As a dementia caregiver, you might feel lost and alone or like no one understands what you’re going through. You may feel anxiety, anger, and frustration while trying to balance your personal life with your caregiving responsibilities. Fortunately, there are many excellent resources for dementia caregivers!
Dementia Caregiver Support Groups
Support groups are some of the best caregiver resources available. Connecting with other dementia caregivers going through a similar experience helps caregivers feel like they aren’t alone. The Alzheimer’s Association provides a searchable database of in-person support groups. For caregivers who prefer online interactions or cannot meet in person, ALZConnects and Caregiver Nation are 24/7 online support communities.
Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 Helpline
When you’re in a crisis, dementia caregivers can call the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 helpline to talk to clinicians and specialists. Caregivers can receive crisis guidance, decision support, education, information on local resources, financial and legal resources, treatment options, and more!
Family Caregiver Alliance
The Family Caregiver Alliance provides abundant resources for people with various health conditions and disabilities. For dementia caregivers, the Alliance provides a Dementia Caregiver Resource section with online support groups, helpful guides, tip sheets, and caregiver stories to help them navigate their journey as caregivers.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
For dementia caregivers caring for a veteran, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides helpful information on Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia and on the services and resources available to veterans living with dementia and their caregivers.
Cleveland Clinic’s Healthy Brains
The Cleveland Clinic’s Healthy Brains initiative provides individualized brain health assessment tools, lifestyle tips, news on the latest research, and more! This interactive resource is helpful for both caregivers and those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America provides numerous resources for Alzheimer’s caregivers, including a free helpline, fact sheets, community classes, webinars, and more! The AFA also provides a National Memory Screening Program that provides free, confidential memory screenings throughout the United States.
Caregiver Action Network
The Caregiver Action Network provides a Family Caregiver Toolbox as a go-to resource for information on every aspect of caregiving. While it’s not specifically designed for dementia caregivers, there’s plenty of information any caregiver can use. The Caregiver Action Network also provides an online support community with several forums, including a group of Alzheimer’s caregivers, a forum for caregivers coping with depression, and more.
Dementia Friendly America
Dementia Friendly America is a national network of organizations, communities, and individuals seeking to ensure that communities nationwide are well-equipped to support people living with dementia and their caregivers. DFA provides an extensive list of resources for people living with dementia, their loved ones, and dementia caregivers, as well as toolkits for those who want to advocate in their local communities.
Memory Cafés
Memory cafés, often located in hospitals, libraries, senior centers, and other locations, offer support for those with dementia and their caregivers that help them combat social isolation and connect with others coping with similar circumstances. The Memory Café Directory lists hundreds of memory cafés throughout the United States.
Compassionate Caregivers in Las Vegas
We understand that being a dementia caregiver for a loved one is very stressful. It can be hard to separate your caregiving responsibilities from your personal life while trying to manage your mental health. At Essential Care, our qualified caregivers can help take some weight off your shoulders by caring for your loved ones! Call us today!
