Caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can be daunting There are a variety of things to think about and signs to watch out for when somebody has memory loss.
But dementia caregivers also need to have support and resources themselves. They are often overworked, exhausted and need additional support. This authoritative list of 50 resources for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers will help you navigate the difficult waters of aging and memory loss..
- AARP – This is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization offering services and information to aging people. AARP offers legal checklists, information on care options, an online community, and a page of local resources and links to medical services, Alzheimer’s programs and more. The organization also offers a Family Caregiving guide.
- Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center – This site from National Institutes for Health offers information on diagnosis, treatment, patient care, caregiver needs, long-term care, and research and clinical trials related to Alzheimer’s disease.
- Alzheimer’s Association – This group offers resources for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, along with their caregivers. Included is information on symptoms, diagnosis, stages, treatment, care and support resources. The group’s online tools page features an online forum called ALZConnected, e-learning workshops, a planning aid called Alzheimer’s Navigator and more.
- Alzheimer’s Foundation of America – This group offers resources for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and for their caregivers. The site offers Caregiving Resources with a free helpline, dozens of fact sheets, free community classes, webinars and more. The AFA also offers a National Memory Screening Program throughout the United States on an ongoing basis.
- Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry – This site from Banner Alzheimer’s Institute gives news and information about Alzheimer’s and dementia. It also offers a Resources for Alzheimer’s Caregivers page.
- Alzheimers.gov – This site from the federal government provides free information about Alzheimer’s disease and includes information on Medicare coverage, treatment options and referrals to local community resources.
- AngelSense – This app provides a way to track wandering adults through their phones. Caregivers can get a view of their loved one’s activities and location.
- Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration – This group, which supports research into brain health, also offers education, information and support for their families and caregivers.
- BenefitsCheckUp – This service from the National Council on Aging will help patients and their caregivers find benefits from federal, state and local programs.
- Brain&Life – This magazine from the American Academy of Neurology provides the latest information about Alzheimer’s, dementia and other brain health issues.
- BrightFocus Foundation Alzheimer’s Disease Toolkit – This site supports research and public awareness on Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
- Caregiver Action Network – This group offers resources for caregivers, including forums and tips.
- Caregiver Nation – This Facebook group offers family caregivers support, information and resources.
- Caregiver Resources & Long-Term Care – The Department of Health and Human Services provides information on resources, assistance, support and government health resources.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – This government website will help connect patients and their caregivers with Medicare and Medicaid information, resources, forms and more.
- Cleveland Clinic Healthy Brains – This site from the Cleveland Clinic offers individualized brain health assessment tools, lifestyle tips, news on the latest developments in research and medicine, and more.
- Community Resource Finder – This combined project of AARP and the Alzheimer’s Association provides access to Alzheimer’s and dementia resources, community programs, medical services and local long-term care options.
- Dementia Friendly America – This group offers support for those with dementia and their caregivers. Featured is a list of resources and a toolkit for becoming a local advocate.
- Department of Veterans Affairs – This agency that serves military veterans also has a Caregiver Support Program that offers caregiver training programs, a helpline, mentoring and peer support.
- Elder Rights Protection – This resource center from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging provides information on rights protection, as well as programs and services related to elder justice.
- Eldercare Locator – This site provides caregivers with connections to area agencies on aging and other local resources for finding respite care, insurance counseling, transportation and other services.
- Family Caregiver Alliance – This site from the National Center on Caregiving provides resources for caregivers providing care to people with a variety of health conditions and disabilities. The Dementia Caregiver Resources section offers guides, tips sheets and caregiver stories.
- Federal Resources for Caregivers – This is a collection of resources from federal agencies.
- Food and Drug Administration – This agency offers tools and tips for those caring for people of all ages.
- Lewy Body Dementia Association – This group works to raise awareness of Lewy body dementias and supports caregivers.
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Taking care of a loved one with dementia can be more than challenging. Read our eBook, “The Complete Guide to Dementia for Caregivers” which offers everything you need to know about caring for your loved one.
Download the Guide - LongTermCare.gov – This is a resource by the Administration for Community Living for information and tools to plan long-term care needs.
- Meals on Wheels Association of America – This agency provides information on local meal delivery and group meal locations for seniors.
- MedicAlert Foundation International – This company offers emblems and chains engraved to help identify people and their primary medical conditions in an emergency.
- Medline Plus – This site from the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health offers information on Alzheimer’s disease.
- Memory Café Directory – This is a list of memory cafés in hospitals, libraries, senior centers and other facilities to help people with dementia and other cognitive issues, as well as their caregivers.
- Military and Veteran Caregiver Network – This network of online and community-based support groups and mentoring programs for caregivers of service members and veterans is affiliated with the American Red Cross.
- Military One Source – This program from the Department of Defense provides resources and support to active-duty, National Guard and Reserve service members and their families, including counseling and consulting services for caregivers.
- MyHealthfinder – This site coordinated by several government agencies helps caregivers get support, providing coping strategies and tips.
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys – This nonprofit association of lawyers and organizations provides legal services for older adults and people with special needs.
- National Alliance for Caregiving – This group’s Brain Health Conversation Guide provides help for having difficult discussions about memory changes and cognitive health.
- National Center on Elder Abuse – This government website is a national resource center to prevent elder mistreatment.
- National Family Caregiver Support Program – This site from the Administration for Community Living offers links and resources for adult caregivers.
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke – This site from the National Institutes of Health provides general information on Alzheimer’s disease websites and offers publications on its Alzheimer’s page.
- National Institute on Aging – This page from the National Institute on Aging provides background and guidance on preventing and monitoring for elder abuse. It also lists resources for caregivers.
- Next Step in Care – This site has guides to help family caregivers and health care providers plan and implement transitions for chronically or seriously ill patients.
- Project Lifesaver – This is another program to help track individuals who may be prone to wander or get lost, such as those with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
- Powerful Tools for Caregivers – This site offers classes for caregivers to give them the skills to take care of themselves as they take care of their loved ones.
- Safe Return Program – From the Alzheimer’s Association, this also offers a way to track people with dementia who wander and return them home.
- Senior Lifestyle: The Complete Guide to Dementia for Caregivers – This guide from Senior Lifestyle gives tips and hints for those caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
- Social Security Administration – Find financial benefits to qualified individuals, including older people.
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program – This network offers local insurance counseling and assistance to Medicare recipients and their families and caregivers.
- The Alzheimer’s Store – This site features products for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers.
- Transportation Safety Administration Cares – The TSA assists travelers with medical conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. This site provides answers and tips for travelers and their caregivers.
- Well Spouse Association – This group provides support for spousal caregivers, including a national network of support groups and an online chat forum.
- WISER Financial Steps for Caregivers – This site from the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement helps caregivers make financial decisions.