charming and humorous novel follows an unexpected friendship between a college dropout and an 84-year-old woman. As they set off on a road trip, their story reveals the importance of connection and seeing past age.

Morningside Heights by Joshua Henkin
This novel paints a moving portrait of a marriage affected by early-onset Alzheimer’s. This novel explores the emotional toll of caregiving and the quiet strength found in loyalty and love.

Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Told from the perspective of a woman diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, this novel offers a powerful and personal view of the disease. Readers gain insight into the emotional and cognitive challenges faced by those living with dementia.

Non-Fiction: Real Stories and Important Voices

Who Cares: The Hidden Crisis of Caregiving and How We Solve It by Emily Kenway
Through personal stories and research, Kenway uncovers the struggles faced by unpaid caregivers. This book calls for greater support and recognition of those who provide care every day.

This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism by Ashton Applewhite
Applewhite challenges common ideas about aging and calls attention to how ageism affects the way we live.

Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout in America by Kate Washington
This powerful memoir highlights the emotional exhaustion of caregiving. Washington shares her story as a spouse navigating the healthcare system, offering a voice for millions who feel overwhelmed and unseen.

Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast
In this illustrated memoir, Chast uses humor and honesty to tell the story of caring for her aging parents. Her story touches on the practical and emotional realities many adult children face.

Creative Care: A Revolutionary Approach to Dementia and Elder Care by Anne Davis Basting
Basting introduces a creative approach to dementia care through storytelling and the arts. Her work encourages a new way of connecting with individuals living with memory loss.

This Is Not a Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan
This emotional and deeply human memoir follows Morgan’s experience after her partner no longer recognizes her due to illness. It speaks to the complexity of caregiving and how love and identity evolve in times of crisis.

Children’s Books: Explaining Aging and Memory Loss

These thoughtful children’s books can help families start important conversations about dementia and aging in ways that are gentle and clear.

A Heart Full of GEMS by Rev. Linn Possell & Teepa Snow
Using the GEMS model created by Teepa Snow, this book helps children understand the stages of dementia in a compassionate and age-appropriate way.

Big Bear, Little Bear and Dementia by Katie Faulkner
This story explains how dementia affects memory and encourages children to preserve special moments.

The Remember Balloons by Jessie Oliveros
This picture book uses balloons to symbolize memories and gently explores the experience of a grandfather losing his memories.

Weeds in Nana’s Garden by Kathryn Harrison
This book uses a garden as a powerful metaphor for the changes caused by Alzheimer’s.

Hour of the Bees by Melissa Lozada-Oliva
In this chapter book, a young girl spends the summer helping her parents move her grandfather into a care home. As she listens to his stories about bees and a magical tree, she begins to understand more about memory, family, and imagination.

Books have the power to educate, inspire, and comfort. They can help us feel understood, offer fresh perspectives, and remind us that we are not alone. On Read a Book Day, we encourage you to pick up a book that speaks to your caregiving experience, deepens your understanding of dementia, or simply brings you joy.

What are you reading today? We would love to hear your recommendations and share more titles in the future.