Key Takeaways
- Books can help families, supporters, and people living with dementia understand the condition in a way that feels personal, real and grounded in lived experience.
- Wendy Mitchell’s What I Wish People Knew About Dementia offers practical insight, gentle honesty, and a reminder that life doesn’t stop after a diagnosis.
- Loving Someone Who Has Dementia by Pauline Boss supports families navigating the emotional complexities of caring for someone living with dementia, including relationship changes and resilience.
- Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal explores how traditional systems often prioritise safety over quality of life, and invites readers to rethink what true dignity looks like in ageing and care.
- Wendy Hall’s books (The Dementia Doula, Beyond the Darkness of Dementia, Dementia Can’t Take Everything) reframe dementia support as a connected, community-based experience that values empowerment, shared wisdom and humanity.
- Collectively, these reads highlight something Videri believes deeply: people living with dementia deserve to be seen, understood and supported to live a vibrant, meaningful life.
Dementia can be challenging to understand, especially more unique diagnoses like early-onset dementia or Parkinson’s disease. One good way to get an understanding of dementia, what to expect, and how to support someone living with dementia, is to read books on the subject. But what books are the best? We’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite books that we often recommend to families.
What I Wish People Knew About Dementia by Wendy Mitchell
What do people think of when they think of dementia? Late-stage cliches and outdated tropes? That’s where Wendy Mitchell, a National Health Service team leader, went when she was diagnosed with Young Onset Dementia aged 58. But this diagnosis was far from the end of Wendy’s life. Instead, her diagnosis simply marked the beginning of a new chapter. Now an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society, her second book gives brilliant tips and tricks and shows how dementia isn’t one-size-fits-all through anecdotes, research, and Wendy’s stunning photographs of her Yorkshire village.
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Loving Someone Who Has Dementia by Pauline Boss
With almost half of people in permanent residential care living with dementia in some form needing high levels of care, Pauline Boss’ book is a new take on a caregiving guide. From family members and friends to caregivers, neighbours, even educators and professionals, anyone affected by dementia will find hope in the seven guidelines to stay resilient and the approaches to understanding and coping with the emotional strain of caregiving. The maternally Swiss author from Wisconsin even addresses the topic of intimacy in relationships with people who have dementia.
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
We all know how medicine has triumphed in recent years, making previously harrowing diseases, injuries and even childbirth much more manageable and survivable. But what about ageing and death? Why are nursing homes so devoted to safety over quality of life? Why do doctors fall back on treatments that shorten lives rather than improve them? And how can we do better? This is precisely what Atul Gawande explores, following a geriatrician, a hospice nurse, and other reformers committed to the ultimate goal of the good life rather than a good death, all the way to the very end.
The Dementia Doula by Wendy Hall
Ready to challenge your mindset around dementia? Doulas are trained professionals who give physical, emotional and educational support, usually to a mother before, during, and after childbirth. Their job is to give a safe and empowering experience, without necessarily providing healthcare. This is exactly what Wendy Hall is all about. By creating the dementia doula role, she redefines industry expectations by creating a community network to embrace anyone impacted by advancing dementia. People diagnosed with dementia in the modern age often feel disempowered and disconnected. This is why Wendy’s platform as the Dementia Doula is so important.
Beyond the Darkness of Dementia by Wendy Hall
The journey of dementia can sometimes be dark. That’s why Wendy Hall has collected this book of stories from family members and support providers, to give inspiration and reflection, and to make your dementia journey a little less isolating and daunting. Take in insights and wisdom from people who have already walked the path of dementia in Wendy Hall’s forum of family member support. Read Beyond the Darkness of Dementia to learn how to plan for the future while living for today and how to communicate together on a whole new level. There is no greater learning than from those who have walked the path.
Dementia Can’t Take Everything by Wendy Hall
In this book, Wendy Hall shares the insights of people passionate about improving the lives of everyone impacted by dementia, alongside a few of her own ‘light bulb’ moments. This book highlights the fact that real change in dementia can only happen when we come together with like-minded individuals to reduce the power of dementia as a disease. If you want to be a voice for those who don’t have one and give back the things that dementia ultimately takes away, read this book. Move your focus away from “fixing” to listening and learn how to make a difference in the world of dementia.
We hope you find these recommendations for books on dementia care inspiring and helpful as you learn more along your journey. Contact us to speak to our team about dementia, dementia care, and the different ways we can help to support you.
