Dear Raider,
I recently learned that my mother has dementia and she will be moving in with my family soon. I’m pretty new at this. Are there any helpful online resources available to assist with caring for a loved one with dementia?
Thanks for your help!
Hal Pinmom
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Dear Hal,
You are not alone. Approximately 16 million Americans care for someone with dementia, and this number is expected to triple by 2050. Providing care for a person living with dementia can be especially challenging — in fact, dementia caregivers are twice as likely as other family caregivers to experience adverse effects on their physical and emotional health, finances, and relationships. A new online directory was recently introduced to connect dementia caregivers with support resources to help.
Best Programs for Caregiving is a free online resource developed by the nonprofit public charity Family Caregiver Alliance. It provides family members and friends who care for someone living with dementia access to programs that offer support, quality information, and expert guidance. The resource is designed for families and friends who care for someone living with dementia. According to Kathleen Kelly, Executive Director of Family Caregiver Alliance, “(i)t’s the first-ever source of high-quality information about where these evidence-based programs are being offered across the country and how people can enroll in them.”
How Does the New Resource Work?
Best Programs for Caregivers is a free online searchable database of evidence-based dementia support programs for family caregivers, enabling family and friend caregivers to discover, learn about and enroll in the proven support programs that are available to them in their own community. The site is unique in that all programs are evidence-based, meaning they have been proven effective in research studies, and also because of the level of detailed information provided about each program. The website provides:
- program description;
- the focus of each program;
- mode of delivery;
- any fees associated with the program;
- how you can enroll;
- program outcomes (e.g., reducing stress, understanding dementia, planning care, skill-building, health & wellness, etc.);
- research findings;
- information about whether the program has been adapted to meet the needs of diverse populations.
With dozens of programs and a side-by-side comparison feature, you and other caregivers have the information needed to make informed decisions. You simply need to enter a zip code to discover programs that are available from organizations near you, or that are virtually available online or by phone.
Additional Resources
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- The Virginia Alzheimer’s Disease AlzPossible Initiative (VACAPI) offers lots of helpful resources on its website and so does The University of Virginia and the Insight Memory Care Center.
- In Maryland, check out Montgomery County’s Dementia Friendly Initiative.
- In DC, visit the DC Support Link Network of Care website.
Please also visit our blog for resources and articles here.
Plan in Advance for Your Loved One with Dementia
For those dealing with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia, there will likely come a time when your loved one will need more care and support than you can provide in your home. Be sure to make an appointment with Mr. Farr to plan for this eventuality in advance.
Hope this is helpful!
Raider
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