Books Encourage Empathy and Humor

Taking care of an aging family member or friend who needs 24-hour support can quickly become an overwhelming and isolating responsibility. Books can provide the essential information, empathy and humor needed by those caring for a family member or friend. Here are five that I recommend:

Well-written and funny, this is a breath of fresh air for those who feel alone in their caregiving or are reluctant to say how they really feel.

Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir, by Roz Chast

This unique graphic novel by a well-known cartoonist traces the trajectory of her care provision and the loss of her aging parents with profound understanding, angst and great humor.

The Chronic Illness Workbook: Strategies and Solutions for Taking Back Your Life, by Patricia Fennell

This is a valuable resource for understanding and helping people living with chronic conditions and those who care for them. This book serves as a guide for navigating the trajectories of chronic illnesses and living a full and meaningful life that incorporates these challenges.

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, by Atul Gawande

This best-selling book by a practicing surgeon has had a huge role in transforming our collective thinking about end-of-life care, moving the focus from curing disease and illness in ways that often lengthen the dying process and add to the distress felt by families, to providing what matters most to families to support living with autonomy, dignity and joy.