Resources
Whether you have Alzheimer's or are caring for someone with the disease, you don't have to do it alone. Learn about services you may need as the disease progresses, products and organizations that can help, and how to get involved in volunteer or advocacy work.
Web Resources on Alzheimer's Disease
These nine websites offer information about Alzheimer's disease services, caregiving resources, and related organizations that might have a chapter or office near you. I encourage you to explore what they have to offer.
These nine websites offer information about Alzheimer's disease services, caregiving resources, and related organizations that might have a chapter or office near you. I encourage you to explore what they have to offer.
My Wife Has Alzheimer's. What Services Are Available to Help Me Care for Her?
If you're feeling overwhelmed as a caregiver of someone with Alzheimer's disease, consider getting some help from local Alzheimer's agencies. Learn about adult day care, in-home respite care, home health care, and government programs that can ease your caregiving burden.
If you're feeling overwhelmed as a caregiver of someone with Alzheimer's disease, consider getting some help from local Alzheimer's agencies. Learn about adult day care, in-home respite care, home health care, and government programs that can ease your caregiving burden.
Government Assistance for Alzheimer's Care
Without private insurance, it may seem like paying for Alzheimer's care will cripple the family budget. From Medicare to disability income, though, there are options for those without insurance. Although this assistance may not completely eliminate the financial burden associated with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's, these government and state programs can provide a helping hand along the way.
Without private insurance, it may seem like paying for Alzheimer's care will cripple the family budget. From Medicare to disability income, though, there are options for those without insurance. Although this assistance may not completely eliminate the financial burden associated with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's, these government and state programs can provide a helping hand along the way.
Finding a Home Care Aide for Your Loved One
If you're caring for a relative with Alzheimer's, it's important to find services that can help your loved one while giving you a much needed break. If you're interested in finding a home care aide, you have several choices. Here are some tips for finding volunteer, private, and agency home care aides.
If you're caring for a relative with Alzheimer's, it's important to find services that can help your loved one while giving you a much needed break. If you're interested in finding a home care aide, you have several choices. Here are some tips for finding volunteer, private, and agency home care aides.
Choosing A Home Care Aide
Choosing a home care aide can be daunting because you want to be sure to choose the very best care for your loved one. Luckily, there are some key questions and considerations that can help you narrow down your choices with confidence. Here are some tips for choosing a home care aide.
Choosing a home care aide can be daunting because you want to be sure to choose the very best care for your loved one. Luckily, there are some key questions and considerations that can help you narrow down your choices with confidence. Here are some tips for choosing a home care aide.
Working With Your Home Care Aide
Once you've chosen a home care aide, it's important to work with the aide to make sure that your loved one is receiving quality care. Here are some tips for building a good relationship with your home care aide.
Once you've chosen a home care aide, it's important to work with the aide to make sure that your loved one is receiving quality care. Here are some tips for building a good relationship with your home care aide.
Finding the Right Adult Day Care Program for Your Loved One
Adult day care provides benefits to both people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. How do you find adult day care centers and which one is best for your relative? Here are some tips for finding and choosing the right adult day care program for your loved one.
Adult day care provides benefits to both people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. How do you find adult day care centers and which one is best for your relative? Here are some tips for finding and choosing the right adult day care program for your loved one.
Holistic Approaches to Alzheimer's Disease
A holistic approach links mainstream medical treatments with both herbal supplements and attention to emotional health. Learn more about holistic health care approaches to Alzheimer's disease.
A holistic approach links mainstream medical treatments with both herbal supplements and attention to emotional health. Learn more about holistic health care approaches to Alzheimer's disease.
Hospice Care and Alzheimer's Disease
Hospice care can provide much comfort in the last days of life for families facing Alzheimer's. Planning for the end of life may be painful, but it is important. Hospice care offers help and reassurance to both the individual and his or her family. Learn more about hospice care for those with Alzheimer's disease.
Hospice care can provide much comfort in the last days of life for families facing Alzheimer's. Planning for the end of life may be painful, but it is important. Hospice care offers help and reassurance to both the individual and his or her family. Learn more about hospice care for those with Alzheimer's disease.
How Can I Join The Fight Against Alzheimer's?
When your life is affected by Alzheimer's, it's natural to want to join the cause. There are many ways to join the fight against Alzheimer's -- the key is finding the right volunteer opportunity for you.
When your life is affected by Alzheimer's, it's natural to want to join the cause. There are many ways to join the fight against Alzheimer's -- the key is finding the right volunteer opportunity for you.
UCompare HealthCare from About.com
Make informed choices about doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, and more in your neighborhood with About.com's UCompare HealthCare tool.
Make informed choices about doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, and more in your neighborhood with About.com's UCompare HealthCare tool.
"Caring For Your Parents" Caregiver's Handbook
This online handbook was created in conjunction with the PBS program, "Caring for Your Parents." It includes topics such as how to talk to parents about their increasing needs, how to find and access services, and the importance of caring for the caregiver.
This online handbook was created in conjunction with the PBS program, "Caring for Your Parents." It includes topics such as how to talk to parents about their increasing needs, how to find and access services, and the importance of caring for the caregiver.
Family Care Navigator
Here's a great tool that lists state-by-state resources for caregivers, such as government, non-profit, and private programs; legal assistance; and disease-specific organizations.
Here's a great tool that lists state-by-state resources for caregivers, such as government, non-profit, and private programs; legal assistance; and disease-specific organizations.
Nursing Home Comparison Tool
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services explain that "the primary purpose of this tool is to provide detailed information about the past performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country."
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services explain that "the primary purpose of this tool is to provide detailed information about the past performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country."
Hospital Ranking Tool
Consumer Reports recently launched this free online tool that rates major U.S. hospitals on how conservatively or aggressively they treat the top nine leading causes of death, including dementia.
Consumer Reports recently launched this free online tool that rates major U.S. hospitals on how conservatively or aggressively they treat the top nine leading causes of death, including dementia.
Your Caregiving Journey -- Free Internet Talk Radio Show
Denise Brown started her own free internet talk show on BlogTalkRadio called Your Caregiving Journey. Each week she focuses on a different caregiving topic; listeners can participate during the shows or tune in later and listen to archives.
Denise Brown started her own free internet talk show on BlogTalkRadio called Your Caregiving Journey. Each week she focuses on a different caregiving topic; listeners can participate during the shows or tune in later and listen to archives.
Memory Bridge Foundation for Alzheimer's & Cultural Memory
This unique organization "creates programs that connect people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias to family, friends, and other people in their local community. We also create programs that reveal to the general public the depths of memory that dementia does not erase."
This unique organization "creates programs that connect people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias to family, friends, and other people in their local community. We also create programs that reveal to the general public the depths of memory that dementia does not erase."
Making Choices About Everyday Care
Communication is the key to making choices about daily care that will work for the whole family. The Family Caregiver Alliance provides a blueprint for choosing appropriate services, with an emphasis on making those with Alzheimer's equal members of decision-making teams.
Communication is the key to making choices about daily care that will work for the whole family. The Family Caregiver Alliance provides a blueprint for choosing appropriate services, with an emphasis on making those with Alzheimer's equal members of decision-making teams.
Respite for Persons With Alzheimer's Disease
Respite services give caregivers a break from the daily tasks of caregiving while providing socialization, supervision, and activities for the person with Alzheimer's. The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center describes different kinds of respite and offers tips for accessing respite services.
Respite services give caregivers a break from the daily tasks of caregiving while providing socialization, supervision, and activities for the person with Alzheimer's. The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center describes different kinds of respite and offers tips for accessing respite services.
Senior Housing Finder
The Alzheimer's Association provides a database of currently licensed assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and other types of housing searchable by geographic location, type of facility, level of Alzheimer's care available, and other criteria.
The Alzheimer's Association provides a database of currently licensed assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and other types of housing searchable by geographic location, type of facility, level of Alzheimer's care available, and other criteria.
The Alzheimer's Spouse
This site states that it's designed specifically for people who have spouses with Alzheimer's, but it appears that a lot of the information is applicable to anyone in a loving partnership whose significant other has been diagnosed with the disease.
This site states that it's designed specifically for people who have spouses with Alzheimer's, but it appears that a lot of the information is applicable to anyone in a loving partnership whose significant other has been diagnosed with the disease.
MD Junction: People Helping People
Here's a unique online support group for those dealing with Alzheimer's disease that allows group members to submit stories and give "hugs" to other group members.
Here's a unique online support group for those dealing with Alzheimer's disease that allows group members to submit stories and give "hugs" to other group members.
National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners
The mission of the NCCDP is to "promote, encourage, and enhance the knowledge, skills, and practice of all persons who provide care and/or services to dementia clients by means of requiring excellent standards of education, dementia specific training, and incentives for professional development of those who are dedicated to the ever growing field of dementia care."
The mission of the NCCDP is to "promote, encourage, and enhance the knowledge, skills, and practice of all persons who provide care and/or services to dementia clients by means of requiring excellent standards of education, dementia specific training, and incentives for professional development of those who are dedicated to the ever growing field of dementia care."
Alternative Solutions in Long Term Care
Provides activity training, consultation, and products for adult day care and long-term care settings.
Provides activity training, consultation, and products for adult day care and long-term care settings.
Know It Alz Website
Here's a new twist on Alzheimer's support -- the creators of this website include a daily blog that reveals the lighter side of caregiving.
Here's a new twist on Alzheimer's support -- the creators of this website include a daily blog that reveals the lighter side of caregiving.
The Alzheimer's Store
Need Alzheimer's-friendly products? This website features safety gadgets such as door alarms, anti-scalding faucets, and medication reminders designed specifically for families affected by Alzheimer's disease.
Need Alzheimer's-friendly products? This website features safety gadgets such as door alarms, anti-scalding faucets, and medication reminders designed specifically for families affected by Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's Awareness Source
This site was created by a family that has had six relatives diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. 100% of the profits from sales of their jewelry and other gifts go to support Alzheimer's research.
This site was created by a family that has had six relatives diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. 100% of the profits from sales of their jewelry and other gifts go to support Alzheimer's research.
Memory Jogging Puzzles
This company offers puzzles and card games designed to "benefit those with memory loss and their families." The items feature age-appropriate themes based on Norman Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post covers.
This company offers puzzles and card games designed to "benefit those with memory loss and their families." The items feature age-appropriate themes based on Norman Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post covers.
Dolls for Alzheimer's
This organization's mission is to provide therapeutic life-like dolls to women with Alzheimer's. Learn how to request a doll for your loved one or to help make more dolls available for families in need.
This organization's mission is to provide therapeutic life-like dolls to women with Alzheimer's. Learn how to request a doll for your loved one or to help make more dolls available for families in need.
ClinicalTrials.gov - The Best Place to Find Research Studies
A service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, this database of clinical studies -- including studies about Alzheimer's causes and treatments -- is searchable by disease and geographic location.
A service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, this database of clinical studies -- including studies about Alzheimer's causes and treatments -- is searchable by disease and geographic location.