8 Home Care Books That Elevate Your Caregiving Skills

The methods Kimberly D. Acquaviva developed while working extensively with LGBTQ patients and their families in hospice settings shape this guide’s approach to inclusive care. You’ll gain specific strategies for transforming your professional practice with clear, evidence-based protocols that honor diverse identities and experiences at the end of life. The book details how to adapt communication, care planning, and organizational policies to better serve LGBTQ individuals, with practical examples from clinical and social work perspectives. If you’re a nurse, social worker, or palliative care provider committed to respectful and informed care, this book offers a focused framework grounded in both research and real-world application.

Drawing from over two decades of personal experience and advocacy, Jodi O'Donnell-Ames offers a guide grounded in real-life challenges faced by families dealing with ALS. You’ll find practical insights into caregiving roles, emotional support strategies, and navigating medical and legal complexities, all presented through the lens of someone who lived through this journey. The book includes contributions from caregivers and professionals, making it a nuanced resource that addresses both the physical and emotional demands of ALS care. If you’re supporting a loved one with ALS or seeking to understand the caregiving landscape intimately, this book provides a candid and compassionate roadmap.

This tailored book explores essential home care skills and challenges with a focus that matches your background and specific goals. It covers practical caregiving techniques, patient-centered approaches, and effective communication strategies, all synthesized to address your unique needs. The personalized content reveals nuanced solutions for common home care scenarios, empowering you to navigate complex caregiving responsibilities with confidence. By concentrating on your interests, this book examines the core aspects of home care, including safety protocols, emotional support, and health management. It provides a clear, engaging pathway through expert knowledge, making the learning experience both accessible and deeply relevant to your caregiving journey.

Beth Cavenaugh, a certified hospice and palliative care nurse with over 14 years of experience, brings her deep compassion and clinical knowledge to this guide focused on navigating the final stages of life. You’ll learn practical information about hospice and palliative care options, symptom management techniques, and ways to advocate for your wishes while maintaining quality of life. The book also offers thoughtful guidance on preparing your affairs, assembling a personal care team, and emotional exercises to support healing and connection. If you or a loved one face terminal illness, this book provides clear, honest insights to help you approach end-of-life care with dignity and understanding.

What happens when a registered nurse and educator with extensive home health care training experience writes a handbook for aides? Jetta Fuzy's sixth edition of this handbook provides a detailed, practical guide that covers essential procedures and federal requirements for home health aides. You’ll find clear explanations of infection control, HIPAA privacy, nutrition, and disease-specific care, including COVID-19 protocols. The book also offers useful tips on transitioning from facility-based to home care, making it ideal for certified nursing assistants stepping into this role. Its full-color photos and concise glossary make it easy to reference on the job, giving you focused knowledge tailored for day-to-day home care challenges.

Renee Phillippi's decades of healthcare experience, combined with personal caregiving challenges, led her to craft this guide for those caring for loved ones with dementia. You’ll find detailed insights on managing behavioral issues, from sundowning to aggression, and practical advice on nutrition and communication tailored to dementia stages. Chapters address the emotional toll on caregivers, offering strategies to maintain your own well-being while navigating complex care decisions. This book suits anyone suddenly thrust into caregiving, providing clarity on what to expect and how to respond at each stage of the journey.

This tailored book offers a focused exploration of essential home care skills, designed to match your background and address your specific goals. It covers core caregiving principles, patient safety, symptom management, and emotional support, presenting each topic in a way that resonates with your unique experience. By concentrating on your interests, the book reveals practical pathways to enhance your caregiving abilities rapidly. Through a personalized approach, this guide synthesizes expert knowledge into a clear, actionable roadmap that aligns with your learning pace and care environment. It embraces the complexities of home care while delivering targeted content that empowers you to transform your skills within 30 days, making the learning experience both efficient and relevant.

Tracy Cram Perkins draws on sixteen years of deeply personal experience caring for four family members with dementia to craft a guide that goes far beyond typical caregiving manuals. You’ll find practical techniques such as using camouflaged doors to prevent wandering, stocking emergency "mom" bags for outings, and employing distraction methods like nursery rhymes to ease mood swings. The book also covers critical topics like managing medication lists for emergency personnel, understanding hallucinations versus delusions, and navigating legal matters including powers of attorney. If you’re preparing for the emotional and logistical complexities of dementia care, this book offers tangible support without sugarcoating the exhaustion and frustration involved.

William Leahy, MD, along with Jetta Fuzy RN MS and Julie Grafe RN BSN, brings decades of clinical and educational experience to this updated textbook designed specifically for home health aides. You’ll gain clear, accessible instruction on essential skills such as electronic blood pressure monitoring, mental health disorder care, and person-centered approaches, all supported by detailed color photos and step-by-step guidance. The book also addresses current topics like COVID-19 protocols and documentation requirements, making it a relevant resource for anyone preparing to enter or advance in home health care roles. If you want a thorough grounding in both foundational practices and newer care considerations, this textbook offers a solid, well-structured path.

What started as a commitment to improve nursing assistant education became a detailed guide that covers the complexities of long-term care with precision and care. Susan Alvare Hedman, leveraging her vast experience in healthcare training, walks you through essential topics like resident rights, infection prevention, and person-centered care, blending theoretical knowledge with practical application. You'll find clear explanations of anatomy, nutrition, and legal considerations such as HIPAA and advance directives, supported by up-to-date resources and review materials. This book suits anyone preparing for certification or working directly with long-term care residents, providing a solid foundation without overcomplicating the subject.