Caregivers Club Resources
Just for you…
Whether its books, podcasts, videos, or helpful websites, we’re sharing some of our favourite resources with you in the hope that learning from others will help you on your journey.
Listen up. Watch. Read on. And, share the one’s you find the most useful with friends and family.
BOOK
The Book About Getting Older
Dementia, finances, care homes and everything in between comes together in an honest, compassionate guide from a British doctor. Sometimes funny and at other times series, Dr. P shares stories, accessible explanations and chats about quality of life choices that matter most.
BOOK
Transforming Stigma:
How to Become a Mental Wellness Superhero
Far from a superhero comic book, Transforming Stigma explains the cycle of stigma in society. Mike Veny has experienced stigma countless times due to his mental health struggles, and his mission is to help people heal their emotional pain, and discover meaning through wellness. Teaching readers how to replace shame through self-care, and open up honest conversations with the ones around them.
BOOK
Create a Love You Love
You–and only you–get to decide who you are, what you want to do with your life, where you’ll call home, and what kind of family you want to build. But do you know how to intentionally and confidently build your life in a way that’s authentic to you? Writer, speaker, and podcaster Stephanie May Wilson has guided hundreds of thousands of women through these life-defining decisions. She has developed a framework to show people how to build lives they’re excited about and truly proud of, and she’s here to help you too.
BOOK
What I Wish People Knew About Dementia
From someone who knows comes a practical guide. Wendy Mitchell was diagnosed at 58 years old with Young Onset dementia and has spent her valuable time raising awareness about dementia and encouraging others to see that there is life after dementia.
BOOK
Take Your Own Advice
Like many of us, Jeffrey Marsh was conditioned to have an outward focus—to give to others, to be a good listener, and to be the one who gave the best advice. In Marsh’s case, it was a method of survival. Growing up genderfluid in an unaccepting family, Marsh did everything they could to meet the needs of others and not have needs of their own. And ultimately, this meant Marsh put themself in the backseat of their own life. In this heartfelt and sincere book, Marsh shares their story and the lessons they learned on the path back to themselves.
BOOK
Music and Mind
In Music and Mind Renée Fleming draws upon her own experience as an advocate to showcase the breadth of this booming field, inviting leading experts to share their discoveries. In addition to describing therapeutic benefits, the book explores evolution, brain function, childhood development, and technology as applied to arts and health. Much of this area of study is relatively new, made possible by recent advances in brain imaging, and supported by theNational Institutes of Health, major hospitals, and universities. This work is sparking an explosion of public interest in the arts and health sector.
BOOK
The F*ck Cancer Cookbook
Taking back your power can be slightly easier with fact-based lifestyle changes and delicious recipes in F*ck cancer: 60 nutrient-dense recipes for taking care of your body during and after diagnosis. Put together by Nicole Andrews, a practicing oncology dietitian, shares meals that can help prevent cancer forming, and rebuild immune system. There is no “food hack” to cure cancer Nicole wades through the myths to give you an effective and smart advice.
BOOK
The Compassion Remedy
Compassion is no longer considered a soft skill in the healthcare industry but an essential one. Compassion has a profound impact on our psychological and physiological health. It can alleviate anxiety and depression, lower stress levels, and improve overall physical health. This is a comprehensive guide for healthcare providers, empowering them to understand compassion and joy to their work.
PODCAST
What does exercise do to your brain?
Can psychedelics treat depression? From smart daily habits to new medical breakthroughs, welcome to TED Health, with host Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider. TED speakers answer questions you never even knew you had, and share ideas you won’t hear anywhere else, all around how we can live healthier lives.
https://www.ted.com/podcasts/ted-health
BOOK
Love, Honor, and Asperger’s: My Mixed-up Marriage to a Man With High-Functioning Autism
A remarkable memoir of April Anderson’s half-century marriage to a man eventually diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome captures the reader’s attention from the compellingly perfect opening sentence to the last poignant page. Hurt and bewildered by her husband’s inexplicable behaviour despite herculean efforts to understand and live in harmony with him. It’s a profound read that takes a toll on her marriage and on her physical and emotional health. Even while fervently hoping for a change, she ultimately breaks loose from the bonds of trauma and regains her self-identity, true spirit, and peace.
BOOK
Let’s Talk About Aging Parents: A Real-Life Guide to Solving Problems with 27 Essential Conversations
Should my mom move into a retirement home? Does my dad have dementia? And how on earth can I get my stepmom to give up her car keys? Worries like these can plague people with older relatives. Canadian author Laura Tamblyn Watts understands: Her own parents are in their eighties, and she’s spent her career informing others about aging people’s needs. Her book outfits readers with 27 prompts and roadmaps for informed, honest conversations with their aging parent—or family members, health care providers, and other professionals.
MOVIE
Still
This film recounts Michael J. Fox’s extraordinary story in his own words—the improbable tale of an undersized kid from a Canadian army base who rose to the heights of stardom in 1980s Hollywood. The account of Fox’s public life, full of nostalgic thrills and cinematic gloss, unspools alongside his never-before-seen private journey, including the years that followed his diagnosis, at 29, with Parkinson’s disease. Intimate and honest, and produced with unprecedented access to Fox and his family, the film chronicles Fox’s personal and professional triumphs and travails, and explores what happens when an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease.
BOOK
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times
Katherine May’s personal narrative discusses stepping back and letting go with powerful, honest language. Using lessons from literature, mythology, and the natural world, her story offers instruction on the transformative power of rest and retreat.
BOOK
Everything You Need to Know About Caregiving for Parkinson’s Disease
Caregiving for those who suffer from Parkinson?s disease comes with many challenges, from how to deal with guilt and loneliness to avoiding burnout and figuring out what to expect from an unpredictable disease. When giving care, too often caregivers neglect their own well-being. This book is not just about caring for your loved one, but also about taking care of yourself. Lianna Marie served as her mother’s caregiver for more than twenty years after she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Drawing on firsthand experience, her training as a nurse, and the many stories of others she has helped and counseled over the years, Marie shares her wisdom and advice.
WEBSITE
Driving Test Practice
According to CAA, most provinces require drivers to take vision and written driving tests every two years after the age of 80, to ensure
they can continue to drive safely. Practice tests can increase your chances of passing the knowledge portion of the driving test.
Take these free ones to prep. – tests.ca
BOOK
Self-Care for Caregivers
It’s been said that there are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will become caregivers, and those who will need caregivers. Chances are you or someone you know is taking care of a loved one at home. If you do, you also know that caregiving—however fulfilling—is also hard on the caregiver’s mental and physical health. Self-care is vital to caregivers maintaining stamina and a positive outlook for both themselves and the people they care for. But being so busy caring for others can make it hard to find time for yourself. You’ll find short, easy-to-read—and often easy-to-do—ways to replenish your mind, body, and spirit. Full of practical advice and reminders to have a quick snack, call a friend, create a sanctuary, write in a journal, and more ways to take care yourself—plus resources for caregiving—this book will go a long way towards making your caregiving experience a happier and more healthful one for you and the people you care for.
PARLAY INTERVIEW
Reimaging your skills and experience
Here to remind us that age is just a number, Elaine Dembe is a chiropractor, wellness expert and life coach. Life doesn’t just stop with retirement and in this segment, Elaine shares her insight and advice on how to live meaningfully and take post-retirement life into your own hands.
BOOK
The Accidental Caregiver
Estimates suggest almost half of the adult population will someday be a caregiver, whether for an aging parent, an ailing partner, or a disabled family member. It is a role that tends to fall on people without warning, and almost certainly without preparation or training. Even Dr. Kimberly Fraser, a nurse who ran a large home support business, found it a struggle when her father needed increasing levels of care. In this timely and urgently needed book, she gives readers sound, practical advice on how to meet with humanity and optimism the bewildering array of challenges facing caregivers: where to find help, how to navigate a confusing healthcare system, how to deal with constant demands, how to keep one’s own life from being overwhelming. Kimberly Fraser is an author, speaker, and former Associate Professor at the Faculty of Nursing with the University of Alberta, and Clinician Scientist-Home Care with Alberta Health Services.
BOOK
Creative Care: A Revolutionary Approach to
Dementia and Elder Care
Anne Basting lays the groundwork for a widespread transformation in our approach to elder care and uses compelling, touching stories to inspire and guide us all—family, friends, and health professionals—in how to connect and interact with those living with dementia. A MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, Basting tells the story of how she pioneered a radical change in how we interact with our older loved ones. Now used around the world, this proven method has brought light and joy to the lives of elders—and those who care for them. For the first time, everyone can learn these methods.
PARLAY INTERVIEW
Volunteering: How to find the right role
Wondering what to do now that you’ve entered retirement? Volunteering is a great way to spend your time in a meaningful way.
Mary Bart, the founder of Caregiving Matters shares ideas on finding the right volunteer role for you.
VIDEO
Frozen shoulder: Do steroid injections help?
Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a painful condition that can be triggered by an injury or surgery. In his video,
Dr. Raj Carmona discusses what causes frozen shoulder, the three distinct phases, and the range of treatment options, including the evidence for the use of steroid injections. McMaster Optimal Aging Portal – mcmasteroptimalagingportal.org
BOOK
Caregiver’s Guide for Canadians
One in five Canadians provides or will provide eldercare to a parent in need, and as baby boomers age, this number is likely to grow. Ensure your loved one receives the best care possible with the Caregiver’s Guide for Canadians. It’s the natural course of life, but so many children of aging parents are unprepared. When a parent’s health begins to fail, an adult child is left scrambling to balance his or her time, and even just to cope. This guide will provide you with valuable tips and advice to help you provide good eldercare while balancing your time. This comprehensive guide answers questions such as: What should you expect when caregiving for your elderly parent? Should your parent stay at home, or move to assisted living? Who should you ask for help when you need it? How do you balance caregiving responsibilities with your personal life? The author guides you through typical caregiving issues and includes checklists for each area of eldercare.
