Top 5 Dementia Resources for Families
We hope this article finds everyone well after a relaxing Thanksgiving holiday. We had this question from one of our family members today and thought it would make an excellent blog post: What are some good dementia resources for families? This particular family member was looking to educate themself on their loved one’s condition, but whatever your reasons are for wanting to learn more about dementia, here are some of our favorite resources:
1. The Alzheimer’s Association: https://www.alz.org/ or 800-272-3900
Used by both professionals and families, the Alzheimer’s Association provides a wealth of information and resources about Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. Click on the “Alzheimer’s and Dementia” tab to explore topics on disease facts, family support, and research initiatives, or check out the “Help and Support” tab to learn specific information about how to support a loved one with dementia and how to plan for care. And if you’re more of a phone person or need more personalized support, their hotline is free and staffed 24/7 with caring professionals.
2. Teepa Snow and Positive Approach to Care: https://teepasnow.com/
Teepa Snow is certainly one of the country’s, if not the planet’s, foremost experts on dementia – and in particular how loved ones can structure care to best support their Senior with dementia. An occupational therapist by background, Teepa has engineered an extraordinary framework by which to understand and manage dementia. Her blog includes information for care partners and persons with dementia alike, and her GEMS model of dementia progression is a phenomenal example of a strengths-based approach to the disease. If you’re new to learning about dementia, we recommend you start here to really familiarize yourself with the brain changes that take place as part of the disease. Teepa is perhaps best known for her YouTube videos, in which her engaging personality shines as she demonstrates how to understand and work with persons with dementia. And if you’re active on TikTok, @teepasnow is the place to be for dementia resources.
3. AARP: https://www.aarp.org/
The website for the American Association of Retired Persons has many dementia resources for families, including articles, videos, quizzes, and links to other supports. The Dementia Caregiver’s Guide is a great starting place. And with over 4,000 pages that mention “dementia,” you might want to search by genre (such as “Caregiving” or “Money”), or add in more specific search terms like “dementia medication.” In particular, AARP has many resources for managing driving cessation of a person with dementia, including this great overview article, the “Driver Safety: We Need To Talk” recorded seminar, and the Fitness to Drive tool. Note that access to some content requires the creation of a free AARP account.
4. CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/aging/dementia/index.html
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers many dementia resources for families including general information on dementia, insights on distinguishing dementia from typical aging, and descriptions of some of the most common types of dementia. You can also find information on national initiatives for addressing dementia, as well as podcasts, videos, and state-specific information on local resources in the Resource Center. And if you’re looking for more robust information and studies on dementia, you can also find journal articles on topics such as assessments for dementia, public health initiatives, and differences in dementia among various racial and ethnic groups.
5. Your local library: https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/CommunityServices/find-libraries.aspx
While it can be tempting to want to find everything at your fingertips as you lay on the couch, we believe there’s something vital about the “human connection” part of finding and utilizing dementia resources that can’t be replicated online. Your local librarians are a wealth of knowledge on how to research and find exactly what you are looking for, whether that be a book, video, or local organization. If there are dementia-related events specific to your community, your librarians will either know more details or know how to find them out. Many libraries also host Memory Cafes, where persons with dementia and their care partners can go to socialize, or other special programming related to dementia education and support. And if you like to explore the stacks on your own, try 616.831 for dementia, 615.547 for geriatric therapeutics, or 618.97 for geriatrics.
Did we miss any? We always love to learn new dementia resources that families find helpful. If you are interested in learning more about your loved one’s dementia or are struggling with what to do next, reach out today to schedule a free consultation.
